10.3: Recreate the Go -> Documents Finder menu option

Nov 28, '03 10:11:00AM

Contributed by: nobody

One Feature I liked was removed in panther, the Go -> Documents option in the Finder's Go menu. It's easy to recreate it, though. You need a text editor; I use Joe in the Terminal, but BBedit or pico will do as well. Open a terminal and type:

 % cd /System/Library/CoreServices/Finder.app/Contents/Resources/
 % cd English.lproj [or as appropriate for your language setting]
 % cd Menus.nib
With your favourite text editor, edit the file objects.xib -- sudo pico objects.xib, for example. Search for GoUt, and you will find somthing like:
  <object class="IBCarbonMenuItem" id="712">
  <string name="title">Utilities</string>
  <string name="keyEquivalent">U</string>
  <int name="keyEquivalentModifier">1179648</int>
  <ostype name="command">GoUt</ostype>
  </object>
Now, copy this sequence, and insert it just below. Then edit it to:
  <object class="IBCarbonMenuItem" id="712">
  <string name="title">Documents</string>
  <string name="keyEquivalent">D</string>
  <int name="keyEquivalentModifier">1179648</int>
  <ostype name="command">GoDo</ostype>
  </object>
That's it. Logout and login again and check your "Go" menu. Apple made it really easy to customise the "Go" menu. I don't know what happens if you insert GoRe instead of GoDo. Maybe you will be taken to the next availible Restaurant, which is at the End of the Universe ?

Do not forget to make a backup of objects.xib before modifying! I am not sure if it's OK to leave this line ...
  <object class="IBCarbonMenuItem" id="712">
... as it is. But on my PowerBook, it works. I am happy to have the Go -> Documents Menu availible again.

[robg adds: I would think that the duplicate IBCarbonMenuItem value would cause some sort of problems somewhere ... but this seemed to work in my testing. Anyone care to comment?]

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