Can't rename files from menubar system-wide

Question

tengda Author

Level 1

10 points

Can't rename files from menubar system-wide

Hi all,

I can't rename iwork files (pages, numbers and keynote. even textEdit files) right from menubar.

After I type in the new name and hit return, it always reverts back to the original. Any thoughts?

I have tried deleting /Preferences/com.apple.iWork.Pages.plist which doesn't work.

Thanks in advance!

Teng Da

MacBook Pro (Retina, Mid 2012), iOS 10.0.3

Posted on Nov 20, 2016 6:27 PM

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Answer 1

Marianco1

Level 2

243 points

May 27, 2017 9:09 PM in response to tengda

I think this is a bug in Mac OS Sierra's Preview.app

Other apps such as PDFpenPro allow you to rename a file from the title bar when you press the RETURN key.

However there is a workaround:

1. Click on the name of the file on the TitleBar. Rename the File.

2. Press TAB - this moves the cursor to the tag field, and the file is renamed.

3. Press RETURN - to get out of the drop-down sheet.

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Answer 2

Nov 19, 2017 5:26 PM in response to Marianco1

Marianco1,

Thanks for taking the time to post the tip on using Tab and then Return for the above issue. I was having the same problem with Renaming individual sheets within my spreadsheet.

Fredwerks

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Answer 3

Marianco1

Level 2

243 points

May 28, 2017 11:40 AM in response to tygb

@tygb: The article you link to does not relate.

@tengda: is referring to the ability to rename files from the window title. This ability in some apps such as Pages and Preview is indicated by a "DOWN ARROWHEAD" symbol to the right of the window title (Unicode U+2304).

In these apps you are suppose to be able to click on the window title to change the document's title and to even move it to a different folder. But the behavior changed with Mac OS Sierra.

Previously, you can simply click on the name, change the name, and press RETURN for the changes to be saved.

Now if you do that, it does not.

I found that you have to go to the extra step of pressing TAB then RETURN to change the document's title from the app window title. So I think this is a bug introduced in Mac OS Sierra that decreases the user experience.

Other Apps like PDFpenPro still have the old and correct behavior of pressing RETURN to save changes to the document's title in the window title.

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Answer 4

tygb

Level 9

65,264 points

May 28, 2017 12:35 AM in response to tengda

Read the article : macOS Sierra: Rename files, folders, and disks

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Answer 5

chris_g1

Community Specialist

Nov 21, 2016 12:28 PM in response to tengda

Hello tengda,

Thanks for seeking help with your name change issues here in the Apple Support Communities.

My first thought for this is some issue with permissions. Since you are running macOS Sierra, the permissions are protected as it states in this help article: Repair disk permissions with Disk Utility .

Beginning with OS X El Capitan, system file permissions are automatically protected. It's no longer necessary to verify or repair permissions with Disk Utility.

But, the issues can still arise if you manually modified the permissions, or you are saving to an external drive or other folder. When you change the name of the file, try saving it to another location. The name you change at the top, is in the box with Tags, then a checkbox to lock the file, and the location to save it. Change that location, such as if you are normally saving it to the Documents folder, change it to the Desktop, or an external hard drive. If you normally save it to the Desktop, try the Documents folder, an external hard drive, or you can make another folder in some other location, and attempt to save it there. Any change? Also, make sure the locked file is NOT checked prior to changing the name.

Also, this help article explains that there can be issues if the home folder permissions were manually changed: Resolve issues caused by changing the permissions of items in your home folder . If the permissions were changed in the way this article describes, or if you have been experiencing any of the issues described in the article, you may wish to reset the permissions using the steps within the article.

If you have done both of those and are still experiencing issues, test if the issue is also occurring in safe mode. Safe mode will tell us if the issue is related to a startup item or plugins, and sometimes is all that is necessary to correct some problems with your startup disk. This help article will provide the steps for safe mode: Try safe mode if your Mac doesn't finish starting up . If everything is working properly in safe mode, but then is not working after you restart the Mac to leave safe mode and boot back into your user account, please check the section titled "If an issue doesn't happen in safe mode" for troubleshooting steps.

Thanks again and have a great rest of your day.

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Answer 6

tengda Author

Level 1

10 points

Nov 21, 2016 5:50 PM in response to chris_g1

Hi Chris, thanks for the detailed instruction! unfortunately none of it seems to work.

Here's what I've tried so far

change file location while renaming in the titlebar
repairing disk permission from terminal like you instructed
restart into safe mode and try to rename from titlebar

One thing odd though: I found out I can rename the file by putting a new name in the titlebar, and click elsewhere is the document window. It works with pages, numbers, preview and so on. I can't rename and hit enter key to confirm the change. When I click on titlebar, input a new name and hit ENTER key on the keyboard the file name would go back to what it was.

Any thoughts?

Teng Da

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Answer 7

brenden dv

Community Specialist

Nov 21, 2016 6:12 PM in response to tengda

Hello tengda,

Thanks for trying all that, and for providing the detail in your steps, and their outcome. As you stated, changing the name and pressing return also produces the expected outcome changing the name, and saving it on the test computers here.

Since you have tried everything so far, and the issue also occurs in safe mode, let's try creating a test Admin user, and see if it works properly there. A test user will let us know if the issue is isolated to your account, or system wide. Please check this help article: How to test an issue in another user account on your Mac . If the issue is being experienced in the test user also, then we need to check the section titled "If an issue happens in more than one user account" from the article provided above which will lead you to this help article: Mac OS X: How to troubleshoot a software issue .

Thanks for continuing our troubleshooting here in the Apple Support Communities!

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Answer 8

babowa

Level 9

78,832 points

Nov 21, 2016 6:14 PM in response to tengda

I just changed the name of a Preview document - simply clicked on the arrow next to the name and changed it. It automatically changed to the new name (including under its icon on the desktop).

Can you post a screenshot of what you are looking at when you're trying to change the name?

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Answer 9

tengda Author

Level 1

10 points

Nov 22, 2016 1:12 AM in response to babowa

yeah I have the same pop up but name doesn't change unless I click my mouse with the document window. hitting enter key brings the file name right back to what it was

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Answer 10

tengda Author

Level 1

10 points

Nov 22, 2016 1:21 AM in response to brenden dv

Hi brenden,

I made a test admin account and everything works out beautifully.

The questions is how do I get my working account to act correctly (be able to rename from titlebar and hit return key to confirm the change)?

Thanks in advance

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Answer 11

tengda Author

Level 1

10 points

Nov 22, 2016 1:23 AM in response to brenden dv

it is indeed isolated to my main account. any ideas on how to fix it? thanks

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Answer 12

Teddy_B

Community Specialist

Nov 22, 2016 11:33 AM in response to tengda

Hello tengda,

Thanks for providing the details of the test user account test. Since this is isolated to your account, and is not resolved in safe mode, we need to refer you to do further troubleshooting while speaking with an AppleCare Advisor via the phones or a chat. Please contact your local AppleCare using this link: Contact Apple Support .

Thank you once again for allowing us here in the Apple Support Communities to work through and isolate this issue with you.

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Answer 13

babowa

Level 9

78,832 points

Nov 22, 2016 1:20 PM in response to tengda

Are you still covered by a warranty? If not, I'd suggest waiting to see if someone here knows how to help you (which, I am guessing, would involve a clean install since it involves your user account) or consider booking an appointment at your nearest Genius Bar where the troubleshooting is free of charge. Otherwise, you will be asked to pay using Apple's support post warranty.

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