[charlien5]

Is there a way, through the terminal or other wise, to make the default view for ALL finder windows to be as List? It is a bit annoying to always have to switch the finder window view back to list.
Has anyone done this, or know how to do it?

i have a emac 700 mhz os x 10.3.7

[MPMoriarty]

I ran into this problem a long time ago and to get around it, I created my own apple script to do the job. If you would like it, just say so and I will post it here in the thread.

[charlien5]

Originally posted by MPMoriarty:
I ran into this problem a long time ago and to get around it, I created my own apple script to do the job. If you would like it, just say so and I will post it here in the thread.

i would like to see it if you can explain exactly how i use it - i have no experience of using apple script but would like to solve this problem
many thanks

charlie

[m a d r a]

it's a lot easier than that...

first turn off 'open new windows in column view' in the finder prefs. now open a new finder window. set it to list view. close the finder window - don't do anything else to it just open, select view option and close. from now on all new finder windows will adopt this view.

[charlien5]

Originally posted by m a d r a:
it's a lot easier than that...

first turn off 'open new windows in column view' in the finder prefs. now open a new finder window. set it to list view. close the finder window - don't do anything else to it just open, select view option and close. from now on all new finder windows will adopt this view.

thanks but i've tried that but unfortunately not all windows do adopt list view in my experience anyway.......

[m a d r a]

Originally posted by charlien5:
thanks but i've tried that but unfortunately not all windows do adopt list view in my experience anyway.......

in theory it should work for every window but, unfortunately the finder's a bit retarded, so YMMV.

i prefer the column view which [having its own preference available in the finder] appears to be the apple approved one too, but even then, disc images invariably open in icon view as does the 'show package contents' window spawned when delving into an app. it seems the finder treats preferences as 'suggestions' rather than commands

[MPMoriarty]

Ok here it is...

-------------------------------------------------------
tell application "Finder"
close every window
tell the container window of home
set current view to list view
set visible of column id modification date column of list view options of it to true
set visible of column id creation date column of list view options of it to false
set visible of column id size column of list view options of it to true
set visible of column id kind column of list view options of it to true
set visible of column id version column of list view options of it to false
set visible of column id comment column of list view options of it to true
set visible of column id label column of list view options of it to true
end tell
with timeout of 300 seconds
tell the container window of every folder of �
the entire contents of home
set current view to list view
set visible of column id modification date column of list view options of it to true
set visible of column id creation date column of list view options of it to false
set visible of column id size column of list view options of it to true
set visible of column id kind column of list view options of it to true
set visible of column id version column of list view options of it to false
set visible of column id comment column of list view options of it to true
set visible of column id label column of list view options of it to true
end tell
end timeout
end tell

------------------------------------------------------------

You will probably want to customize this script to display the specific columns you want to appear in list view. These are the ones I prefer to be on by default.

To make the script work, simply go into...

Applications > Applescript > Script Editor

Now just copy and paste this script into the window and click run

Mike

[MartiNZ]

Can you change the order of the columns with a script as well? I prefer to have Name, Size, Type, Modified but because Finder makes you change it for every window I don't use list view. I'm usually in icon view but I'm now trying (again) to change across to column view - having 10 point text for it helps, in some ways.

[MPMoriarty]

Yes you can, but I don't know exactly how. I just remember reading about it when trying to create this script.

[Madrag]

there is a link to show you how to open all new windows in column view: http://www.apple.com/pro/tips/columnview.html

but this only works for the new windows...

the old ones have the .DS Store file that tells them how to show the window...

[m a d r a]

Originally posted by Madrag:
......the old ones have the .DS Store file that tells them how to show the window...

is that what the '.DS Store' file is for? i always thought it was to tell the finder to use a custom icon for the folder.

[charlien5]

Originally posted by MPMoriarty:
Ok here it is...

-------------------------------------------------------
tell application "Finder"
close every window
tell the container window of home
set current view to list view
set visible of column id modification date column of list view options of it to true
set visible of column id creation date column of list view options of it to false
set visible of column id size column of list view options of it to true
set visible of column id kind column of list view options of it to true
set visible of column id version column of list view options of it to false
set visible of column id comment column of list view options of it to true
set visible of column id label column of list view options of it to true
end tell
with timeout of 300 seconds
tell the container window of every folder of �
the entire contents of home
set current view to list view
set visible of column id modification date column of list view options of it to true
set visible of column id creation date column of list view options of it to false
set visible of column id size column of list view options of it to true
set visible of column id kind column of list view options of it to true
set visible of column id version column of list view options of it to false
set visible of column id comment column of list view options of it to true
set visible of column id label column of list view options of it to true
end tell
end timeout
end tell

------------------------------------------------------------

You will probably want to customize this script to display the specific columns you want to appear in list view. These are the ones I prefer to be on by default.

To make the script work, simply go into...

Applications > Applescript > Script Editor

Now just copy and paste this script into the window and click run

Mike

thank you this seems to work great at least for the windows opened from the dock BUT....... it doesnt seem to work for windows opened in finder if i click on my hard drive or external hard drives. i have to click on these drives as they don't appear when i click on the finder icon in the dock.
is there another applescript or what else can i do?
many thanks
charlie

[MPMoriarty]

Well the script I created only works for all the folders inside your home directory. External drives and folders outside your home folder aren't changed.