Open folder in new Finder window workflow for OS X

[Update] Apparently I was reinventing the wheel. Command + Shift + O opens a finder item in its own window as does Command + double-click (thanks to Erki, Chafic and Robert for these tips.)

I really wish there was an easy way of discovering shortcuts for OS X.

14 Responses to “Open folder in new Finder window workflow for OS X”


  1. 1 Erki Esken

    Doesn’t Command doubleclick do just that, open folder in new window? Works even with multiple folders selected and opens all of them in separate windows.

  2. 2 Chafic Kazoun

    Is this the same as apple shift o ? If you wanted to do it with the mouse you can hold down the apple key and double click a folder or even a bunch of folders

  3. 3 Robert M. Hall

    Hey Aral,

    Erki is right command-double clicking a folder will launch in its own window.

    One other tip thought - If you want to have folders always open/spawn their own windows permanently without using the command-double click or your automator action, switch to the finder and then go to Finder>Preferences>General

    You’ll see a checkbox for: “Always open folders in a new window”

    Some other options for defaults in the finder as well.

    Rob

  4. 4 IsaacDM

    hey Aral, theres a widget in the apple site named xCuts, wich shows a list of the MAC OS X chorcuts, in diferent categories, i dont have the link but you could find it out, i’ve downloaded myself, it might work for you

    BeWell
    IsaacDM

  5. 5 LEE
  6. 6 LEE

    I don’t use that shortcut, I think I just right-click, “reveal in finder”. Is this the same result?

  7. 7 Jolyon

    “I really wish there was an easy way of discovering shortcuts for OS X.”

    Aral, Aral, Aral, have you not heard of Google?!

    http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=mac os X shortcuts&btnG=Search&meta=

    *Hint, click the top result ;-)

  8. 8 Hans Magnus

    Hey,
    another sweet shortcut when typing in Mail, TextEdit and such, is ctrl-esc.
    This brings down a list suggesting possible words, a bit like code hints.

    Cheers,
    Hans Magnus

  9. 9 aral

    Jolyron: I should’ve made myself clearer. I meant a simple way of discovering shortcuts as there is in Windows. In Windows you can see the Alt key shortcuts for every menu item and most (sometimes all) menu items have key-based shortcuts. So, I can press Alt F S for save if I don’t know Ctrl S for example. Apple does a good job of hiding keyboard shortcuts. (For the record, I’d looked through the top Google result!)

    Thanks for the tips hints guys, much appreciated! :)

  10. 10 Xtopher Robin

    Anyone know a way to open Finder from any app with a shortcut (a la Windows E in Windows)? That’s the one feature I really miss from Windows, and I know there has to be a way to do it…

  11. 11 Thomas

    Aral, if you got quicksilver installed (i hope you do!), get the user interface interface access plugin. Then you can use a trigger (i got mine to ctrl space) to quickly browse through all menu items by typing what you wanna do :) . (The right trigger is: Current Application -> Show menu items)

  12. 12 Stephen Holland

    The shortcuts are visible in the menus on the right edge of any open menu. The shortcut philosophy does not include a shortcut to open the menu and then execute the subcommand. Rather each shortcut is unique and does not need the menu to be open at the time the command executes. For example, in the Edit menu a cloverleaf-C is present on the right edge of the menu when it is visible.

    The menu’s are live, which is another way to discover commands. Open a menu by single clicking on it and while it is open try pressing the shift, option, and control keys. For example, in finder in the File menu see what happens when you press the shift, control, and option keys.

    Another neat thing is adding your own keyboard shortcuts using the keyboard pane in system preferences.

    Steve

  13. 13 LEE

    OH RIGHT! I forgot all about the keyboard pane in system pref’s!!! thx Stephen!

  14. 14 aral

    Hey Thomas, Stephen, just a quick thank-you for your tips.

    For some reason I haven’t been able to warm up to QuickSilver even though I was using the LazyLauncher Yahoo! widget under windows as well as Runfast (I still run both on my Windows install under Parallels.) The keyboard triggers under QuickSilver conflict with Parallels and I value the ability to Command Tab, etc. while in full screen Windows mode to return to OS X.

    I’m going to give QuickSilver another chance and try out the UI access plugin as you suggested. It sounds useful.

    Stephen, I was aware of the shortcuts in the menu but I do miss the Alt menu functionality which you rightfully state isn’t in the OS X design philosophy (but would make a good addition to it!) :)

    There is an app I found (forget its name now) that shows you context-sensitive keyboard shortcuts. A shareware app. Will look for it again.

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