how to "view as list" in panther?

[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

[appleosx]

There is a way of viewing new finder windows as a list. Click Finder on the menu bar, then click preferences. Then select 'open new windows in column view'. You can also select what a new Finder window will open. For example the HD or a documents folder or you can choose another folder.

Once the 'open new windows in column view' has been selected, close the Finder preferences.

You can now use either the Finder's file menu (New Finder Window) or just click on the Finder's dock icon to open a new Finder window, in column mode.

To always ensure the HD opens in column mode, click the HD icon on the desktop. When the window opens click view as columns from the Finder menu bar. Then close the window. When you next open the HD it should be in column mode.

[styrafome]

Quote: Originally Posted by appleosx There is a way of viewing new finder windows as a list. Click Finder on the menu bar, then click preferences. Then select 'open new windows in column view'.......When you next open the HD it should be in column mode.

You just told him how to make column view the default. He wants list view. If you look in the Finder menu under View, there are three choices: as Icons, as List, as Columns. He wants List, not Columns.

The closest way I know of is to close all Finder windows, open a Finder window and set it to List, then close it, but that doesn't work on all windows. You could try writing a script to change all window views, but I'm not a scripter.

[bobw]

Try this;

Open the com.apple.finder.plist file in the Preferences folder.
The first line;

AlwaysOpenWindowsInColumnView

Change ColumnView to ListView.

You can also do it in the Finder;

Close all Finder windows.

Finder>>Preferences>>General -- uncheck "open new windows in column view".

Open a Finder window, and set it up as you would like future finder windows to be...size, position, view options, etc. Do this WITHOUT selecting or modifiying anything in the finder window.

Close that Finder window.

From now on, your Finder windows should open up as you like them to.

[styrafome]

Unfortunately, all the methods suggested seem to only affect new windows. Existing windows, particularly many windows created and set by the system, are set for Icon view and you still have to change these over manually one by one.

[afb]

you may want to try using the terminal to execute some apple script code:

perhaps use find ~ -type d -exec open {}; osascript foo \;
and run some applescript that will set current view of front window to list view
then wait a bit.

warning!: i haven't tried this; it's just an idea. test it first. i would think this would take a very long time to execute.

another option might be to try and figure out what's in the .DS_Store files ...

[afb]

Quote: Originally Posted by styrafome … particularly many windows created and set by the system …

i remember there being a system-wide pref file that had special options for folders like 'Computer' (but that was a while ago; i've no idea if it still exists).

also, this hint may be helpful.

edit:
[hmm, there's no option to cross out text]

this what i was thinking about: options i believe you have to add to com.apple.finder.plist

	<key>ComputerOptions</key>
	<dict>
		<key>ComputerIconViewArrangeBy</key>
		<string>grid</string>
		<key>ComputerIconViewIconSize</key>
		<integer>128</integer>
		<key>ComputerIconViewScrollPosition</key>
		<dict>
			<key>h</key>
			<integer>0</integer>
			<key>v</key>
			<integer>0</integer>
		</dict>
		<key>ComputerIconViewTextSize</key>
		<integer>10</integer>
		<key>ComputerListViewColumnFlags</key>
		<integer>1</integer>
		<key>ComputerListViewScrollPosition</key>
		<dict>
			<key>h</key>
			<integer>0</integer>
			<key>v</key>
			<integer>0</integer>
		</dict>
		<key>ComputerSidebarWidth</key>
		<integer>88</integer>
		<key>ComputerToolbarVisible</key>
		<true/>
		<key>ComputerUseCustomIconViewOptions</key>
		<integer>1</integer>
		<key>ComputerUseCustomListViewOptions</key>
		<integer>1</integer>
		<key>ComputerViewHeight</key>
		<integer>366</integer>
		<key>ComputerViewStyle</key>
		<string>icnv</string>
		<key>ComputerWindowBounds</key>
		<dict>
			<key>bottom</key>
			<integer>670</integer>
			<key>left</key>
			<integer>87</integer>
			<key>right</key>
			<integer>937</integer>
			<key>top</key>
			<integer>304</integer>
		</dict>
	</dict>

that's the only one other than the trash set (which is really long) that i could find.