Open / Save dialog path annoyance

slamex · 04-29-2004, 03:15 PM

Let's say I'm working with 4 different software at the same time (like Flash, Photoshop, Freehand and, Quicktime, or Photoshop, Livetype and, erm, Quicktime). And that Each one of those outputs to a different folder for organization purposes at the boss' request.

The problem I have is that I spend a lot of time changing the path every time I load or save because the dialog always brings up the last location I used to save in another software. I know, changing the path isn't really a time consuming task, but when it can add up pretty quickly when working with big projects that uses a lot of small files. Not to mention the risk of misplaced files, wich I assume are my own fault, of course, but it would happen less often if things weren't that way.

Is there a way to change the behavior of those open/save dialogs or do I have to resort to favorites folders and patiente?

Thanks

Raven · 04-29-2004, 03:53 PM

I know it is possible to change the initial defaultsave path for most programs by editing its plist file... Just can't remember where each one is though for thsoe programs... You need to find the com.xxx.plist file for the program and open it in Preferences editor. There look around a bit and you can change the intial path when opening the save window... i've done it for lots of apps (even MS once because I never save to documents but to folders on my desktop !) Hope it helps a bit !

AHunter3 · 04-29-2004, 03:54 PM

DefaultFolder.

http://www.stclairsoft.com

If I had to choose between DefaultFolder with a one-button mouse or a fully programmable 3-button mouse but no DefaultFolder, DefaultFolder would be my choice.

(It's actually slipped to "extremely important", down from "absolutely indispensable" under pre-Panther versions of OS X, where Open and Save dialogs were worse than their equivalents under any other OS I've ever seen, including Windows 3.1, DOS, and Mac System 2.0)

Phil St. Romain · 04-29-2004, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slamex


	Is there a way to change the behavior of those open/save dialogs or do I have to resort to favorites folders and patiente? Thanks

I know what you mean, but if you could set up your save-to folders in Panther's side bar and just click on them when you need. If you're not using Panther, you'll need something like Default Folder, as AHunter suggested.

colleenp · 07-15-2004, 12:26 PM

Hope this thread isn't dead, as I think my question is closely related to this discussion: using Panther and QuarkXpress, sometimes when I go to save or "save as" a file, the dialog box does not let me browse to the file's folder (which I keep on my desktop), but only let's me browse to the items in the finder window sidebar. Normally I get these choices, then when I click "desktop" it lets me browse to any folder on my desktop. Instead I have to save it to the desktop, then drop it into the folder from there. What's going on here?

04-29-2004, 03:15 PM	#1
slamex Prospect Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Montréal Posts: 39	Open / Save dialog path annoyance Let's say I'm working with 4 different software at the same time (like Flash, Photoshop, Freehand and, Quicktime, or Photoshop, Livetype and, erm, Quicktime). And that Each one of those outputs to a different folder for organization purposes at the boss' request. The problem I have is that I spend a lot of time changing the path every time I load or save because the dialog always brings up the last location I used to save in another software. I know, changing the path isn't really a time consuming task, but when it can add up pretty quickly when working with big projects that uses a lot of small files. Not to mention the risk of misplaced files, wich I assume are my own fault, of course, but it would happen less often if things weren't that way. Is there a way to change the behavior of those open/save dialogs or do I have to resort to favorites folders and patiente? Thanks

04-29-2004, 03:53 PM	#2
Raven Hall of Famer Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Montreal Posts: 4,782	I know it is possible to change the initial defaultsave path for most programs by editing its plist file... Just can't remember where each one is though for thsoe programs... You need to find the com.xxx.plist file for the program and open it in Preferences editor. There look around a bit and you can change the intial path when opening the save window... i've done it for lots of apps (even MS once because I never save to documents but to folders on my desktop !) Hope it helps a bit ! __________________ Waffled foreheads are a symptom of broken keyboards and inexperienced users

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04-29-2004, 03:54 PM	#3
AHunter3 Hall of Famer Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: New York City Posts: 3,003	DefaultFolder. http://www.stclairsoft.com If I had to choose between DefaultFolder with a one-button mouse or a fully programmable 3-button mouse but no DefaultFolder, DefaultFolder would be my choice. (It's actually slipped to "extremely important", down from "absolutely indispensable" under pre-Panther versions of OS X, where Open and Save dialogs were worse than their equivalents under any other OS I've ever seen, including Windows 3.1, DOS, and Mac System 2.0)

07-15-2004, 12:26 PM	#5
colleenp Prospect Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Posts: 13	Hope this thread isn't dead, as I think my question is closely related to this discussion: using Panther and QuarkXpress, sometimes when I go to save or "save as" a file, the dialog box does not let me browse to the file's folder (which I keep on my desktop), but only let's me browse to the items in the finder window sidebar. Normally I get these choices, then when I click "desktop" it lets me browse to any folder on my desktop. Instead I have to save it to the desktop, then drop it into the folder from there. What's going on here?