otmaxo

Q: Open and Save dialogue boxes are useless

I have recently moved from Windows to Mac after being told I would never look back and I am already 'looking back' somewhat in terms of the OS. I work with photos and graphics and I'm on the move a lot so went for a Mac Book Pro Retina with SSD and I am not going to lie it is lightning quick and the display is beautiful. But when it comes to saving and opening workflow it does not work how I expected it would.

 

It seems such a simple thing but you cannot rename files from within mac open and save dialogue boxes. I'm so used to right clicking on a PC to create a new folder, hit F2 or right click and hit rename to rename to what I want then save the file into that new folder. You can also directly edit the name of the files and folders from within the open save dialogue box. If you right click on a mac you can create a new folder but it defaults to the name 'untitled folder' and you then can't change it's name. It find it unbelievable that you can not do this on a MacOS! So unbelievable that I went into an Apple store and spoke with someone there. When I showed them the problem they weren't even aware of it and pointed out I should just use finder. But that is not convenient if if you want to rename a new folder to then have to come out of the open save relocate in finder and change from there.

I know there is the new folder button down to the left hand side and you can rename the folder as soon as you create it using that but sometimes you may make a mistake and want to change it. Same with file names.

 

Why can't you do this on a Mac? It's crazy. After searching about, I came across the Default Folder X app which appears to fix this issue which isn't really that cheap for something I consider should be 100% native in any OS.

 

There are other issues that frustrate me from moving over from Windows to Mac (like the ability to snap windows to screen edges, Better Snap Tool fixed that for me at a much more reasonable price but still would have expected this to be native), which I know I will just have to get used to but this one really surprised me.

 

Considering I was promised so much in terms of better efficiency with work flow and ease of use overall there is still a lot that's left to be desired.

Posted on Jan 26, 2015 5:25 AM

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Q: Open and Save dialogue boxes are useless

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  • by Axeman1020,Helpful

    Axeman1020 Axeman1020 Jan 26, 2015 7:58 AM in response to otmaxo
    Level 6 (14,974 points)
    iPhone
    Jan 26, 2015 7:58 AM in response to otmaxo

    I also converted from Windows to Mac and I can tell you that I am glad I did.

    I was were you are at now and I can tell you that OS X is not Windows and your Windows "habits" will need to change if you want to have success.

    If you have the "this is how I used to do it in Windows" mindset then your frustrations will continue. OS X certainly isn't for everyone.

     

    Now that you have a very expensive MacBook, you have a few options:

     

    This may help also: Mac Basics - Switching PC Habits - Apple Support

  • by Kurt Lang,

    Kurt Lang Kurt Lang Jan 26, 2015 8:32 AM in response to otmaxo
    Level 8 (37,696 points)
    Jan 26, 2015 8:32 AM in response to otmaxo

    As Axeman1020 noted, the Mac OS is not Windows. Things are not going to be exactly the same. It's no different than if you went from Windows to Linux. So expect a month or so of getting used to a different OS. Once muscle memory gets used to the different keyboard commands, and just where things are in general and how they behave, it'll seem just as easy as Windows.

     

    To answer some of your statements or questions:

    It seems such a simple thing but you cannot rename files from within mac open and save dialogue boxes.

    Renaming items in the Open or Save dialogue boxes are not what those are for. I know Windows allows it, but why? That's a function for the desktop so you can't accidentally change a file or folder name in a dialogue box that has nothing to do with opening a file or saving one. If opening a file, that's all you're doing. If saving, only the name of the file you're saving can be modified. That's what those dialogue boxes are for - nothing else.

     

    Yes, you can give a file you're saving any name you like. You can even click on any name shown in the save dialogue box to give it that name if you want. You can also highlight the default name and change it.

    If you right click on a mac you can create a new folder but it defaults to the name 'untitled folder' and you then can't change it's name.

    Of course you can. Either highlight the folder and press Enter, or slowly click on the name twice. Either action will make the name editable.

    When I showed them the problem they weren't even aware of it and pointed out I should just use Finder. But that is not convenient if you want to rename a new folder to then have to come out of the open save relocate in finder and change from there.

    You're crossing over two different things. I believe you mean renaming a folder from the Save dialogue box. When you click the New Folder button, you have the opportunity to give the new folder any name you want before clicking Create.

