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AndreRIO

Q: Open URL from Open finder dialog?

Hello Everyone,

 

I am coming from the Windows world and making my transition to Mac. There is a feature in Windows that I use A LOT. I would like to see it on OSx but so far I cound't find anything like it. I am using OSx Mavericks.

 

Let's see if I can explain this clear enough...

 

In Windows I can copy an Image URL per example and paste into the Windows Explorer Open dialog box and it will open it on any program thus downloading it to a temporary place. I don't have to acctually download the file first and them open and/or upload anywhere. I can easily just paste the URL with an image, pdf or whatever file and it will open or directly upload anywhere I want.. (Screenshot with image below....)

 

In the example below. I am uploading a image to my Facebook timeline straight from an URL! On Windows I can use this same feature to open files directly from the internet within any application!

 

windows_explorer.png

 

On the OSX Mavericks the closest thing I could find searching the web is the dialog below.... That DOES NOT work with URLs !!! It only works to open folders!

 

mac_finder.png

 

Can the Windows feature can acctually be done (replicated) on OSX or can it be implemented??

 

Thank you very much in advance for any light at the end of the tunnel!

Mac Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9.2)

Posted on Apr 20, 2014 12:43 PM

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Q: Open URL from Open finder dialog?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by sberman,

    sberman sberman Apr 20, 2014 12:55 PM in response to AndreRIO
    Level 8 (39,052 points)
    Apr 20, 2014 12:55 PM in response to AndreRIO

    Have you considered using Spotlight (the magnifying glass in the upper right corner of your screen -- the right side of the menu bar?

     

    You could plug the URL in there.  If you like, you could click "Show All in Finder".  That would provide something like this (I used this webpage's URL):

     

    Screen Shot 2014-04-20 at 12.53.49 PM.png

  • by AndreRIO,

    AndreRIO AndreRIO Apr 20, 2014 1:05 PM in response to sberman
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Apr 20, 2014 1:05 PM in response to sberman

    This is not it! I don't want to save a URL. I want to open a file directly from it on any application or be able to upload a file by putting the file's URL directly instead of having to download and then upload it.

     

    On the screenshot below.. I am upload a photo to my Facebook timeline...

    I don't have the photo on my mac. Its on a website... (ex.: http://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/scale_small/0/316/520157-apple_logo_dec07.jp g)

    I DO NOT want to download it first. I want to be able to put the URL above into the Facebook/Browser/Finder open dialog and it will upload it directly.

     

    2014-04-20_21-59-09.png

  • by sberman,

    sberman sberman Apr 20, 2014 1:17 PM in response to AndreRIO
    Level 8 (39,052 points)
    Apr 20, 2014 1:17 PM in response to AndreRIO

    I don't really follow what you're trying to do, but since you point to the lack of "Open" in your screenshot, let me show you this:

     

    If you control-click on what I showed you before, you are presented with an "Open" option (top of the dropdown list):

     

    Screen Shot 2014-04-20 at 1.12.55 PM.png

  • by AndreRIO,

    AndreRIO AndreRIO Apr 20, 2014 1:50 PM in response to sberman
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Apr 20, 2014 1:50 PM in response to sberman

    I cannot be more clear than I tried with all the screenshots!

     

    I am not trying to open a file on my computer! I want to be able to open a file directly from the web within any application using a URL such as...

     

    http://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/scale_small/0/316/520157-apple_logo_dec07.jp g

     

    As you can see on my Windows screenshot. I can open the above URL on any application just by pasting it into the open dialog box just as I would put filename instead. But on OSX the Finder Open dialog box  does not give me an option to open a file straight giving a full path unless it sits localy on my mac.

  • by Barney-15E,Helpful

    Barney-15E Barney-15E Apr 20, 2014 2:14 PM in response to AndreRIO
    Level 8 (49,752 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 20, 2014 2:14 PM in response to AndreRIO

    II think I understand what you want, but you cannot "open" something from the Internet without actually downloading it. Everything must be downloaded, even the text on a web page. All that is doing in Windows is hiding the download.

     

    In general, you can drag a URL to the Dock Icon of any program that can open that file type if it can also handle a URL. Seems that only works if it is displayed, like an image.

    Or, you can drag it to the Tab bar in Safari and Safari will download and display it or pass it off to the default application, if is safe, and you have that preference set in Safari's prefrerences (General tab).

  • by AndreRIO,

    AndreRIO AndreRIO Apr 20, 2014 2:15 PM in response to Barney-15E
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Apr 20, 2014 2:15 PM in response to Barney-15E

    Hi Barney,

     

    I know that what u said is right. Things need tobe downloaded and I know Windows "hide". When u paste a URL in Windows open dialog box I know that it acctually download it to a temporary location and use it to whatever it needs. I just think it's clever feature to have.

     

    I will try your tips on my mac and see if it is close to what I am looking for.

     

    I notice that you mention Safari. I use Google Chrome. And Chrome I think don't let me do it. I haven't tried with Safari yet.

     

    Thank you.

  • by Barney-15E,

    Barney-15E Barney-15E Apr 20, 2014 2:22 PM in response to AndreRIO
    Level 8 (49,752 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 20, 2014 2:22 PM in response to AndreRIO

    You used to be able to option-click a link in Safari and it would download it. However, that seems to have been removed for images, like your jpg link. It just opened on top of the web page. It might work with other files types, though.

  • by sorka95032,

    sorka95032 sorka95032 Jan 8, 2015 12:25 PM in response to AndreRIO
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 8, 2015 12:25 PM in response to AndreRIO

    Yea, I'm in the same boat. It's really annoying that this apparently can't be done on a mac. I'm trying to add 24 photos to a craigslist add and it pops up the open dialog when you click add image. In windows, you can add a URL instead and it will be treated by windows as a local file so you don't need to download a ton of images first.

  • by arrrrrrrrrrrrrr,

    arrrrrrrrrrrrrr arrrrrrrrrrrrrr May 28, 2015 11:21 AM in response to Barney-15E
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 28, 2015 11:21 AM in response to Barney-15E

    Barney-15E wrote:

     

    II think I understand what you want, but you cannot "open" something from the Internet without actually downloading it. Everything must be downloaded, even the text on a web page.

    What do you think your browser is doing when it displays content to you? It's downloaded on your computer for you to be able to see the images, text, sound, etc, hosted on the server. Windows lets you access the downloaded file in the temporary location. It appears that OSX does not, which is disappointing.

  • by Jordan Belford,

    Jordan Belford Jordan Belford Jun 17, 2016 12:59 AM in response to AndreRIO
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 17, 2016 12:59 AM in response to AndreRIO

    I have the same problem. So annoying that it seems not possible on a mac! It wastes so much time on a mac compared to windows! On Windows it's extremely simple and convenient in their windows explorer.

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Jun 18, 2016 7:50 AM in response to Jordan Belford
    Level 9 (70,011 points)
    iTunes
    Jun 18, 2016 7:50 AM in response to Jordan Belford

    Send Apple feedback. They won't answer, but at least will know there is a problem. If enough people send feedback, it may get the problem solved sooner.

     

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