Resize Finder sidebar / Get rid of "SEARCH FOR"

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Whenever I open up a Finder window, it looks like this:

20100813-d86yi541p3kb65f6bqsugsxwm.jpg


I can easily manually resize the sidebar, but when I open a new window it goes back to the above. Is there a way to permanently resize the sidebar to get rid of the annoying excess space?

Also, can I get rid of the "SEARCH FOR" drop down in the sidebar? I have unchecked all the "search for" options in Finder preferences, but the title still shows up.

Sorry if I'm not explaining very well! Thanks.
 
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Try this for the Finder window size,
Close all Finder windows, then open a *single* new finder window, adjust the size, column width, sidebar to your liking and close it again.
Now when you open more than one window they should be identical.

This all is because for some strange reason the Finder only saves the window layout in the window that is called "1" when you close it.
You don't see this 1, but the OS does thats why I made you close all windows and open just one.

I'm afraid you can't get rid of "Search For" title, if there is a way to get rid of it I haven't found it yet.
 
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Thank you so much! Worked like a charm.
 
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Just check one Search For box and give the heading a reason to be there. ;)

I have all but one checked, and I never use any of them.
 
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Back to my old 2.2GHz C2D MB after selling my MBP and wondering what my next Mac will be :)
In finder preferences>sidebar, if you uncheck everything under search for, the "search for" will be removed.
 
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Thanks! I've unchecked all the "Search For" items in the preferences..
20100814-t8qngdu9b6rq1c52dd6p5n3ihe.jpg

But the "SEARCH FOR" header still shows up. But that's alright, I'll just learn to live with it, or maybe follow toMacsh's tip.
 

bobtomay

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Try going back in to Finder Preferences and check one of them.
Close Finder
Then open it back up and uncheck.
See if that'll get rid of it for you.
 
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Ah, I've tried that and multiple variations, but to no avail. Thanks anyway though!
 

bobtomay

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If you really want to get rid of it, the next option is going to be deleting the Finder preferences file.

That would be found in your users home folder under Library / Preferences / com.apple.finder.plist

Move that file to the desktop, then log out and back in. This is going to reset the Finder back to default and it will create a new file on it's own. Give it a go again.

You can then drag the one on the desktop to the trash or back where it came from.
 
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What are the odds?

I unchecked all of mine. Heading's still there.

OS 10.5.8
 

bobtomay

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I unchecked all of mine. Heading's still there.

OS 10.5.8

Now we get down to it. Just booted up into my test Leopard system.
It appears that in 10.5 the heading remains, while in 10.6 the heading goes once the last item is unchecked.
 
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Yep. There really are differences. That's why when posting a question, it's always a good idea to provide the OS version, and, sometimes it's also a must when posting an answer in order to have clear communication.
 

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