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Finally! - How to Automatically Right Size Columns Individually in Finder

L

Life,Death,Tech

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jul 19, 2010
7
0
How to Automatically 'Right Size All Columns Individually' in Finder

This feature is still missing from OS X after all these years, but is finally possible thanks to the free app XtraFinder.

Finder>XtraFinder>Preferences>Features>"Automatically adjust width of Name column"
 

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Last edited:
I don't get the problem. What does this fix?

Columns are, by default, sized individually.
Use <alt> and drag to get all columns the same size.
Double-click on the column control to make it fit the contents.
 
benwiggy said:
I don't get the problem. What does this fix?

Columns are, by default, sized individually.
Use <alt> and drag to get all columns the same size.
Double-click on the column control to make it fit the contents.
Click to expand...

The problem with OS X is that it does not automatically adjust the width of the columns. This app is for people who don't want to have to double-click the column control every single time they want to see the full file name in a new finder window. XtraFinder adjusts column width on the fly every time you navigate to a new folder.

This isn't for everyone, but it solves one of the biggest pet peeves I have with OS X.
 
Risco said:
XtraFinder is such a good app, and it is free.
Click to expand...

I hard a hard time finding it. I kept searching for Finder enhancements and dual-pane, etc. and I kept finding commercial/shareware ones that cost over $40 in some cases. I don't mind paying for a good program, but $40 is out of line just to get dual-panes, which is all I really wanted at the time. I didn't think I'd care for tabs in Finder, but it's really pretty darn nice, after all. I didn't even see a donation-ware request on this guy's site. I'd gladly kick in $10 for this thing just to encourage maintenance updates to ensure it keeps working with newer OSX updates. I don't know why Apple has never offered tabs or dual-pane with Finder to begin with. All these OSX updates and Finder pretty much still sucks....

The only option I had a problem with in XtraFinder is the color icons option. They look great (I hate the black&white sterile thing Apple switched to with iTunes awhile back and I'm glad to see at least iTunes 11 with its other quibbles at least brought color back). But Mountain Lion is still grey in many areas. The problem here is that Finder slows to a crawl with it turned on (it'll lag and then give a spinning beach ball for several seconds when I do anything; I turn color icons off and it runs full speed with no issues even with loads of other options turned on in XtraFinder).
 
MagnusVonMagnum said:
I hard a hard time finding it. I kept searching for Finder enhancements and dual-pane, etc. and I kept finding commercial/shareware ones that cost over $40 in some cases. I don't mind paying for a good program, but $40 is out of line just to get dual-panes, which is all I really wanted at the time. I didn't think I'd care for tabs in Finder, but it's really pretty darn nice, after all. I didn't even see a donation-ware request on this guy's site. I'd gladly kick in $10 for this thing just to encourage maintenance updates to ensure it keeps working with newer OSX updates. I don't know why Apple has never offered tabs or dual-pane with Finder to begin with. All these OSX updates and Finder pretty much still sucks....

The only option I had a problem with in XtraFinder is the color icons option. They look great (I hate the black&white sterile thing Apple switched to with iTunes awhile back and I'm glad to see at least iTunes 11 with its other quibbles at least brought color back). But Mountain Lion is still grey in many areas. The problem here is that Finder slows to a crawl with it turned on (it'll lag and then give a spinning beach ball for several seconds when I do anything; I turn color icons off and it runs full speed with no issues even with loads of other options turned on in XtraFinder).
Click to expand...


Well he does bring out updates on a very regular basis, in fact today was when he brought out a new one. I have never contacted him, he does however seem to notice bugs and squash them very quickly. I would give him an email, as I don't use colour icons tbh.
 
Risco said:
Well he does bring out updates on a very regular basis, in fact today was when he brought out a new one. I have never contacted him, he does however seem to notice bugs and squash them very quickly. I would give him an email, as I don't use colour icons tbh.
Click to expand...

Thanks for bringing it to my attention. I updated and even though it didn't mention it fixed that specific problem (it said it fixed numerous bugs or something to that effect), it does appear to have fixed it. I turned color side-bar icons on and no more delays so far.

Now if only someone had a fix for full-screen apps that take over the other display in dual-monitor mode....
 
benwiggy said:
I don't get the problem. What does this fix?

Columns are, by default, sized individually.
Use <alt> and drag to get all columns the same size.
Double-click on the column control to make it fit the contents.
Click to expand...

This does not work on my macbook, this double clicking on the column control. If I do that the width goes back to a standard value which is too small. I am on OSX 10.8.3
I must add to this, that the column-click 'sometimes' works, but it is absolutely unpredictable when and when not.

This holds the same for the situation with shutdown. I have "reopen windows.." NOT ticked, I want all windows to close and each day start clean when I start up, but arbitrarily my windows will automatically be reloaded.
 
"Finally!" is right

I only wish I hadn't stopped (paused) my search for this feature for so long! I've been waiting for it to be built into Finder for a decade. I wish I knew how to have done this. Good thing there are much smarter people out there than me! The only thing missing from this app & the owner's site is a DONATE button!
 
I haven't tried XtraFinder...does it have to be running all the time to fix the window problem?

I've been using the script I found here. I created an application from the script (called it "Fix Window") and put it in the finder window toolbar. One click and the window columns sort out.
 
It does have to be running, but the app doesn't live in the dock, you can even remove it from the menu bar. You can then access it by having finder the active application, then click Finder from the menu bar, Xtra is at the bottom of that drop down menu.

Once you select the option to "fix window" you never have to click anything again. It just works. For each column, each instance.

I did not see an option to "run on system startup" but if it doesn't, one could easily add it to their login items in System Preferences.

This and so much more, including action key modifiers. It's free, give it a try!

----------
Che Castro said:
How do you get the 3 options that are in the picture ?

Right size column individually
Click to expand...

Che, as far as I know, that is a "feature" of Mavericks.
I think the OP is just demonstrating that XtraFinder does that for you automatically.
 
thank you!

Xtra Finder is superb - fixes all the horrible misfeatures forced on me by Lion OS, by Apple who think they know what I want better than I know myself.

Too good for words.
 
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