Finder questions?

[ColmOsiris]

Hallo everybody! I'm in Yorkshire in the UK, and I'm new here.

Is it okay to discuss Finder issues here? Does that count as 'mac OS Operating System'? I've got quite a few I'd like to discuss if it's okay. This seemed the most obvious forum. But I didn't want to start if this isn't the right place. Many thanks.

 

[Raz0rEdge]

Here's fine and generally don't worry about it. Take your best guess and if a thread needs to be moved, we'll take care of it..

All I do is clean up after all of you anyway.

 

[ColmOsiris]

Thanks very much. I'll make a start then. Hopefully I'll be fairly maintenance-free.

 

[MacBiter]

I've looked for your issues but can't seem to Finder them. What are they?.

 

[pm-r]

Thanks very much. I'll make a start then. Hopefully I'll be fairly maintenance-free.

I've looked for your issues but can't seem to Finder them. What are they?.

Are my eyes that bad that I missed a few posts in between the above two as I don't see any specific question or a specific reply?




- Patrick
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[ferrarr]

Are my eyes that bad that I missed a few posts in between the above two as I don't see any specific question or a specific reply?




- Patrick
=======

No posts yet, relax. They will get to it when they get to it.

 

[toMACsh]

… okay to discuss Finder issues here? … I've got quite a few I'd like to discuss if it's okay.

Go ahead!

 

[ColmOsiris]

Ah, sorry everyone! I was going to start a new thread, because there are so many things, but basically, the main problem is randomness/inconsistency, and the keyword is "sometimes". I have many examples of this, but I can't put them all in one thread: it would disintegrate fairly quickly! These are the first five.

1. When plugging in/unplugging headphones, the volume is sometimes muted, and sometimes isn't.

2. Desktop, and some other items, sometimes disappears from the Finder window sidebar.

3. Global settings for Finder windows do not work, and never have in my 30 years experience. They are also very limited anyway.

4. Double-clicking files (usually but not always images, sometimes audio files, so I'm expecting Preview or Audacity to open them, as they're the defaults for those files) or folders sometimes has no effect; even when Ctrl-clicking Open or Open With; these files are not damaged and they haven't been edited, and yet after logging out and in again, they open fine.

5. When clicking on the Desktop, Finder should appear in the menu bar, but it sometimes stays with the application that was in focus.

Any thoughts on the above very welcome. This is just the hors d'oeuvre. Several, more substantial courses, to come later!

Thanks.

 

[pm-r]

Double-clicking...

When clicking on the Desktop,

I have also experienced some of your mouse clicking problems over the years and quite often I have traced the source to the mouse itself and replacing it with a new one often solves the problem.

Even some of Logitech's better mice have failed and apparently they tried using or still do using a micro switch sometime ago

Something you might want to try, using a different newer Mouse.

I don't have other helpful suggestions for your other problems. Sorry




- Patrick
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[MacInWin]

1. Not a Finder issue. But I've never seen that. You might check the volume of sound as you plug in the headphones to see if the system is set for the same level on both options. Sound to the speakers and sound to the earphones are two different destinations and can have different volume settings. Also, some music players stop playing if the sound output device is changed. I have seen both of those happen (differeing volumes and players stopping).

2. I've never seen that happen, ever. What is in the sidebar has never changed unless and until I did something. But that symptom may tie to #3.

3. Not sure what you are actually saying, but any "global" setting for a folder display is over-ridden by the settings for the folder itself, if you have made that assignment. Don't know what you mean by "limited."

4. Got an example? It's hard to diagnose "it doesn't work." One thing to look at is when you try to open with a double-click and it fails, right-click and then click on "get Info" and see what app is assigned to open that particular type file. If nothing is assigned, double click does nothing.

5. By "menu bar" do you mean the Dock? FInder is in the Dock by default, typically at the far left end. I've never seen it NOT there. I have dual monitors, so the Dock can be on either one of them, but the only time I've not seen Finder on the Dock on a Desktop when I clicked on it is when the Dock is assigned to the other monitor. The other symptom, about the click not making any change, points to a defective mouse.

In fact, most of these could be caused by a defective or dying mouse or trackpad. I think Patrick may be on to something with his suggestion. Not only can a defective mouse NOT click, it could be sending spurious inputs that are making changes even when you don't want them.

 

[Randy B. Singer]

Ah, sorry everyone! I was going to start a new thread, because there are so many things, but basically, the main problem is randomness/inconsistency, and the keyword is "sometimes". I have many examples of this, but I can't put them all in one thread: it would disintegrate fairly quickly! These are the first five.

1. When plugging in/unplugging headphones, the volume is sometimes muted, and sometimes isn't.

I sometimes do things that are a holdover from many years ago. Decades ago you NEVER would plug or unplug something into your Mac while the Mac was running. That might cause serious damage. Nowadays that's not supposed to be a problem anymore, but it doesn't make sense to me that it's completely safe. Especially since some headphones have mini-amplifiers in them. I'd be worried about blowing them. It's up to you, but I simply would never plug headphones in or unplug them while your Mac is on.

4. Double-clicking files (usually but not always images, sometimes audio files, so I'm expecting Preview or Audacity to open them, as they're the defaults for those files) or folders sometimes has no effect; even when Ctrl-clicking Open or Open With; these files are not damaged and they haven't been edited, and yet after logging out and in again, they open fine.

Assuming that you actually have applications installed that will open files of the type that you are referring to, it sounds like you need to rebuild the Launch Services Database.

Download:

Maintenance (free)

Titanium Software | Operating System Utilities for Mac - Maintenance

Maintenance is an operating system maintenance and cleaning utility for macOS that you can use to perform miscellaneous computer maintenance tasks: run periodic scripts; rebuild the databases; delete application, font, and system caches; and more.

www.titanium-software.fr

...and run it using the default settings. It will be the first item at the very top. Running Maintenance may fix some of your other problems too.

5. When clicking on the Desktop, Finder should appear in the menu bar, but it sometimes stays with the application that was in focus.

If you are saying that you click on the desktop, and your Mac doesn't switch into the Finder, try this:

Go into "System Settings" --> "Desktop & Dock" --> "Desktop & Stage Manager" --> "Show Items" --> make sure that the "On Desktop" checkbox is checked (enabled).

 

[toMACsh]

3. … any "global" setting for a folder display is over-ridden by the settings for the folder itself, if you have made that assignment. Don't know what you mean by "limited."

If the issue is "failure" of Use As Defaults to be applied to all enclosed folders, this is the answer. It actually works as intended, and if it didn't, the rest of the users in the world would be upset that their customized settings for one enclosed folder get reset. The programmers had a choice. We have to learn to use what they've provided, because we can't change it.

 

[ferrarr]

Desktop, and some other items, sometimes disappears from the Finder window sidebar.

This sometimes happens when the user accidentally grabs the item and drags it off, then it disappears, and you have to go into Finder Settings to select the item(s) and add them to the Sidebar again.

Global settings for Finder windows do not work, and never have in my 30 years experience. They are also very limited anyway.

How are you applying the Settings you want?