Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, How-tos, Tips and tricks
Last post EVER about creating new files from Finder
OK, OK! We clearly have a wide range of opinions on this whole "How can I get my Mac to right-click-create new files, like Windows does?" thing. Some folks like the QuickSilver approach, some think QuickSilver is an anti-Mac-way abomination. Some like NuFile, and some like FinderPop (Update: and some, like Wired's writer, and me too now that I've tried it, like DocumentPalette.)Some think the whole idea is plain goofy and there's nothing wrong with going into an application to create a file; others think the previous people are missing the point, because sometimes you need an starter file right here right now, and this is faster than opening the parent program and navigating to the folder you want, or using a stationery file or template.
As usual, if you want something stripped to the essentials that works really gracefully and cleanly, call John Gruber. In response to yesterday's NuFile post, John knocked off a quick AppleScript which, in combination with the Big Cat Scripts plugin and the text editor of your choice, creates a nice little text file wherever you right-click.
We're through talking about this now; does that work for everyone? Good. Enjoy your Wednesday!
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mat Lu said 1:42PM on 3-28-2007
Nope, not good enough. People who don't like QS are evil! :)
Reply
Peter Skelton said 2:03PM on 3-28-2007
What if you want something other than a text file though?
Reply
Michael Rose said 2:14PM on 3-28-2007
Peter -- use NuFile instead of the AppleScript, and get whatever kind of file you want.
Reply
Danny said 2:21PM on 3-28-2007
I was one of yesterday's 'this just isn't the Mac way' ranters. But I learned something new and, to me, very valuable from Joshua's comment. He told us:
"If you think that finding the directory where you want it again is a pain just drag the directory from the finder to the file open dialog in the application. It will go right to that place."
I never knew about this before and I'm very glad to know about it now. And it doesn't need to be a directory. Drag a file into the dialogue box and the dialogue goes to the folder containing the file and then highlights the file. I'm sure the right click / Quicksilver fans won't be over impressed, but it's certainly something I'll be using in the future.
I wonder if this tip was new to other folk too.
Reply
Michael Rose said 2:35PM on 3-28-2007
Danny -- thanks for your comment, which raises a very interesting challenge for us at TUAW: what is the right level for usability and feature tips? I'm constantly surprised by what I don't know about OS X, and also surprised by what other people don't know, but in many cases when we do post 'basic tips' the consensus is that 'everyone knows that.'
Perhaps we should brand/tag our basic tips line and start from the ground up, so more experienced users can skip over the stuff that is too simple.
Reply
Aaron said 2:45PM on 3-28-2007
Please someone give me a hypothetical scenario in which I would want to create a new document, but not have the application related to it open. I just can't dream of one, and if there is a good reason maybe it'd help me be more productive. It just seems to me that if I need a blank document it's because I'm going to be writing to it RIGHT NOW. Maybe that's the issue, maybe there's a reason to have a blank named document to open later when you've got whatever it is you want in that document ready.
Still, I'm not sure, and since everyone seems so excited about this, I'd really like to know what all the fuss is about!
Thanks
Reply
Dave said 3:21PM on 3-28-2007
@Aaron
I can't speak for anyone else, but it's not just about creating new blank documents - how about blank documents with appropriate stylesheets already included?
Example: if you spend part of your time writing reports for clients and there are two or three different ways for them to be formatted (different format for each client, perhaps), then you could have a selection of ready-made templates and use this sort of trick to open up Word (or NeoOffice or whatever) AND a template with the right formatting, blank and ready to go, both at the same time. This'd work with FinderPop, can't speak about NuFile.
It's just one way to do it, true. There are other ways to do it, true. It'll only save you a few seconds, true. But if I put frequently used templates in my FinderPop Items folder, and I use that route just three or four times in my life, that covers the time I spent doing it.
Reply
korniszon said 3:29PM on 3-28-2007
Jeez, it's a lot easier to make an Automator plug-in for Finder with just one (1!) action: New Text File. Save it as plugin, and right-click>go to Automator dropdown menu and there it is. That easy!
Reply
Peter Cook said 4:14PM on 3-28-2007
What about "Document Palette"?
Reply
JeffDM said 4:26PM on 3-28-2007
Actually, being able to create a new file in Finder and having the app open the newly created file is a good idea. That would be the best of both worlds.
I usually organize projects by folder, and have several different types of files in that folder. Being able to insert a new file into the folder and work on it right away would be a good idea. I think NuFile just creates the file, but then once it is created, it's just a double click away to edit it. Sometimes I do keep project folders in the left pane of the finder window, but usually that's not a practical solution, for one, Finder starts flaking out if you have too many folders there.
I love Quicksilver, but this is one case that I'm not sure how it can do it as well as NuFile can do it.
