From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.system

I had gotten rather careless with saving files, since it was so easy to
locate them with the Fnder. However, now that I am running OSX and
Tiger, on a new computer, I find the finder to be quirky and the help instructions useless.
At first, I couldn't locate anything and then suddenly it began to
work the way it did under os 9. When you started to type in the find
window, immediately it would start displaying file names starting with
the letters you are typing. But, after several days of working this
way, it reverted the prior state. I use File > Find and enter a name,
but nothing happens in response. It seems obvious, that something had
been set and then reset. I have tried, Name, Kind, Date created, etc,
but literally nothing happens. Even entering the name of a file that I
can clearly see on the desk top gives no output.

Can someone give me a clue as to how to use the Finder onder OSX.

Dave

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From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.system

davesvideo@aol.com <davesvideo@aol.com> wrote:

I had gotten rather careless with saving files, since it was so easy to locate them with the Fnder. However, now that I am running OSX and Tiger, on a new computer, I find the finder to be quirky and the help instructions useless.
At first, I couldn't locate anything and then suddenly it began to
work the way it did under os 9. When you started to type in the find
window, immediately it would start displaying file names starting with
the letters you are typing. But, after several days of working this
way, it reverted the prior state. I use File > Find and enter a name,
but nothing happens in response. It seems obvious, that something had
been set and then reset. I have tried, Name, Kind, Date created, etc,
but literally nothing happens. Even entering the name of a file that I
can clearly see on the desk top gives no output.

Can someone give me a clue as to how to use the Finder onder OSX.

There is a difference between what happens when start tying in the
Search field that appears in every Finder window and what happens when
you summon the Finder search window explicitly with File > Find.

Underneath, though, both interfaces use Spotlight. If you find these
interfaces confusing, try my free NotLight utility instead.

But even if you do that, you will *still* be using Spotlight. If you
find *that* too confusing, use DEVON Techonologies's free EasyFind.

m.


--
matt neuburg, phd = matt@tidbits.com, http://www.tidbits.com/matt/
Tiger - http://www.takecontrolbooks.com/tiger-customizing.html
AppleScript - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0596102119
Read TidBITS! It's free and smart. http://www.tidbits.com
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From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.system

davesvideo@aol.com wrote:

I use File > Find and enter a name,
but nothing happens in response. It seems obvious, that something had
been set and then reset. I have tried, Name, Kind, Date created, etc,
but literally nothing happens. Even entering the name of a file that I
can clearly see on the desk top gives no output.

Can someone give me a clue as to how to use the Finder onder OSX.

Note that immediately beneath the space in which you type your search
term there is a list of places to search. On the "New Search" window
that I have just opened the list reads:

Servers Computer Home Others...

Yours may differ. You should ensure that you have not limited your
search by selecting too narrow a search region. When I have no idea
where a file is (one of my Macs has six hard drives) I search
"Computer." That is the only comprehensive search that I know of. When
I have an approximate idea of where a file is I narrow the search by
choosing "Home," or narrow it even further by choosing "Others..." then clicking the plus sign to select a particular folder.

Davoud

--
usenet *at* davidillig dawt com
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From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.system

Entity davesvideo@aol.com uttered this profundity:

I had gotten rather careless with saving files, since it was so easy to locate them with the Finder.

That one really takes the cake. You should complain directly to Steve Jobs, since his software is too easy to use.

-- Gnarlie

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From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.system

Davoud wrote:

When I have no idea
where a file is (one of my Macs has six hard drives) I search
"Computer." That is the only comprehensive search that I know of. When

That is indeed what I was doing. Abyhow, I have finally found out how
to make it work although I don;t know why. I was opening the finder
from a menu bar on the top of the screen, if however, I open it drom
the tool bar it works just like ir did in OS 9. So I can now use it, I
just don't know why it makes a difference. Thanks for advice.


Dave

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From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.system

Davoud wrote:

When I have no idea
where a file is (one of my Macs has six hard drives) I search
"Computer." That is the only comprehensive search that I know of. When

davesvideo@aol.com replied:

That is indeed what I was doing. Abyhow, I have finally found out how
to make it work although I don;t know why. I was opening the finder
from a menu bar on the top of the screen, if however, I open it drom
the tool bar it works just like ir did in OS 9. So I can now use it, I
just don't know why it makes a difference. Thanks for advice.

Please note that "Finder" isn't the right name for this search facility
-- it is called "Spotlight" -- identified by the magnifying glass in
the blue circle at the extreme top right of your display I'm not just nitpicking, as the distinction is an important one. The "Finder" is the
top level of your Mac's file hierarchy -- the desktop and windows (if
you have opened any) that you see when no other applications are
running or when all others are hidden -- the place you are when you
manipulate files on your hard drive; copy and delete, e.g.

I failed to mention in my previous reply that Spotlight has its own
Preference Pane in System Preferences. It might be worth your while to
look at it if you haven't already, because one can tell Spotlight what
/kinds/ of files to search for.

Davoud

--
usenet *at* davidillig dawt com
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