OSX 'save as' dialogue tip

[__archiben]

not a problem, but the tips forum is locked to us mere mortals . . .

shout if this is old news, but i've only just discovered it!

whenever you are using the 'save as' dialogue with OSX (or an initial 'save' for that matter), clicking on an existing file name will automatically make that the default name for the file to be saved.

so if, for example, you have an "untitled" document: simply clicking on a file already saved with your own naming conventions will change the "untitled" to "<yourdocname>". it's then easy to replace a few letters or numbers rather than type out the whole lot.

useful for saving out PDFs from preview as it gets rid of that "preview of blah blah . . " nonsense really quickly. also useful for writing over existing files quickly, so take care!

maybe this is an old OS9 feature, i've never seen it before. anybody?

~/archiben

[tsturm]

I have noticed this same feature.

I have only seen it in OSX. In fact, I have only noticed it in OSX 10.3.x.

Not sure if this works for all applications or just ArchiCAD. I was frustrated at first by it as the names of my files kept changing on me somehow. Now that I understand and know when it happens I am better able to navigate around my directories without changing my file name by accident.

Can be a very neat feature or extreme nuisance.

[__archiben]

it works for all applications as far as i can see . . .

i'm finding it quite a help.

~/archiben

[Anonymous]

Ben,

You've just discovered the feature that Windows users have enjoyed forever (at least as long as I can remember) but is brand new to Mac OS X 10.3. This is a system feature we cross-platformers have been wanting for years on the Mac, but during Steve Job's sabbatical Apple was deeply infected with the "not invented here" disease. In OS X they've been working hard to steal all the good ideas they can find in Windows and even improving them where they can (like fast user switching).

[Anonymous]

I've enjoyed this feature for a few years (mostly in OS 9) via a terrific shareware app named Default Folder (?). It does that plus a whole lot more - like allowing you to make the 'Replace' button and others the default button for those keyboard-centric people like myself, and providing a handy list of recently accessed folders, files etc. It's available for OS X as well and has even more time-saving/organizing features. I'll probably buy again when I have the time. For me, Default Folder and FruitMenu are 2 essential shareware productivity tools.