Folders on top in El Capitan

Send feedback by all means. After 30 years they may change their minds. Or it may surprise you how few people actually consider this an issue.

However, continually posting copies of your feedback here runs the risk of the thread being shut down. That is not what these forums are for. It is not a place to organise petitions or conduct surveys, as is made quite clear in the terms of use you signed up to.

In the meantime, as is the case for all of the last 30 years, the solution for you is to use a 3rd party app. Pathfinder offers this feature (and many others). Forklift has a similar option to group folders - not quite the same but close.

I had the same problem, I ended up CTRL clicking inside the folder and clicked on "Arrange By" then selected "kind" in that dropdown menu. my folders are now at top of the folder box.

I hope this helps

Solution at the moment: used a Finder replacement. I am currently using Files Lite, by Michael Kazakov. It is free and gives you the option to keep folders on top. It is available for download on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/app/files-lite/id905202937?ls=1&mt=12. Their webpage is: http://filesmanager.info/

Other programs (paid): PathFinder (http://www.cocoatech.com/pathfinder), ForkLift (http://www.binarynights.com/forklift), DiskOrder (http://likemac.ru/english), Transmit (https://panic.com/transmit), Unclutter (http://unclutterapp.com/), DCommander (http://www.devstorm-apps.com/dc), CRAX Commander (http://crax.soft4u2.com/).

I am not endorsing any of those programs. They are alternatives I found after reading some online forums. Each one of them have their pros and cons. Do your own research and decide for yourself. One place to start could be this forum discussion: http://discuss.binaryage.com/t/totalfinder-alternatives/4124

A newer and promissing replacement to Finder for those of us who like more personalization is Commander One, by Eltima. Can be found at the App Store or directly at their website: http://mac.eltima.com/file-manager.html.

We just need a simple folder on top option.

Right now I'm using with great satisfaction Total Finder with SIP disable. Like: http://totalfinder.binaryage.com/system-integrity-protection

FOLDER ON TOP WORKS PERFECT!

In order to Install xTraFinder EVERYONE must disabile "System Integrity Protection"

But that does not count for the option of "Folders on Top" no longer being available in xTraFinder.

You are either mistaken, or found some way that no one else has.

Thank you for all this. Sent feedback now as well. Switched from Windows to Mac to try out a new OS. For me, showing folders on top of files is not getting Windows behavior back, but is a convenience thing. 😁

TheAlikA wrote:

In order to Install xTraFinder EVERYONE must disabile "System Integrity Protection"

But that does not count for the option of "Folders on Top" no longer being available in xTraFinder.

You are either mistaken, or found some way that no one else has.

TotalFinder and XtraFinder are not the same program. So logaen is not mistaken.

Thanks logaen and dialabrain

I confirm that TotalFinder "FOLDERS ON TOP" Works. Tested with Total Finder 1.7.12

However using TotalFinder over XtraFinder feels like a bit of a downgrade.

"Enter to open folder", "Cut and Paste" and "backspace to go back" are almost as important as "folders on top" and small stuff like "create new file", "maximise instead of fullscreen", "Up button" etc. all play a small role in UX.

So there it is, level 8 Barney. Indeed i have come to this point a few times and likely more using OSX. it's called order of operations. There is an efficient path to get what you need done using the least amount of operations after banging my head longing for total finder. I enabled sort by kind. ( Panes view for deep fast folder navigation) and locate into the folder. then switch back to sort by date,name etc. So that switchback operation is a killer over a lifetime. I'm 20 years into DOS, NT and OSX . I think it should be default. For pete'e and everyone's sake sake. haha

I Still don't understand why it is more efficient. Please explain if you can.

In Windows, I start typing the name of a file I want, and it goes to a folder that has a first character close to the key I typed. Then I have to scroll down to find the file manually. How is that efficient?

I agree!
I actually think windows file explorer is more efficient than finder. (personal opinion) that's why I customise mine to port the best features of windows onto mac. I really like how in windows you can peak inside the folder without opening them, because the icon previews the pictures inside if there are any.

Mac being the "Graphical Oriented" machine, should have adopted that.

Instead I have to custom make Icons in photoshop, use a converter to convert the .png files to .icns then add drag them over a folder. sigh...

I love hitting a single key like "backspace" to go back or enter to open instead of three finger swipes or CMD+O
Let's face it apple didn't get it right... finder needs improvement. maybe it's because of patents that they cant use some features, but come on, they are still using the same thinking like they did in 1985! Sure they change the iphone port every few years without regard to how people feel about that, why can't they improve Finder to make it in the very least "Logical to use"

Here is a video I did ages ago about the difference between Windows & osX: https://youtu.be/sOlhsrufGoA

I actually think windows file explorer is more efficient than finder.

So how do I use Windows more efficiently with the folders on top. When I try to find a file I was working on by typing the name, it goes to a folder I don't want. I can never get it to select a file because the folders get in the way.

So, how is Folders On Top useful? How do I use Windows like I've used the Mac OS for 30 years? I just want to be able to start typing the name of a file and have Windows Explorer select that file, or something anywhere close. Instead, it selects a folder which may or may not have anything to do with the letters I type. With the Mac OS, it doesn't matter if I am trying to open a file or folder. I just start typing the name and it selects the first match, be it a file or folder.

i think finder is more efficient for sure. I agree with your position on the comparison between finder and explorer. I'm talking Folders On The Top, original feed root. Spotlight does not help me when i'm organizing thousands of video files with sub-folders or whatever.. I think folders on to would save ME a lot of operations over a lifetime and it seems to be point of contention with a lot of folks and it frustrates me to have to switch views so often just to accomplish folders on top top when i'm organizing my archives. though the operations regarding this conversation and time spent conversing on the subject have surpassed the time spent... blah blah ... haha. anyways . APPLE GOD(s) please put folders on top as view option . amen rah alahlakazam.

Agree. Just upgraded finally and had a bad feeling Id regret it. Been using TotalFinder for 4+ years. Folders on top is desperately needed.