Feb 24
I don’t know whether this trick has already been mentioned:
In the Finder, in List view, you can navigate using the up/down arrow keys. Now that’s well known. If the selection highlights a folder, pressing the right arrow key expands the folder (same as clicking on the “open” triangle symbol on the left side of the folders name).
Pressing the left arrow key collapses the folder again. If the selection highlights a document in an expanded folder, pressing the left arrow key moves the selection up to the containing folder, which then can be collapsed by pressing the left arrow key a 2nd time.
February 24th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
You run out of tricks, don‘t you?
Keyboard navigation like this is posible and probably well known since the last millennium.
February 24th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
It came with system 7!
February 24th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
you also might enjoy the use of
command + down arrow
and
command + up arrow
which–instead of expanding–navigates you inside the folder you’re highlighting or moves you up one level in the path. It basically means you won’t have to move you hand over to your mouse if you don’t want to.
You can navigate through finder windows entirely on a keyboard. Which, if you’re a fast typer, can really save time.
I used to navigate solely by keyboard on an Apple IIc. I thought that the invention of the mouse was a silly thing. Something that would never take root. Never said I was Nostradamus. Anyway. I still prefer the keyboard. If you can play it like a piano, no need for the mouse. Happy hunting (and pecking).
February 25th, 2008 at 4:59 am
As a new Mac user I found this trick useful. I keep Trics, Tips, and Tools in my Dashboard and look forward to them. Thank you!
March 1st, 2008 at 11:59 pm
@Alex:
half way right
you can open/close an expanded folder in list view using the right/left arrow key in tiger. what you CANNOT do in tiger (and probably all the way back to system 7): highlight a document in an expanded folder, press left arrow key to jump up to the containing folder. at least on my powerbook that only works in leopard (tested 10.4.11 vs 10.5.2).
March 12th, 2008 at 4:24 am
pi, thank you for that trick! That makes my life a little bit better. I have a few more to share.
1. Leopard introduced hotkeys for changing how finder displays the files. Cmd [1,2,3,4] change between the different view modes.
2. Typing while browsing a folder is a mini find-as-you-search that moves the selection to the closest match. If it matches nothing, it goes to the top folder.
3. Knowing this, something like /, which cannot be part of a file name, will always take you to the top file.
4. At the top file of the current folder, pressing “up” does nothing. However, shift tab lets you wrap around to the bottom file.
5. Tab and Shift Tab function like up and down, with one difference. They wrap when the get to edge of the file list.
6. Spacebar on a selected file opens Quicklook on that file (new in leopard).
Now I have a question. Does anyone know how to navigate to the shortcuts panel to the left of the finder? I thought there used to be a way, but I can’t remember it now.
April 6th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
thankyou masonk!!!! brilliant!
August 9th, 2008 at 7:47 am
Is it possible to delete files by clicking delete (or fn delete.. or some other combination?). This would be SUPER helpful.
C
August 9th, 2008 at 7:50 am
dang it… just played with keys and apple+delete works. sorry.
January 11th, 2010 at 7:51 am
@masonk: i have the same question as you!! there MUST be a way to navigate through the sidebar but i can’t find it neither =/ if someone can help us out please do so =p
January 14th, 2010 at 9:58 pm
@chuck masonk and op: thats awesome, thanks.
@baisez: i really love your use of google translate – i get what you’re saying, but its a hilarious bit of english. (im not mocking you or what you’re saying, i agree – im laughing at the translation).