DallasJones

Q: Expanded Save Mode command for El Capitan

I find the minimized Save box to never show what I need and always having to click the expand arrow. With current apps, I have to click the expand arrow and then also choose Other.  I found the Terminal command below to work perfectly with 3rd party apps like Photoshop but TextEdit and Preview were not affected. Anyone know how I can achieve this in those Apple apps?

 

defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSNavPanelExpandedStateForSaveMode -bool true

 

I also used

defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSNavPanelExpandedStateForSaveMode2 -bool true

and with 3, 4 and 5 with no luck

 

Thank you!

OBS MacBook Pro (15-inch Late 2008), OS X El Capitan (10.11.6)

Posted on Sep 8, 2016 10:36 PM

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Q: Expanded Save Mode command for El Capitan

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  • by Luis Sequeira1,

    Luis Sequeira1 Luis Sequeira1 Sep 9, 2016 3:16 AM in response to DallasJones
    Level 6 (11,849 points)
    Sep 9, 2016 3:16 AM in response to DallasJones

    If you try a save and click the little triangle to expand the window, does that not then stick for future saves?

     

    Maybe there is a specific setting for these applications? That would take precedence over the global setting.

     

    Try

     

    defaults write com.apple.Preview NSNavPanelExpandedStateForSaveMode -bool true

     

    to set the property for Preview, or

     

    defaults delete com.apple.Preview NSNavPanelExpandedStateForSaveMode


    to remove it so that the global setting gets in effect.


    Likewise for com.apple.TextEdit


  • by Barney-15E,

    Barney-15E Barney-15E Sep 9, 2016 4:32 AM in response to DallasJones
    Level 8 (49,742 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 9, 2016 4:32 AM in response to DallasJones

    Once you expand the dialog, it should remain that way until you click the button again. There is no need for trying to do it via Terminal.

    Randomly adding numbers to a command will not make it work any better.

    When preferences do not stick, it is sometimes because the plist file is corrupt or you don't have permission to write to it. Try deleting the preference file for the apps that do not retain the settings. The preference files are in your user Library/Preferences and in the form com.apple.appname.plist. Removing them will require you to adjust any preferences which you had previously set.

     

    The save sheet size is a per-app setting. You are trying to set a global preference to control something controlled by the app itself.

  • by DallasJones,

    DallasJones DallasJones Sep 9, 2016 9:24 AM in response to DallasJones
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 9, 2016 9:24 AM in response to DallasJones

    Here are screenshots to better describe what I mean.

    The below image has the Save box I'm hoping to get once I click to save in TextEdit, Preview and other built in Apple apps.  Using a Terminal code I was able to make this work for all 3rd party apps. Hooray! I'll note that the app TinkerTool which gives a user interface to many popular Terminal codes lists it as "Prefer expanded Save dialogs when using new applications" which I'm guessing means 3rd party apps not preinstalled on El Capitan.

    Screen Shot 2016-09-09 at 12.10.48 PM.png

    Currently, I first click the drop down arrow which allows me to change the filename but assumes I want to save to iCloud.

    Screen Shot 2016-09-09 at 12.08.30 PM.png

    After clicking the blue double arrows, I get a short list of common, yet often incomplete, places to save.

    Screen Shot 2016-09-09 at 12.09.09 PM.png

    I then choose Other... to finally get to the expanded save box as shown in the first image. So I'm trying to cut 3 clicks down to just 1. Sounds lazy but I do this about 15 times a day so 45 clicks down to 15.

    Thank you for any help!

    I will try the advice already given.

  • by Luis Sequeira1,

    Luis Sequeira1 Luis Sequeira1 Sep 9, 2016 9:54 AM in response to DallasJones
    Level 6 (11,849 points)
    Sep 9, 2016 9:54 AM in response to DallasJones

    I am glad you posted the screenshots - that is always a good idea!

    Now I understand why you get what you get.

     

    If you save the "normal" way - by pressing Command-S - you'll get the "normal" save dialog.

  • by DallasJones,

    DallasJones DallasJones Sep 9, 2016 10:50 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 9, 2016 10:50 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

    I just noticed this today! I had the impression that Cmmd-S only updated the save but my guess is because I had already chosen a save location and filename for these files. I just tried it on a new file and now feel silly for all this trouble. Thank you for your help! I appreciate it!