     

    Screen Shot 2015-01-26 at 10.24.25 AM.png

     

    If you type the wrong name, then yes, you have to finish the save before you can rename the folder. So either be sure you type the name in correctly before clicking Create, or change the misspelling afterwards. You're not saving any time fixing a typo within the Open dialogue box. It will take the same amount of extra time to do it there as opposed to fixing it on the desktop after you complete the save.

    I know there is the new folder button down to the left hand side and you can rename the folder as soon as you create it using that but sometimes you may make a mistake and want to change it. Same with file names.

    You are again trying to force a Windows feature into an OS that is not Windows. The Mac does some things that I wish Windows could do, and visa versa. However, you can't force any OS to do something it simply isn't designed to do. Expecting it to change by sheer willpower is only going to drive you crazy. You need to let go of what you want the OS to do as opposed to what it will do.

    Considering I was promised so much in terms of better efficiency with work flow and ease of use overall there is still a lot that's left to be desired.

    I find the Mac OS to be incredibly efficient. This from a person who has used Windows for many more years overall than the Mac OS. Yes, it took time to get used to how the Mac OS behaved. But rather than fighting it (which is pointless), I simply took the time to learn how to use it as it's designed.

  • by Axeman1020,

    Axeman1020 Axeman1020 Jan 26, 2015 8:35 AM in response to Kurt Lang
    Level 6 (14,974 points)
    iPhone
    Jan 26, 2015 8:35 AM in response to Kurt Lang

    Well said Kurt Lang...as usual

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Jan 26, 2015 8:40 AM in response to otmaxo
    Level 9 (50,245 points)
    Desktops
    Jan 26, 2015 8:40 AM in response to otmaxo

    You need to study OS X a bit


    Here's a new folder, with the name I chose for it.

     

    Screen Shot 2015-01-26 at 16.39.52.png

  • by Kurt Lang,

    Kurt Lang Kurt Lang Jan 26, 2015 9:09 AM in response to Kurt Lang
    Level 8 (37,696 points)
    Jan 26, 2015 9:09 AM in response to Kurt Lang

    Something I forgot to add.

     

    I know a lot of Windows users right click to create a new folder because part of the default behavior is to automatically make the name field active. The Mac OS, as you discovered, doesn't do that from a right click folder creation. Couldn't tell you why (because it sure would be nice if it did), but it doesn't.

     

    It would be better to change your standard procedure of creating a new folder. And that's to ignore the mouse. Use the mouse only as a means to click on the desktop, or an open folder window to select the location you want the folder created in. After that, move to the keyboard. Press Command+Shift+N. A new folder will be created with the difference being the name field is active.

     

    A person may say, "Isn't the mouse easier for creating a new folder?". No, not really. You have to take your hand off the mouse anyway to type the name you want the folder to have, so there's no time difference between right clicking the desktop and choosing to create a new folder, or pressing Command+Shift+N. The latter then saves you the extra step of highlighting the newly created folder and pressing enter before you can give it the name you want.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Jan 26, 2015 9:51 AM in response to Kurt Lang
    Level 9 (50,245 points)
    Desktops
    Jan 26, 2015 9:51 AM in response to Kurt Lang

    Kurt Lang wrote:

     

    Something I forgot to add.

     

    I know a lot of Windows users right click to create a new folder because part of the default behavior is to automatically make the name field active. The Mac OS, as you discovered, doesn't do that from a right click folder creation. Couldn't tell you why (because it sure would be nice if it did), but it doesn't.

    That is odd, because OS X does make the name field active for me, right-click, choose New Folder, folder appears with name field active (in blue), can't remember it any way else?

  • by Kurt Lang,

    Kurt Lang Kurt Lang Jan 26, 2015 9:58 AM in response to Csound1
    Level 8 (37,696 points)
    Jan 26, 2015 9:58 AM in response to Csound1

    You are right, it does! I tried it just a while ago, and the folder came up stuck without a chance a way to name it right away. Though I did just now discover the difference.

     

    If you are in the Finder and right click for a new folder, the name field is active.

     

    If another app is in the foreground, and you right click somewhere behind that app to create a new folder, then the name is stuck at "untitled folder" without a chance to give it a different name until you go back to it.

