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Macos file explorer is the most annoying and unintuitive software I use regularly. 1. Pressing the delete key does not delete the selected file. 2. Enter key

Macos file explorer is the most annoying and unintuitive software I use regularly. 1. Pressing the delete key does not delete the selected file. 2. Enter key renames the file??? 3. Space key opens up some sort of fake viewer that doesn't always work. 4. There is no good way to browse a folder of pictures. 5. No way to navigate to home folder. 6. No way to see full filenames for long names. 7. Bin does not work consistently. I created a shortcut to it in the side panel, but that cannot be used for deleting an app. It is just horrible to use.

laumars 5y ago
You’re getting downvoted but honestly I can’t understand why anyone would defend Finder. It’s appalling. Half of the power user functions one expects from a modern file browser are hidden behind non-discoverable hot keys and the other half just don’t exist at all. It’s honestly the worst file manager of all the major desktop environments. And I’m including the GNOME here too.
- ungamedplayer 5y ago
  Because people can't stand criticism of their expensive toys.
  - leucineleprec0n 5y ago
    Bingo, though some of us are cynical enough to encourage it lol
- distances 5y ago
  I fully agree. I always had to resort to command line when I couldn't find cut&paste in Finder. Finder was frankly the worst part of having to use Mac for a project.
- IfOnlyYouKnew 5y ago
  Th3yre getting downvoted because they seem somewhat intentionally obtuse. For example; dragging home into the sidebar creates an easy way to get there. It’s also in the menu under “go”. There are icon and “cover flow’ views that work for navigating images. That “fake viewer” is the standard preview. It works reasonably well for most files, and you can install additional viewers.
sitharus 5y ago
Yeah, finder is a horrible mishmash of ideas poorly executed… but: 1. macOS standard behaviour - actions require the command key. 2. Yeah, that’s strange. I’d expect a command key to be required. 3. That’s quick look. The behaviour relies on applications registering an extension, and many don’t. Still, I use it all the time for PDFs and images. 4. Nope. 5. Go -> Home. Command shift H iirc. 6. The inspector will show you. This isn’t a good solution, but it is one. 7. Yeah. NFI why it just lives in the dock.
jibbit 5y ago
Is there a better file browser? The macOS one is by far the one I’ve used the most (os6,7..X). Many routine operations seem hidden or non-existent when I try to move to windows or linux (which I’m keen to do).
- ivanche 5y ago
  Double Commander works on macOS too.
D13Fd 5y ago
1. Command key requirement keeps you from accidentally deleting files 2. I actually really like Enter to rename now that I’m used to it. Renaming is a common operation in many instances. 3. Yes, space key opens quick view. It works with most common file types and is very fast. I don’t see a problem here. 4. This is a good point. The answer used to be Cover Flow but they unfortunately got rid of that very nice feature. 5. The home folder is not commonly used in their UI paradigm. 6. I’m not sure I’ve seen this behavior. 7. This is a good point. I’d agree that “Finder is just horrible to use for someone who expects Linux- or Windows-like behaviors.” Once you’ve learned it, though, it’s mostly fine and, in my opinion, a bit better overall than Windows Explorer. Yes, it could be improved. They really need a better cover flow replacement for browsing a folder of images or documents, for example. And they clearly haven’t been making much of an effort over the past few years to improve Finder beyond minor tweaks here and there. But it does its job overall, and long-time users (like myself) will miss features like Enter-to-rename if they adjust them to match the conventions in other operating systems. There are also alternative file managers for Mac OS like Commander One and Path Finder for people who want more features.
- perryizgr8 5y ago
  > 1. Command key requirement keeps you from accidentally deleting files You have the trash can for that. > 2. I actually really like Enter to rename now that I’m used to it. Renaming is a common operation in many instances. Agreed, so give it to a key like F2. The most common operation on a file is to open it. Enter should do that. > 6. I’m not sure I’ve seen this behavior. If you have a file with a long name "a_file_with_a_really_very_long_name.txt" will show up as an icon with "a_file_with_a...long_name.txt". Even if you select it, the name will not show. This is very annoying when I have similarly named files with slight differences. > I’d agree that “Finder is just horrible to use for someone who expects Linux- or Windows-like behaviors.” Once you’ve learned it, though, it’s mostly fine and, in my opinion, a bit better overall than Windows Explorer. I think you are right in part. Most of my pain is due to unfamiliarity. However there are a few things that I feel are genuinely horrible, and should be fixed. I think File Manager in Windows is a much better designed app with a very thoughtful attention to features and detail. You can get used to anything, but you shouldn't have to.

