One small annoyance I have with the Mac OS X Finder is its apparent inability to let me set a default Finder window size. However many times I resize windows with the mouse, the Finder will eventually reset them to some arbitrary dimensions.
If, like me, you find this aspect of the Finder’s behaviour particularly irksome then try this AppleScript.
if localIP contains "xxx.xxx.x.xx" then
-- iMac
set defaultWidth to 808
set defaultHeight to 471
set defaultSidebarWidth to 192
else if localIP contains "xxx.xxx.x.xx" then
-- MacBook
set defaultWidth to 758
set defaultHeight to 421
set defaultSidebarWidth to 142
end if
tell application "Finder"
display dialog "Resize Finder Window(s)…." buttons {"Front", "All"} default button 1 giving up after 100
if button returned of result contains "Front" then
-- Front Finder Window only
try
set frontWindow to front Finder window
set current view of frontWindow to column view
set {windowLeft, windowTop, windowRight, windowBottom} to get bounds of frontWindow
set bounds of frontWindow to {windowLeft, windowTop, windowLeft + defaultWidth, windowTop + defaultHeight}
set sidebar width of frontWindow to defaultSidebarWidth
set tBar to toolbar visible of frontWindow
set toolbar visible of frontWindow to not tBar
set toolbar visible of frontWindow to tBar
end try
else
-- All Finder Windows
repeat with x from 1 to count of Finder windows
try
set frontWindow to Finder window x
set {windowLeft, windowTop, windowRight, windowBottom} to get bounds of frontWindow
set bounds of frontWindow to {windowLeft, windowTop, windowLeft + defaultWidth, windowTop + defaultHeight}
set sidebar width of frontWindow to defaultSidebarWidth
set tBar to toolbar visible of frontWindow
set toolbar visible of frontWindow to not tBar
set toolbar visible of frontWindow to tBar
end try
end repeat
end if
end tell
Place the script in the ~/Library/Scripts/Applications/Finder/ folder and it will be available from the Script menu (if you have it enabled) in the menu bar.
When run, the script will give you the option of resizing just the front Finder window or all open Finder windows and will then size them to the default dimensions specified in the script.
There’s also an option to set different defaults for each individual machine on your network. This assumes that you have set dedicated IP addresses for each machine and it’s connected to your network. You’ll need to change if localIP contains “xxx.xxx.x.xx” then to the appropriate IP address(es) of your machine(s).
NOTE: This is not an original script. I adapted it from one found elsewhere, though I can’t remember where. But I credit the original author, whoever they are!
Quite annoying sometimes just to open up, resize, rearrange the contents for best view.
However how about we can make this script to run behind, is that possible. I mean we no need to click on anything. When we open any folder, the script will run and the folder will display as intended. Just my 2cent view.
@Kenny
Good idea, but I’m not sure how you’d do this. A Folder Action or Automator script most likely wouldn’t work. Placing the code between an idle handler and saving the script as a Stay Open Application might work. Maybe I’ll take a look some time.
Regards, Steve.
I see this is dated 2009, does this work for OSX Lion….I hate resizing my finder all the time. Seem to stay in place until reboot…..Thanks
Hi John,
I’m using this script in Lion (10.7.1) on two machines. One was upgraded to Lion the other was a clean install. It’s working fine on both. The dimensions of Finder windows set with this script persist after a re-boot.
Regards, Steve.