  • by eightpointone,Solvedanswer

    eightpointone eightpointone Feb 10, 2015 6:12 AM in response to Kurt Lang
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Feb 10, 2015 6:12 AM in response to Kurt Lang

    I think some of you are misunderstanding what otmaxo is saying. When you are in the save file dialogue box, you can press the "new folder" button, and then create a new folder which you can name whatever you want. No problem with that.

     

    However, when right clicking in the save dialogue box and choosing "new folder" from the menu that pops out, a new folder is created, but you are not able to name it! That is very frustrating, and it must be a mistake in the OS. Either you should be able to name your folder when you create it, or the option to create a folder through the right click menu should not be there.

     

    I think that suggesting "you're doing it wrong" is quite arrogant, when he is actually using a function built into the OS. Mac is said to be efficient, but when you use the built-in function to make a folder in the save dialogue, and then have to navigate through Finder to name it afterwards, that is about as non-efficient as it gets.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Feb 10, 2015 6:31 AM in response to eightpointone
    Level 9 (50,245 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 10, 2015 6:31 AM in response to eightpointone

    eightpointone wrote:

     

    However, when right clicking in the save dialogue box and choosing "new folder" from the menu that pops out, a new folder is created, but you are not able to name it! That is very frustrating, and it must be a mistake in the OS. Either you should be able to name your folder when you create it, or the option to create a folder through the right click menu should not be there.

     

    That is incorrect, I just followed your directions above and got this: a new folder with the name field active ready to be edited.

    Screen Shot 2015-02-10 at 14.29.26.png

  • by otmaxo,

    otmaxo otmaxo Feb 10, 2015 6:51 AM in response to eightpointone
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 10, 2015 6:51 AM in response to eightpointone

    Thank you @eightpointone that is exactly what I am saying! Makes no sense at all right? Why have a feature where you can create a new folder a certain way (by right clicking) and then not be able to rename that folder. You should be able to do it both ways IMO.

     

    I also strongly feel you should also be able to re-name files and folders from within all folder file dialogue boxes from whatever app you are in. There are a number of times, for example, when I want to rename a file before I attach it to an e-mail at the last minute via the attach file dialogue box and you just can't do this. You have to come out, go into finder change it then start again. How is that efficient? You can do it in Windows, open, close, save, attach etc dialogue boxes are totally functional at all levels, to me it's a no brainer. I'm just very surprised this is not how OS X works and have yet to be told a good reason as to why it works like this.


    Saying 'You just have to get used to OS X' 'stop trying to make it do things it wasn't designed to do' is kind of missing the point. I was totally expecting and willing to have to learn a new way of doing things keyboard shortcuts, general system layout etc but IMO something like this should be built in and I can't see a good reason as to why it is not.


    Just saying.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Feb 10, 2015 6:53 AM in response to otmaxo
    Level 9 (50,245 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 10, 2015 6:53 AM in response to otmaxo

    otmaxo wrote:

     

    Thank you @eightpointone that is exactly what I am saying! Makes no sense at all right? Why have a feature where you can create a new folder a certain way (by right clicking) and then not be able to rename that folder. You should be able to do it both ways IMO.

    You can, read my post.

  • by eightpointone,

    eightpointone eightpointone Feb 10, 2015 6:53 AM in response to Csound1
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Feb 10, 2015 6:53 AM in response to Csound1

    Strange. As said, when I right click and make a new folder (only from within the save dialogue) the name field is just blue and says "untitled folder", but I can not change its name. It might be something program specific, though, as I see that many of my programs actually don't have the option for right-clicking and creating folder within the save dialogue.

     

    Using the latest update of Yosemite, by the way.

  • by otmaxo,

    otmaxo otmaxo Feb 10, 2015 7:03 AM in response to Csound1
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 10, 2015 7:03 AM in response to Csound1

    Nope, that looks like it is the file name of the file you are exporting there. Show me how you can create a new folder from a open/save dialogue box by right clicking and then rename that new folder.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Feb 10, 2015 7:03 AM in response to otmaxo
    Level 9 (50,245 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 10, 2015 7:03 AM in response to otmaxo

    That's a folder not a file, note where it says untitled folder (highlighted for editing in blue)

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