Reply
Michael Potter said 4:42PM on 3-28-2007
@Aaron
Hi Aaron,
I use NuFile all the time. For me, when I want to type up some quick notes on a podcast I'm listening to -- or even for my own -- I find it very fast and easy to right-click the desktop and select "New File -> New Text File"
Why is this faster? Because NuFile will not only Create the file, but it will Open that file as well (TextEdit in this example), all ready for me to type. Then when I'm done, a simple CMD+S saves it right then and there.
Though NuFile will let you configure what the default name of the new text (doc, html, etc) file will be, I would like it a bit better if I didn't have to rename the file afterward.
But, I still think it's faster than opening TextEdit, typing up the notes and the using Save As. But that's me. Ultimately, you should use the method that works best for you, but I hope that helps explain how others might use it.
Mike
For Mac Eyes Only
www.formaceyesonly.com
Reply
pixelslut said 6:06PM on 3-28-2007
im really at a loss here to see why you would want to create a file without the application being open. at leas tin the manner every one here seems to be thinking (ie. in its native format like .doc, .indd, .ai, etc..). I can see just makign a blank file to write to for things like .xml, .conf, .css etc.. but nothing more than that. I always have a terminal window open so its no big deal for me to cmd+tab>[terminal]>"touch /path/to/file/filename.extenstion" but thats jsut me.
like wise for what people were talking about with predetermined templates i have a shell script written to do this.. well and alot of other things, again for use with terminal. (if you havent guessed - if im not in a design application my goal is to touch the mouse as little as possible). Ofcourse i could plug this in to QS if i wanted but honestly i havent really jumped on that wagon yet. Ive seen people use it and it looks sweet but i havent had time to mess with it.
Reply
Aaron said 7:02PM on 3-28-2007
Thank you all for the input! I now understand some of the impetus behind all of this, although for what I do (med student stuff), just opening the apps works for me. At least I know that I personally, am not losing any of my exceedingy minimal time.
Thanks all
Reply
david said 11:33PM on 3-28-2007
How about just having a decent Finder that does it for you...is it too much to ask? Maybe everyone is busy cramming stuff in Leopard that I don't need/won't use, like html Mail, Spaces, and all that other stuff.
Reply
Dimebag said 9:01AM on 3-29-2007
@Aaron
I agree with you, I guess this is the fallout from all of those "Switcher" ads…
Reply
don said 11:36AM on 3-29-2007
I'd have to say this is more of a unix feature. Doesn't anyone remember 'touch' ?
Reply
Federico said 3:49PM on 3-29-2007
This scripts and the other tools mentioned in the other posts (NuFile, DocumentPalette and QuickSilver with its "Make new..." action) basically provide the same kind of functionality we've had, here on the Mac, for years in the form of "Stationery Pads", but in a way that some people find more convenient.
So I'd really like to know what is it that qualifies these tools as the "Windows way" to do things, something only switchers could appreciate, like I've read here and in comments on the previous post...
Reply
Michael Rose said 4:52PM on 3-29-2007
Federico: There's a key difference between these tools (and thanks for mentioning DocumentPalette, I have to include it in the main post) and stationery pads: *location*. The Windows-style 'right click here to create a new file' lets you make that file wherever you happen to be in Explorer, regardless of default save folders for your apps or where your stationery files live.
If I open a Word stationery file, it's going to want to save in the last used folder from Word. I don't always want that; maybe I'm working in a Finder window full of pictures and I want to create a placeholder Word file right there, right now, to hold caption notes. Bang! done.
The reason these posts are focused on the Switcher audience is that the contextual menu new file capability is *not* the same as stationery, and they miss it when they come over to the light side.
Reply
Federico said 7:29PM on 3-29-2007
Michael, I don't think I've explained myself. I wasn't referring to *your post's focus on switchers*. I think that's fair, since as you put it they are the ones that might be interested more in this feature.
I was talking to the "not the Mac way ranters", whose reactions seemed to imply that creating a new file from the file manager is the "Windows" - the wrong - way.
When I wrote about "same functionality" I was referring to the ability of creating new files from the file manager; I know about the difference in "location", that's why I added that the other tools provide a more convenient way to do it than SPs.
I do find NuFile more convenient, for instance, but I used Stationery Pads before finding something better.
Reply
systemsboy said 1:35PM on 3-30-2007
The problem with Automator's "New Text File" is that it always either creates the file on the Desktop or makes you choose a folder. The point of the contextual menu is context — i.e., you've specified the folder by right-clicking on it and you shouldn't have to re-specify.
But I agree that Automator is the easy way to go here. And if anyone's still listening, I've created a couple workflows to demonstrate this functionality using Automator. Get 'em here:
http://systemsboy.blogspot.com/2007/03/scripts-part-7-contextual-menus-with.html
Enjoy!
-systemsboy
Reply