Mac 101: Mastering the Save Dialog

The Save dialog in Mac OS X (it's the box you get when you press Command-S) can often lead switchers, and inexperienced Mac users, astray. When you save a document you are presented with a dialog box like the one above (this example is from TextEdit) which is a bit limiting. Do I need to use the drop down menu for everything? How do I save this document some place other than the defaults under the "Where" pop-up menu? Read on to find out how to master any Save dialog box on Mac OS X.The way to get into all the options of saving may not be clear at first. Click on the little blue triangle next to the file name, as seen here:

Once you do that the Save dialog box will expand and reveal a plethora of options:

Now you can easily navigate anywhere on your Mac to save your file. You can even create a new folder right there in the Save dialog, which often comes in very handy. Notice that there is also a helpful Spotlight search box, in case you want to save the document with other files but you aren't sure where you placed them, like so:

Doesn't that make the Save dialog much more useful?

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The Save dialog in Mac OS X (it's the box you get when you press Command-S) can often lead switchers, and inexperienced Mac users, astray....

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Lee

As a recent switcher, I bow down and kiss the ground at your feet. This one has had me all grumpy and out of sorts for weeks. And thanks to Abuso for the command line to make it permanent!

May 16 2007 at 5:22 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

David Tate

This had my wife confused and frustrated for a while before she asked me about it.

May 16 2007 at 10:45 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

georg

nice, didn't realise this. now it would be a whole lot more intuitive if that arrow was next to the "where:" field instead...

May 15 2007 at 12:50 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

abuso

How to Enable Expanded Save Dialog as Default

You will need to use the command line for this, so open up the Terminal and type or copy/paste the following commands.

Enable expanded save dialog
defaults write -g NSNavPanelExpandedStateForSaveMode -bool TRUE

Disable expanded save dialog - revert back to Mac OS X default
defaults write -g NSNavPanelExpandedStateForSaveMode -bool FALSE

May 15 2007 at 10:20 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

JJA

Scott replied to my comment.

"Thanks for the comment, however, to put your mind at ease I thought I
would email you. I actually don't read MacApper.com, so this is just
a happy coincidence. :)

Thanks,
Scott"

So apparently it's a coincidence. Sorry to raise the flag,I just hate it when people pass other peoples ideas at their own. Again my humble apologies.

May 15 2007 at 9:56 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

JJA

Good tip I however think this might have been inspired from the macapper post on the same subject as yesterday. See here

http://macapper.com/2007/05/14/switchers-tip-save-dialogs-and-buttons/

May 15 2007 at 9:44 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Bebop

Thanks for this tips David and Ben! Didn't knew that.

May 15 2007 at 9:37 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Ben

You can press Apple-D in any file dialog to change the current folder to the desktop.

May 15 2007 at 8:43 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

David Scott

When you have the expanded dialog box open you can drang & drop folders into the target area and you are instantly navigated to that folder. You can even drag & drop the wee folder icon in an open window's title bar into the dialog. This is a very useful feature that I use all the time.

May 15 2007 at 8:23 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply