Folders on top in El Capitan

brand union wrote:

Sorry, yes. But i mean the " + " icon what I can find near the tabs in xtrafinder. It makes my work so comfortable, since it duplicates where I have been and can step backward also forward.

It turns out that it's almost Christmas, so your wish was granted :-)

With a little AppleScript you can have it all, and without resorting to Finder enhancements or alternative programs.

Suppose you:

1) have a little program that does what you asked: creates a new tab in the front Finder window, showing the same folder.

2) drag the icon for that program to the Finder toolbar.

Then you just have to click that icon and boom, it's done.

Here for the code - just paste it into a window in AppleScript Editor, give it a name and save as an application anywhere you like.

(* start of AppleScript code *)

tell application "Finder"

set theFolder to folder of front window

activate

end tell

tell application "System Events"

keystroke "t" using command down

end tell

tell application "Finder"

activate

set target of front window to theFolder

end tell

(* end of AppleScript code *)

btw, direct link to report issues with OS X: http://www.apple.com/feedback/macosx.html

Come on people, it seems this year Apple finally decided to fix a lot of longstanding bugs in OS X, maybe they'll fix this one too while "they're on it"! 😀

G-iPad wrote:

as I said this will end up a quarrel, and thats because it is not me who is not explaining the purpose of this thread, it is you who came here with his "30 years of experience" to tell us that our issue is not important because =you= dont need this function.

If you can't convince me that it is a valid use of time for Apple's software engineers to undertake, then you're never going to convince Apple to change anything. The argument that, "I just need it to be this way," is not very compelling. Changing the behavior will require a level of effort that could be spent on much better things. The Finder functions suitably well, so if you think you can somehow will Apple to expend the effort without justifying how that change will improve the OS and thus improve their bottom line, I think you may be deluding yourself.

If you think this is a quarrel, you must be currently attending one of those bastions of higher learning that think a disagreement is somehow tortuous to your well-being.

Barney-15E wrote:

The argument that, "I just need it to be this way," is not very compelling.

But that's your argument as well. You like the way it currently works, but you have no compelling argument as to why folders shouldn't be on top.

Both methods are logical, and a person may prefer one over the other. Grab a dictionary and check out the definition for "Preference", you might learn something. There does not have to be a right and wrong method, as you seem to assume is the case. It's very self-centered to assume that because you have no need for folders on top, no one else ever could. Despite the fact that nearly every other file manager and operating system puts folders on top. Do you wonder why they do that if it wasn't useful to anybody?

I don't see why you expect us to personally prove to you, through our own arguments, that folders on top is logical. The fact that so many other operating systems and file managers do this should be proof enough. As has been mentioned, if you don't want folders on top, kindly leave this thread so we can stop receiving notifications of your irrelevant arguments. No, we don't want to disable notifications, because we want to get notified of any possible solutions.

levymetal wrote:

Barney-15E wrote:

The argument that, "I just need it to be this way," is not very compelling.

But that's your argument as well. You like the way it currently works, but you have no compelling argument as to why folders shouldn't be on top.

I'm not asking for it to be changed. If you want it changed, you must supply a compelling reason to change it. The status quo needs no defense.

Both methods are logical, and a person may prefer one over the other. Grab a dictionary and check out the definition for "Preference", you might learn something. There does not have to be a right and wrong method, as you seem to assume is the case.

That makes the assumption that there will be a preference. Apple doesn't provide many options at all. In Apple's ecosystem, there is usually only one way.

It's very self-centered to assume that because you have no need for folders on top, no one else ever could.

My choices are completely irrelevant to the discussion. This isn't about my desires. You all seem to want Apple to do something different, but you have yet to provide a shred of evidence that your way is better, short of this half-baked appeal to authority:

Despite the fact that nearly every other file manager and operating system puts folders on top. Do you wonder why they do that if it wasn't useful to anybody?

I don't see why you expect us to personally prove to you, through our own arguments, that folders on top is logical. The fact that so many other operating systems and file managers do this should be proof enough.

I really don't expect you to prove it to me, but you'll surely need to prove it to Apple. All you have done as form of proof is the logical fallacy of appealing to authority (twice in one reply). If you are one that believes Apple actually pays attention here on this forum, then you should be establishing a fact-based list of reasons (possibly backed up by research) that show how putting all the folders together at the top of a list is somehow advantageous.

However, it would be interesting to know how it is that having all the folders stuck in one place makes productivity any better.

No, we don't want to disable notifications, because we want to get notified of any possible solutions.

Well, as you mentioned, that is a preference you can choose.

I'm not asking for it to be changed. If you want it changed, you must supply a compelling reason to change it. The status quo needs no defense.

There are many compelling reasons posted by me and others in this thread. Your choice to disregard those reasons doesn't mean we didn't supply them. Regardless, we don't need to provide reasons here as this is a user support forum. We don't need to convince other users that folders on top is better; we know what works for us, and we're looking for a solution for ourselves. We aren't trying to force to you use Finder in a way that doesn't work for you.

That makes the assumption that there will be a preference. Apple doesn't provide many options at all. In Apple's ecosystem, there is usually only one way.

Again, this is a user support forum. We aren't necessarily looking for an Apple solution (eg, Totalfinder used to solve this, until El Capitan). Having said that, if Apple were to do this, it would be a preference, as what happens when Apple drastically changes functionality. Think: natural scroll. You have the ability to choose many options within OSX.

