Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

New OSX Mavericks tags has removed coloured and highlighted folders, which were previously easier to distinguish.

I am now having to train my eyes on little coloured circles and cross reference them to the filename. Before as you read the file name the colour would be superimposed on top, therefore it was a more efficient process as by scanning your eyes in one place you would be getting the filename information and the tag colour at the same time.

I am finding this a huge setback as I cannot identify folders with the same speed as before.

This isn't a case of adapting to a new, ultimately better workflow, this change has simply removed functionality and made it harder to use files and folders in the way that I, and am sure many others, are used to.

Please please please bring back high visibility tags that affect the folder/filename!

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Oct 24, 2013 2:14 AM

Reply
24 replies

Oct 24, 2013 4:50 AM in response to JamesBalmforth

I agree. As a colorblind person, it is very difficult for me to identify the color of these new small tag circles.


I'm guessing that this design choice mirrors the way in which different calendars in Calendars are shown with a small colored circle next to the event.


But for me, it doesn't work.


If you agree, head on over to http://www.apple.com/feedback/ and tell Apple what you think.

Oct 24, 2013 4:50 AM in response to JamesBalmforth

Something strange happened. I answered to this thread. There have been more answers, one of them with a link to Apple feedback. I used this link, wanted to thank the poster for pointing me to it and now my and other answers have disappeared.


😕


The links in the notification Emails are pointed to a site who says:

"It appears you're not allowed to view what you requested. You might contact your administrator if you think this is a mistake."

Oct 24, 2013 4:59 AM in response to Ursula

Ursula wrote:


Something strange happened. I answered to this thread. There have been more answers, one of them with a link to Apple feedback. I used this link, wanted to thank the poster for pointing me to it and now my and other answers have disappeared.

Ursula ~ I received your thanks via email notification. The other answers were removed by ASC monitors for considering starting a poll — which is not permitted in these Communities. For the record, here again is the URL for feedback specifically about OS X:


http://www.apple.com/feedback/macosx.html


User uploaded file

Oct 24, 2013 5:55 AM in response to JamesBalmforth

Dear Apple,


These silly coloured dots are useless. These new tags have completely destroyed my work flow practice...I work with many thousands of files and used the coloured horizontal lines to manage the status of these across different folders. It is simply rediculous to replace these with a hard to see coloured dots that are placed away from the eye way over on the right side of finder. This is totally useless...thet are impossible to see.


As I work with thousands of files it is nonsense to thing that I can simply tag these with a colour as 'important' and search on that basis. Please give back the previous system of free-use coloured lines ...... the present tag system simply does not work with large scale at all.


What a BIG dissapointment to find this on Mavericks. If I had known of this I would NOT have upgraded from Mountain Lion.

Oct 26, 2013 12:44 AM in response to JamesBalmforth

I'm hoping that Apple will amend this in an update to Mavericks. But in the meantime, I've found a workaround (kind of).


If you set the folder that contains the files and folder with tags to be "Arranged by tags", the contents will be shown in groups divided by tag, with the names of the tags showing above each group. It's a bit clumsy, but it works.

Oct 29, 2013 2:09 PM in response to Anean

Thanks Anean

I tried this but it has not helped me regain any of the speed at which I was previously able to find folders.

I used tags as a supplement to an icon view arrangement and do not necesserily want to lump different tags together. Tags as I used them were a useful visual overlay to an existing file structure, and I am really suffering its loss. Whoever made these changes should know they have taken a big step backwards and imposed a vastly inferior version of tags on many people.

Nov 12, 2013 8:55 PM in response to JamesBalmforth

The new dots are absurd. I also used the highlight colour Tags to code files my visually for fast reference. I definitely won't be spending US$39.95 for the 3rd party app Path Finder from Cocatech for a bunch of features I don't need. There are also a other aspects of Mavericks I don't need or want, this will be the last time I upgrade my OSX. I was thinking of going back to Mountain Lion but might cause more issues again. Really annoyed. A message to Apple - sometimes simple features are better, sometimes less is more.

BRING BACK THE WHOLE LINE COLOURED FILE NAME TAGS.

Nov 13, 2013 3:13 AM in response to Tony the Kiwi

Tony the Kiwi wrote:


A message to Apple...

Tony ~ Apple isn't here, so won't receive your message. But, as already mentioned many times previously, you can send your feedback about OS X here:


http://www.apple.com/feedback/macosx.html

Tony the Kiwi wrote:


...the highlight colour Tags (...) THE WHOLE LINE COLOURED FILE NAME TAGS.

Apple calls them "color labels" (Source) ...To ensure clarity, it's probably a good idea to use that same terminology in your feedback to Apple.


User uploaded file

Jan 10, 2014 2:56 PM in response to Alancito

Just sent this to Apple:


"I am a mac user going back two decades. I work on a macbook pro and imac, and recently upgraded to Mavericks. While many of the new features are great, I am absolutely frustrated at the loss of a HEAVILY-used feature: the ability to color certain folders / files certain colors. I have very intricate file structures labeled by color based on what part of a project they relate to, whether they are active / invoiced / paid, mine / client, etc. - you get the idea? The new Mavericks-tag of putting a small colored dot on the far end of the window, it's completely worthless. I'm not sure where else to turn, as discussing this on reddit brought up much frustration but no answers. Please, PLEASE bring back the highlighting of the folder / file names! "

Jan 13, 2014 12:57 AM in response to cbk76

I feel for you...I still regret updating to Mavericks on a daily basis. It does not look as though they are going to change it back. The problem is that they have now allowed multiple colour tags to be applied to files and folders now, meaning the previous system of highlighting the whole folder or file would not work. My work is so much harder now that I have to look for little coloured dots and cross reference it to the name in a different location.

Updates should in future specify exactly what changes they will be making to the operating system and if possible allow a more bespoke update where the user can choose which features to adopt.

You evolve a way of working with what apple provides and then they take it away. Forcing people to work in a different way and removing features that are integral to many people's workflow is just not acceptable.

New OSX Mavericks tags has removed coloured and highlighted folders, which were previously easier to distinguish.

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.