laumars 5y ago

You’re getting downvoted but honestly I can’t understand why anyone would defend Finder. It’s appalling. Half of the power user functions one expects from a modern file browser are hidden behind non-discoverable hot keys and the other half just don’t exist at all. It’s honestly the worst file manager of all the major desktop environments. And I’m including the GNOME here too.

ungamedplayer 5y ago
Because people can't stand criticism of their expensive toys.
- leucineleprec0n 5y ago
  Bingo, though some of us are cynical enough to encourage it lol
distances 5y ago
I fully agree. I always had to resort to command line when I couldn't find cut&paste in Finder. Finder was frankly the worst part of having to use Mac for a project.
IfOnlyYouKnew 5y ago
Th3yre getting downvoted because they seem somewhat intentionally obtuse. For example; dragging home into the sidebar creates an easy way to get there. It’s also in the menu under “go”. There are icon and “cover flow’ views that work for navigating images. That “fake viewer” is the standard preview. It works reasonably well for most files, and you can install additional viewers.

sitharus 5y ago

Yeah, finder is a horrible mishmash of ideas poorly executed… but: 1. macOS standard behaviour - actions require the command key. 2. Yeah, that’s strange. I’d expect a command key to be required. 3. That’s quick look. The behaviour relies on applications registering an extension, and many don’t. Still, I use it all the time for PDFs and images. 4. Nope. 5. Go -> Home. Command shift H iirc. 6. The inspector will show you. This isn’t a good solution, but it is one. 7. Yeah. NFI why it just lives in the dock.

jibbit 5y ago

Is there a better file browser? The macOS one is by far the one I’ve used the most (os6,7..X). Many routine operations seem hidden or non-existent when I try to move to windows or linux (which I’m keen to do).

ivanche 5y ago
Double Commander works on macOS too.

D13Fd 5y ago

1. Command key requirement keeps you from accidentally deleting files 2. I actually really like Enter to rename now that I’m used to it. Renaming is a common operation in many instances. 3. Yes, space key opens quick view. It works with most common file types and is very fast. I don’t see a problem here. 4. This is a good point. The answer used to be Cover Flow but they unfortunately got rid of that very nice feature. 5. The home folder is not commonly used in their UI paradigm. 6. I’m not sure I’ve seen this behavior. 7. This is a good point. I’d agree that “Finder is just horrible to use for someone who expects Linux- or Windows-like behaviors.” Once you’ve learned it, though, it’s mostly fine and, in my opinion, a bit better overall than Windows Explorer. Yes, it could be improved. They really need a better cover flow replacement for browsing a folder of images or documents, for example. And they clearly haven’t been making much of an effort over the past few years to improve Finder beyond minor tweaks here and there. But it does its job overall, and long-time users (like myself) will miss features like Enter-to-rename if they adjust them to match the conventions in other operating systems. There are also alternative file managers for Mac OS like Commander One and Path Finder for people who want more features.

perryizgr8 5y ago
> 1. Command key requirement keeps you from accidentally deleting files You have the trash can for that. > 2. I actually really like Enter to rename now that I’m used to it. Renaming is a common operation in many instances. Agreed, so give it to a key like F2. The most common operation on a file is to open it. Enter should do that. > 6. I’m not sure I’ve seen this behavior. If you have a file with a long name "a_file_with_a_really_very_long_name.txt" will show up as an icon with "a_file_with_a...long_name.txt". Even if you select it, the name will not show. This is very annoying when I have similarly named files with slight differences. > I’d agree that “Finder is just horrible to use for someone who expects Linux- or Windows-like behaviors.” Once you’ve learned it, though, it’s mostly fine and, in my opinion, a bit better overall than Windows Explorer. I think you are right in part. Most of my pain is due to unfamiliarity. However there are a few things that I feel are genuinely horrible, and should be fixed. I think File Manager in Windows is a much better designed app with a very thoughtful attention to features and detail. You can get used to anything, but you shouldn't have to.