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Setting folder view for spring loaded folders Desktop
I absolutely cannot use the Finder in any mode other than column view because I prefer that view's simplicity. But it was driving me nuts when I would use spring loaded folders to try and relocate files and the sprung open folder would be (usually) in icon view. For instance, I have my downloads go to a folder called 'Downloads' on my Desktop. When I drag that file to, say, 'Applications' in the Finder, 'Applications' would pop open in icon view, and it would be all scrambled. To make the folder 'Applications' stick to column view, I tried this trick, and it seems to have worked:

Close all Finder windows (or make sure the folder you want to fix is not open). In Terminal, type 'open /path/to/directory'. In my case I typed 'open /Applications'. The Finder will open the folder in the offending view that spring loaded folders uses. Pick your new view (e.g., View -> as Columns). Close the window.

From here on, the Finder should open that folder in the view that you just selected. I imagine that you could also use Go -> Go to Folder... in the Finder, but I did not try that. For me, the CLI is quicker.

[Editor's note: You can also do this by just command-double clicking on the folder to be set. It will open in a new window, and you can then set its view options. In addition to the view type, you can control the size of the window. I have an "Installers" folder that contains alphabetical folders for filing downloaded applications, and it pops open in a window just large enough to view all of the folders, allowing easy drag and drop filing.]
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Setting folder view for spring loaded folders | 7 comments | Create New Account
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View change on the Computer Folder
Authored by: allard on Jan 14, '03 10:42:20AM

Hi,

I have been trying for a while to change the view on my computer window. I can't make it stick to "keep arranged", "text on right" and "show info". I can make Background color stick! Really strange! Anyone has a suggestion???



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View change on the Computer Folder
Authored by: panicX on Jan 14, '03 08:02:24PM

you could try to delete the com.apple.finder.plist and then setting the windows again
...offcourse all your windowsettings and icons you have added to the findertoolbar will
also be gone but you could take a screenshot so you can restore that.

hope this helps!



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open `pwd`
Authored by: vajonez on Jan 14, '03 04:21:41PM
FYI, you can use the following command from any directory in the Terminal to get the appropriate finder window without having to explicitly type the path:
open `pwd`


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or open .
Authored by: dierauer on Jan 14, '03 07:44:20PM

Even simpler:
open .



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open `pwd`
Authored by: mervTormel on Jan 14, '03 09:04:28PM

this assumes that you've navigated to where you want to open. otherwise, if you're sitting in your $HOME, issuing open /Applications is perfectly reasonable as it saves navigating from your home



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apple should fix it
Authored by: panicX on Jan 14, '03 05:53:47PM

basically I think apple should fix these things... we are at 10.2.3 and still
a window will open with the icons all garbled together like it did in 10.0

Still window prefs etc are not retained.

what was so great in Mac OS 9: if u opened the icon of the HD ,then set windowprefs
to (lets say)'iconview>keep arranged by name' then every other folder on
that drive would keep this settings.
Is it so hard to do this in OSX?



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apple should fix it
Authored by: grease on Jan 15, '03 02:19:58PM

That would be ideal. I am not sure why they have not done this, but my view preferences seem to stick after opening the folder in its default view, then changing it to my pref. You can try the delete com.apple.finder.plist suggestion from above if things are not sticking.



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