Finding files in Open/Save boxes quickly

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satchmosatchmo
Posted:
in macOS edited January 2014
When saving/opening files in an app, it's frustrating having to dig through layers to the appropriate one.



There's probably some third party app that does a memory or smart save effect. But a ways back, not sure if it was System 7 or 8, one could actually call up the folder (in the open dialog boxes) by simply clicking on that folder in the desktop.

Is there something like this for OSX...or even 9.2.2 for that matter?

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  • Reply 1 of 6
    johnqjohnq Posts: 2,763member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by satchmo

    When saving/opening files in an app, it's frustrating having to dig through layers to the appropriate one.



    There's probably some third party app that does a memory or smart save effect. But a ways back, not sure if it was System 7 or 8, one could actually call up the folder (in the open dialog boxes) by simply clicking on that folder in the desktop.

    Is there something like this for OSX...or even 9.2.2 for that matter?



    But that assumes the folder or file is visible and not hidden by the open dialog and any other window.



    What's hard about command-D (which takes you to the Desktop) and then begin typing the folder/file name you want? It hilights it as you type. So conceivably it's one key command and one or two letters away from selecting your file. Then just hit return. No need to use the mouse, either.
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  • Reply 2 of 6
    johnqjohnq Posts: 2,763member
    Also between adding frequently used folders to the popup list at the top by clicking Add to Favorites, and Recent Items at the bottom of that list, you will seldom be very far off from where you want to be.
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  • Reply 3 of 6
    satchmosatchmo Posts: 2,699member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by johnq

    But that assumes the folder or file is visible and not hidden by the open dialog and any other window.





    Yeah that's true, but I normally have stuff open behind my apps anyways.

    Command-D is what I do now...it's just very very quick to find a folder the way I described it before. I don't know if it was an Apple utility that allowed one to do that in an earlier OS.
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  • Reply 4 of 6
    ghost_user_nameghost_user_name Posts: 22,667member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by satchmo

    But a ways back, not sure if it was System 7 or 8, one could actually call up the folder (in the open dialog boxes) by simply clicking on that folder in the desktop.



    I'm not sure if this is exactly what you are talking about, but in Mac OS X open/save dialogs, you can drag a folder (or window titlebar proxy icon) into the open/save panel's directory listing and it will jump directly to that folder.
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  • Reply 5 of 6
    pensievepensieve Posts: 661member
    What Brad said. With expose, you can start the save process, expose to the finder (or the desktop) find the folder you want, expose to the window with the save dialog box, wait a second for it to unexpose and then let go of the mouse in dialog box. Tada! Automatically in that folder. Sweet.



    Or, if there's a folder you frequently save to, you can add it to the left pane of the finder and it will show up in the extended save dialog box.
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