The Best Mac Tips – Productivity Tips for Mac Users (2015)

PATH FINDER 7

Path Finder 7, developed by Cocoatech, is equipped with exceptional file management capabilities for Mac users. This application is a Finder replacement that helps users stay organized with optimized file management functionality. This app, in its full featured version can be evaluated a free 30 day trial period.

Path Finder 7 allows you to take control of your file management system so that you can discover an array of innovative methods to copy and move files in a quick and easy manner. You are able to view as well as manipulate your hidden files. You can make use of Bookmarks and Tab Presets to access folders and files that are frequently used.

Path Finder is designed to suit your workflow and is a great app for:

· Casual users who love to stay at the top of everything with managing their files and also

· For power users who manage, access and manipulate their files on a daily basis.

This app has been built around a modular interface and is inclusive of six customizable views along with eight customizable modules to equip you to show only the information you require as and when you require it.

Pros of Path Finder 7

Here is a list of some of the benefits and plus points of this Mac app:

· Folder merging

· Batch file renaming and selection

· Customizable views

· Colorful sidebar

· Dual-pane browser for ease of file movement and copying

· Speed and efficiency

· Broad array of keyboard shortcuts

· Customizable file groupings

· Folder synchronization

· Customizable modules for the provision of a unique set of tools to better work with files

Features

Since Path Finder 7 is the latest updated version of the app, it is equipped with numerous features that enhance the app’s performance. Some of these features are mentioned below:

Folder Sync

It’s as easy as selecting two folders and deciding on how they should be synced. You can combine filters if you want to narrow down the files you would like to have included in folder sync. You can also have some basic criteria adjusted to filter files during the sync for example name, size and file extension.

Dual Pane View

This feature allows you to have a side by side view in one window of the contents of two folders. This makes it a lot easier to work between multiple paths. You can take advantage of the layout by adding new commands can also efficiently use shortcuts in order to move and copy files between panes.

Group View

With Path Finder 7, there is an option to display files that are grouped by a number of different criteria like file type tag and the owner. Also, with grouping, the list view gets changed to a view of category buckets. Sorting takes places within each group through which browsing for files becomes much easier.

Dropbox Stack

With this feature, you get a place where you can put a stack of files from various different locations that will ultimately be going to the same destination. All you have to do is:

· Drag a file over to the holding spot

· Then drag the multi-file icon to its intended destination

Additional Shelves View

With this feature you can find a total of eight configurable modules in the bottom as well as the right shelf. In this app, shelves are info panels and they either allow you to interact in a specific manner with the file, or display an extra set of information regarding a file.

The eight modules provide access on an immediate basis to different file attributes and provide ease of labeling and tagging.

Editable Path Navigator

This feature allows you to type in the Path Navigator directly so as to obtain your files as quickly as possible. You just need to double click towards the right side of the path indicator after which you can type in a new path.

This feature provides you with a complete list of subfolders when you enter in a new path and is a convenient option when you want to quickly switch a location.

Smart Sorting

This feature sorts your files and folders alphabetically in a list view. When you want to the folders you often use to be collected together, Path Finder collects all of these folders in a manner that you like after which all the remaining files get listed. You can find this feature in the view options (CMD-J) that you can have displayed alongside one of your browser windows below.

Tips for Mac Users on Using Path Finder 7

If you are a Mac user who uses the Path Finder 7 app, you can greatly enhance your productivity by using the tips mentioned below:

Obtain Information of a Multitude of Items

If you have selected multiple items, you can make use of a single floating window known as Inspector instead of having to open multiple Get Info windows. This special window is also equipped with the advantage of getting updated in real time.

· If you use ⌘ + Click to select extra items, the Size section will get updated in accordance. This tip is also helpful if you want to set attribute flags in one go on a multitude of items.

· If you want to engage the Inspector window, all you need to do is press ⌥ + ⌘ + I

View Invisible Packages and Files in the Form of Folders

If you would like to toggle the visibility of files that are hidden,

· Click on View > Show Invisible Files or

· Go to View > Customize Toolbar

· Then add the Show Invisibles Toolbar button

If you want a quicker mode of access, use Preferences > Features > Keyboard > View > Show Invisible Files to have your favorite hotkey assigned.

If you want to browse through packages as folders:

· Get into your Applications folder

· Switch on to the List View

· Toggle the behavior in View > Show Package Contents

When you perform the above steps, you should notice the appearance of expanding arrows which will indicate that applications are only folders. You can also browse through package contents by adding to your Contextual Menu the Show Package Contents or Contents.

The first command will help you move to the selected package while the second command will have the package contents presented hierarchically.

Creating a New Sidebar

If you want to create a new sidebar, all you have to do is click on to the gear button which you can find at the very bottom of your current sidebar. One thing to keep in mind is that the new sidebars you create will only be available to this app so long as the original Standard Sidebar is still in sync with Finder’s.

A Tidy Contextual Menu

· If you want to maintain your Contextual Menu in an organized and simplifies manner, you can add the functions that are most commonly used in Preferences > Features > Contextual Menu. This can be done by having the Commands pane dragged to the Contextual Menu pane.

· To tidy up your space, you can add a few dividers by going to the very first item located on the Commands pane.

· You can add the functions that are rarely used by you to the Action Menu by clicking on the drop down Contextual Menu. This can be found on the Action Toolbar button which is in the form of a gear icon.

Have Your Files Filtered By Their Type

If you would like to have your jpeg files filtered out inside a folder, with more files of mixed types, you can perform the task by some of the methods mentioned below:

· Go to your desired folder or select Search > Selection which you will find on the Toolbar’s drop down menu of the Search Bar

· They type jpg and hit Enter

Files that have a jpg extension are presented in a flat view in the browser and if you would like to filter a certain type of file in your current folder without having to go through the trouble of searching in the subfolders, you can do the following:

· Select Filter > by Extension which you can find on the Search Bar

You first need to ensure that you are in List View where you should have the Select button present on your Toolbar (View > Customize Toolbar). Then follow these steps:

· Choose your base folder, then hold ⌥ while clicking on to the expanding triangle which will expand all of your subfolders

· The next step is to click on the Select button

· Then switch onto the Extension tab

· Type jpg and have the Ignore case enabled

· Press Select to see a preview while having the selection sheet opened

· Alternatively, as the last step, when you are finished, you can also choose the option of Select and Close

When the above steps have been performed, the files that have a jpg extension will be chosen in the browser in the displayed hierarchy. If you enable the Extend selection and then type a new extension, it will be added to your current selection so that both of your files have the capability of being selected.

Path Finder 7 is an application that expands on usability, user experience and efficiency and is a highly effective all in one finder and file replacement tool. It is big on features, speeds up your workflow and is extremely flexible on the customizable front.