Changing appearance of particular window

[cogreg]

Hello. I have a Macbook Pro running Mojave OS 10.14.1.

When I save an image (from the internet), the text in the "Save image as..." window - that is, the list of documents and images already in the destination folder - is so dim (a very faint grey) that I have trouble seeing it at all. How can I change the appearance of the "Save image as..." windows?

Thank you.

 

[MacInWin]

Welcome to the forum. You might try "Dark Mode" which has a lighter color for the font on a dark background. You turn it on in System Preferences>General.

EDIT: I just re-read your post and while the suggestion MIGHT work, what I think you are seeing is that when saving as is chosen the existing files are greyed out. That is by design to keep you from selecting one and overwriting it by accident, if I understand correctly what you are talking to. The greyed out items have a different file type than the one you are saving, so they are "protected" that way. If you change the file type, the greyed out items will change to reflect the new type.

 

[cogreg]

Thank you for your response, @MacInWin.

Actually, the file types that are greyed out are the same type as the ones I'm saving.
I used to be on Dark Mode, and then switched to Light Mode; it made no difference to the appearance of the text (listed items) in the window.
It seems to me that the text of lists in such windows used to be somewhat easier to see. Maybe my eyes are fading.

 

[ferrarr]

That is by design to keep you from selecting one and overwriting it by accident, if I understand correctly what you are talking to. The greyed out items have a different file type than the one you are saving, so they are "protected" that way. If you change the file type, the greyed out items will change to reflect the new type.

I have (accidentally) found that you can still select the grayed out file name in that window, and it will save it as that “name”, the file type, will be different. I believe your file type suggestion is correct.

 

[MacInWin]

I just did a "Save Image As" test and the greyed out files were all the individual files, regardless of type. The un-greyed out ones were the folders. Given that the box already had a name and filetype (from the internet), all it was looking for from me was the folder, hence only folders were un-greyed. As Bob said, I could select a greyed out file and the name of the file changed in the prompt box, but I didn't save the file to see what type it became as I didn't want to overwrite the file I had selected in the test. Again, it's Apple's way of trying to keep you from accidentally overwriting a file you didn't intend to replace. So I guess I would ask cogreg, why do you want to see the list of names already there? If the file you are trying to save already matches, the OS will ask what to do once you commit to the save, giving you the option to overwrite or keep both. If it doesn't match an existing name, it will simply save the image with the name in the prompt box. So, why do you need to see what's already there?

 

[pm-r]

It seems to me that the text of lists in such windows used to be somewhat easier to see. Maybe my eyes are fading.

Maybe take a shot of the window and what you are seeing and post it, then it may make more sense to the members here.





- Patrick
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[MacInWin]

Patrick, what he is seeing is pretty easy to duplicate. Just right click on any image from the Internet, then Save Image As and a prompt window appears with the name of the image and options on where to save it. When you select a folder that has files in it, the filenames are greyed out (very greyed out--maybe too faint for some) and folders are not. The objective is to pick a folder, so I can see why the grey-out of filenames. If you WANT to pick a name, you can (assuming you can read the faint grey letters) but, again, the objective is to pick a LOCATION, not a filename.

 

[MacInWin]

Dark Mode is a little easier to see, but the grey is still pretty dim, even with a black background.

 

[ferrarr]

I don't think Patrick will see it, if he's sill using Mavericks?

 

[MacInWin]

Maybe not, I can't remember that far back.

 

[pm-r]

Dark Mode is a little easier to see, but the grey is still pretty dim, even with a black background.

Oh dear, did the MacOS developers disregard the GUI Interface Manual once again???

It seems like the classic Human Interface Guidelines and Macintosh Human Interface Guidelines seem to get ignored more and more by Apple lately.

PS: It's still quite readable when using Mavericks.

But who started that stupid Apple light grey text on a grey background BS!!! AGGGGHHHH!!! I JUST HATE IT!!


Sorry, I didn't meant to digress…






- Patrick
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[cogreg]

... I guess I would ask cogreg, why do you want to see the list of names already there?

I give saved files a name consisting of website name and sequential number. For example, when I save a series of image files from logbuilders-timberframers.com, I name the first file "logbuilders-timberframers 01". Then to speed things up, on saving subsequent files from that same website, I just click on the name of the most recently-saved file (logbuilders-timberframers 01), backspace over the "1", and type a "2". This saves lots of time.
But with the greyed-out list now so dim, it is very hard to find the file name I want to click on.

 

[pm-r]

But with the greyed-out list now so dim, it is very hard to find the file name I want to click on.

How about creating a folder first, i.e. A folder for: logbuilders-timberframers.com and maybe it would show up better and you could drop or save all associated files into that folder.

I don't suppose adding a colored label or tag would help and I don't know if it would show in the list or highlight it in the list. Just a thought.





- Patrick
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[MacInWin]

I give saved files a name consisting of website name and sequential number.

Here is a hint for you: If you add a file to a folder that has a file of that name already, macOS will ask you if you want to overwrite or keep both. If you keep both, one will have the original name and the new one will have the name, plus a number added. That number increments if there already others in that folder. So, if you have "URLImage" in the folder and add "URLImage" to that same folder and say "Keep both" then you will have "URLImage" and then "URLImage 2" and then add "URLImage" again and you get "URLImage 3." Test it for yourself to see how it works. Using that technique, you don't need to see any existing file name because the next number will be appended automatically.

 

[pm-r]

Here is a hint for you: If you add a file to a folder that has a file of that name already, macOS will ask you if you want to overwrite or keep both. If you keep both, one will have the original name and the new one will have the name, plus a number added.

Good suggestion Jake, and how easy it is to forget to use some of the built-in Mac OS features.





- Patrick
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[toMACsh]

But the goal is to find the name and click on it, rather than typing the long name and letting the Mac add a sequential number.
How about an Accessibility setting of some sort? (to get the text to "pop")

Edit: OP, you can stop at the next post.

 

[MacInWin]

toMACsh, I don't disagree, but from experience, if he has entered "URLImage" a time or two before, as soon as he starts typing, it will suggest it, saving keystrokes. Also, if he frequents the same websites over and over, he could create keystroke shortcuts to add the name. System Preferences>Keyboard>Text is where to put the shortcut. For me, for example the combination ,-a-p-l yields .

 

[pm-r]

For me, for example the combination ,-a-p-l yields .

Well Jake, I'd say you're probably quite hip when you write to someone about the great apple pie you had, the receiver will think you're using some custom emoji.





- Patrick
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[MacInWin]

Nah, Patrick, I wanted to be able to point to the  symbol on the screen and to refer to the  watch. Hence, . I guess I could have  pie, too!

 

[pm-r]

Nah, Patrick, I wanted to be able to point to the  symbol on the screen and to refer to the  watch. Hence, . I guess I could have  pie, too!

I guess that would supposedly be  ?????





- Patrick
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