That solves a long-standing annoyance I've had. Thanks. Works great in Keyboard Maestro as well.

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I'm afraid the original did not work for me when I selected a file; I believe because the path is set to a string instead of an alias. I am on 10.4.11, if that matters. In any case, there is a shorter way to get the parent folder, using the class "container," which allows it to remain an alias (like current Path). I also used class to check whether the selection is a folder. I didn't have the problem needing quit for System Events, but I used the more usual AppleScript exit of "return." I don't know how to make the name selected at the end either :-]

tell application "Finder"
	try
		set selectedItem to selection
		set currentPath to ((the first item of the selectedItem) as alias)
		if class of currentPath is folder then
			-- it is a folder
			set the parentPath to currentPath
		else
			-- it is a file
			set parentFolder to container of currentPath
		end if
		set newFolder to (my createFolder(parentFolder))
	on error -- no folder or file is selected
		set the parentFolder to (folder of the front window as alias)
		set newFolder to (my createFolder(parentFolder))
	end try
end tell

on createFolder(folderLocation)
	tell application "Finder"
		set thisFolder to make new folder at folderLocation
		
		set selection to thisFolder
		tell application "System Events"
			keystroke return
			return
		end tell
	end tell
end createFolder

---
FileMaker Developer
San Diego

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I'm no expert on applescript (indeed trying to learn it right now) but that "as alias" does not seem to work correctly. In particular, I selected a folder and this script always seemed to create new folder at the same level as selected folder, not inside it.

I inserted the line
set foo to class of currentPath
and took a look at the value of foo. Its value is "alias" and so the test to see if "class of currentPath is folder" can never succeed as far as I can tell.

I'm sure I'll figure it out after reading a bit more about applescript but unless I'm missing something, I can't see how this script could ever have worked when a folder is selected.

Cheers,
David

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The line

set the parentPath to currentPath

seems useless...... parentPath is not used anywhere (unless it's a special system variable that I don't know about yet).....however, changing parentPath to parentFolder actually fixes the problem (at least in the case where the selected item was a folder, which is all I care about)

Hope this helps others.

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This is really nice! Thanks!

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This same task can be accomplished quite easily without AppleScript and without touching the mouse.

1. With enclosing folder highlighted, type command-O. (The Finder view changes.)
2. Type command-shift-N to create a new folder.
3. Type the name of the folder followed by Enter or Return.
4. Type command-[ to return to the previous Finder view.

These steps can easily be automated (in QuicKeys or Automator or similar programs) and mapped to a keystroke combination.

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Dr. T - YOU MADE MY DAY!!!!!!
GREAT!
*JUST* what I was looking for...

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Dr T, Good call, but line 4 (Command-[) didn't work for me.

However, Command-W (Close Window) returns to the previous (open) window.

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The command-[ thing probably depends on your "Always open folders in a new window" pref. If you've opened a new window, command-[ has nothing to do. But if you've changed to the new view within the same window, then it will "go back".

Also, I'd change the wording of this hint from "Right Arrow to drill down into a few subfolders" to "right arrow to twist open the disclosure triangle of a few levels of folders". When I think of "drill down", I think of the old, common practice of opening one item while closing the parent item, as in command-option-downArrow, not expanding the viewable contents of the current item.

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I don't get this hint...???

I always use the list view in Finder and I customised it so the 'New Folder' button shows in the tool bar. Hit that 'button' and bang the new folder is created inside the selected folder. I played with this about 100 times yesterday after reading the hint and it works 100% of the time.

This in 10.5.5.

Why the hint? Cute as it may be it seems unnecessary.....

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I agree with rgray.

I tested new folder creation in list view in a folder 9 levels deep from root, WITH and WITHOUT New Folder… button in the toolbar. Even relaunched Finder after changing the toolbar; new folder ALWAYS appeared inside the current folder. (10.5.5)

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Here's how to see the problem.

Open your Documents folder and switch to list view. Highlight a folder that you know will have other folders inside. (We'll call it Folder 1.) Click the triangle to the left of Folder 1: The list of files and folders in Folder 1 will be indented. Select a folder from those in the indented list. (We'll call it Folder 2.) Click the triangle to see a more indented list of files and folders. With Folder 2 still highlighted, type command-shift-N or click on the New Folder button in the toolbar. A new "Untitled" folder is created within the Document folder. This occurs regardless of Finder preferences.

I beleive some people misunderstood the problem and were double-clicking on folders in list view instead of using the list display triangles.

The hint I posted earlier gets around the problem by opening the selected folder, creating the new folder there, then switching back to the previous list view. Apple chose the logic of its file system instead of the preferences of the users. Users who have a nested folder highlighted rarely want to make a new folder at the top level, they want it within the selected folder. We should be able to change this behavior within Finder preferences.

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Sorry, no go. In list view, select a folder, click New Folder button, new folder created in the window's folder, that is, at the top level on the window. NOT inside the folder selected in the list.

Tested on OSX 10.4.11 and 10.5.5. I even tried expanding the selected folder, just in case that was needed.

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FWIW: Path Finder does this correctly.

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