BillC
Nov 25, 2003, 10:38 AM
This contains two suggestions, and both are based on behaviors from the Finder that I prefer to Path Finder.
The first is in regards to the way Search results are presented in Path Finder. I generally use the Finder for Searches because I find the way the results are presented to be much more comprehensible. The Finder presents a Search results window with the path pane at the bottom. It's very easy for me to sort through the results and find what I'm looking for. Path Finder is much more confusing for me, especially the way the search results will appear in an active PF browser. Comparing paths for similar filename results is more difficult for me, and if I sort through multiple results I often have to back-track through the various results to get back to my original browser state. Of course, if I happen to remember to click on the desktop before a Search, then there is no active browser window and the results appear in a new window. Still, the Finder is more comprehensible for me, so I end up popping into the Finder for Searches, even though I use PF for most everything else.
Of course, I understand the PF method may be great for others. If I could just have a check-box option to force Search results into a new window, that might be enough. (But I do like that Finder search results window behavior in general).
The second suggestion is in regards to what happens when you click a directory higher up in the path while in column view. In the Finder, if you've drilled down into sub-directories in column view, and then go back up to a higher level and highlight it, the sub-directories in the columns to the right disappear. I like that, because it helps me know where I am in the directory structure. In PF, I might go drilling down fromdirectory 1, into sub-directory a1, a2, a3, etc., then jump back up to 1. "a3" is still the rightmost visible directory, even though the active directory is 1. This is visually confusing for me, and usually results in me having to double check that I'm in the right place, especially if I'm coming and going to PF from other apps.
Now, to be sure, this could be another check-box option. I can appreciate that the other behavior might be really useful to some, I just find it a little confusing. Usually it slows me down just a touch, and the Finder behavior makes more sense to me.
Otherwise, (and these are small points, to be sure) PF is great!
The first is in regards to the way Search results are presented in Path Finder. I generally use the Finder for Searches because I find the way the results are presented to be much more comprehensible. The Finder presents a Search results window with the path pane at the bottom. It's very easy for me to sort through the results and find what I'm looking for. Path Finder is much more confusing for me, especially the way the search results will appear in an active PF browser. Comparing paths for similar filename results is more difficult for me, and if I sort through multiple results I often have to back-track through the various results to get back to my original browser state. Of course, if I happen to remember to click on the desktop before a Search, then there is no active browser window and the results appear in a new window. Still, the Finder is more comprehensible for me, so I end up popping into the Finder for Searches, even though I use PF for most everything else.
Of course, I understand the PF method may be great for others. If I could just have a check-box option to force Search results into a new window, that might be enough. (But I do like that Finder search results window behavior in general).
The second suggestion is in regards to what happens when you click a directory higher up in the path while in column view. In the Finder, if you've drilled down into sub-directories in column view, and then go back up to a higher level and highlight it, the sub-directories in the columns to the right disappear. I like that, because it helps me know where I am in the directory structure. In PF, I might go drilling down fromdirectory 1, into sub-directory a1, a2, a3, etc., then jump back up to 1. "a3" is still the rightmost visible directory, even though the active directory is 1. This is visually confusing for me, and usually results in me having to double check that I'm in the right place, especially if I'm coming and going to PF from other apps.
Now, to be sure, this could be another check-box option. I can appreciate that the other behavior might be really useful to some, I just find it a little confusing. Usually it slows me down just a touch, and the Finder behavior makes more sense to me.
Otherwise, (and these are small points, to be sure) PF is great!