My choices are completely irrelevant to the discussion. This isn't about my desires.

Yet here you are, fervently defending the way it currently works. Why bother to mention your frustrations with Folders on top in Windows if opinions are irrelevant? Don't forget this is a discussion about how to display folders on top. It is not a debate about which method is better, because neither me nor anyone else here has the desire to convince you that folders on top is better. We know what works for us, and we're looking for a solution to our problem.

If you are one that believes Apple actually pays attention here on this forum

Where did I say or imply that? It is well known that Apple doesn't pay attention to this forum, and considering your condescending reply, it seems it was your intention to remind me of this. So I really do wonder, why are you arguing? What do you hope to achieve by fighting back so aggressively & nitpicking every little point we make? Do you think your posts are helpful to anyone? If you like the way it works, and you believe Apple won't change it, that's absolutely fantastic - this thread is not relevant to you, and you don't need to reply.

In hindsight, writing this post was probably a waste of time because I have no doubt you won't actually pay attention to what I'm saying; instead you'll just nitpick this entire post to bits (like you have done with every other post) and derail this thread even further. But I shan't be reading any further responses from you. The only thing you seem to want to do is argue for the sake of arguing. You aren't truly reading or addressing our points, all you do is cherry pick parts of our responses to counter-argue. It could go on forever. There really isn't any point.

Again, this is a user support forum. We aren't necessarily looking for an Apple solution (eg, Totalfinder used to solve this, until El Capitan). Having said that, if Apple were to do this, it would be a preference, as what happens when Apple drastically changes functionality. Think: natural scroll. You have the ability to choose many options within OSX.

Think Tabbed Finder windows. Now there is no way to open a new Finder Window by cmd-clicking on a folder in the view you are looking at. You get a new Tab, not another window. There is no option to have the old way work. The option was removed.

Think Tags. With the addition of Tags, labeled items in the Finder is gone. Never to return. The option was removed.

Yet here you are, fervently defending the way it currently works. Why bother to mention your frustrations with Folders on top in Windows if opinions are irrelevant?

I'm trying to find out why that is such a boon to mankind. Why does it so incredibly useful that a five-page thread has formed begging for some resolution?

The example was given to highlight that this is merely a muscle-memory type behavior. I can't see any other benefit except it is what you expect, and having it some other way slows you down.

Do you think your posts are helpful to anyone?

I'm not sure this entire thread is helpful to anyone.

You aren't truly reading or addressing our points, all you do is cherry pick parts of our responses to counter-argue. It could go on forever. There really isn't any point.

Exactly. This thread died long ago. There is very little point to it at all. The feature has never existed. The third-party add-ons appear dead because they are based on injecting code into the Finder.

I read the thread, beginning to end, as I agree that folders on top is a basic feature that any file/folder navigation solution should have. I've used XtraFinder up until now and am currently reluctant to upgrading to El Capitan because I think the Finder navigation looks awful when files and folders are shattered all over. Personal preference, I know.

So, I'd really like for this thread not to be dead, because sooner or later, there will be a workaround that we can live with, and then I'd like to know about it.

However, having read every post since alabanco's original one, I must say that I'd like to see fewer posts from Barney-15E, as his/her posts are not in any way trying to help anyone facing this problem (or perceiving it as a problem). Yes, we know where you stand on the issue. Now please stop your trolling.

Thumbs up to users Cyril Kay, SPGremlin, heligo9, levymetal, G-iPad and the others who tried to keep this discussion constructive 😎

Finally, a question to those of you who've tried PathFinder: Does it work with El Capitan (also with folders on top)? If yes, how does it compare with XtraFinder? Even if it costs a few bucks, it could be worth it if it solves the folder issue.

I use Pathfinder all the time. It works perfectly with El Capitan. It's impossible to compare with Xtrafinder, which was an add-on. It's an entire app with a whole lot more options and features. For my money, it's worth it, and frankly, the only way anyone is getting folders on top before 10.12 - if then. A new feature like that is unlikely to be added in point update.

By the way, you don't get to decide who posts or what they post. If you don't like a contributor's efforts, don't read them.

the newest version of totalfinder is completely working! (obviously without SIP)

so folders on top and anything else work great. also for some feature which hasn't been done in totalfinder, xtrafinder could be installed at the same time for these features. further they work together as much as they could.

Terence Devlin wrote:

I use Pathfinder all the time. It works perfectly with El Capitan. It's impossible to compare with Xtrafinder, which was an add-on. It's an entire app with a whole lot more options and features. For my money, it's worth it, and frankly, the only way anyone is getting folders on top before 10.12 - if then. A new feature like that is unlikely to be added in point update.

By the way, you don't get to decide who posts or what they post. If you don't like a contributor's efforts, don't read them.

Thanks for the quick response on PathFinder. May give it a go once I've got El Capitano up and running. And of course I don't get to decide what other people post. Just saying that some posts (like yours) have been more helpful and constructive than others 😉

To all the people who are not satisfied with the current situation, please write an mail to apple: https://www.apple.com/feedback/macosx.html

Email sent from a lot of month ago with Yosemite.
But right now I'm still looking how put my folder first/on top! 😟

Hey heligo 9,

Thanks for the solution. This worked great for me and solved the problem.

For other users you can try using cmd+j and you can arrange by name and sort by kind, and then the folders appear first, and you have also and alfabetical order of the folders and files, similar like Windows.

thanx works 😀