Publishers of technology books, eBooks, and videos for creative people

Home > Articles > Apple > Operating Systems

This chapter is from the book

This chapter is from the book

Four window views

You can change how you view the contents of a Finder window. Some people like to see their windows' contents as icons in Icon View; some prefer a list of names in List View; others prefer columns showing the contents of multiple folders at once in Column View; and some like the graphic Cover Flow View. In the short exercises that follow, you'll experiment with viewing the windows in different views.

Icon View

Below you see a Finder window in Icon View. As you know by now, each icon represents a file of some sort—it might be a document, a folder, an application, a disk, a song, or something else.

Exercise 1: Experiment with views and with Icon View.

  1. If you don't have a Finder window open, single-click the "Finder" icon (shown to the right).
  2. In the Sidebar of the window, single-click "Applications." The contents of the Applications folder appear in the window pane, as shown above.
  3. Now click the View buttons one at a time to see how the contents appear in each of the different views.
  4. Go back to the Icon View: Single-click the far-left View button, as shown above.
  5. When in Icon View, single-click another item in the Sidebar to view its contents. The view is probably different in another window.
  6. Single-click "Applications" in the Sidebar to view the Applications window again.

List View

Below you see a Finder window in List View. Notice there are little triangles to the left of each folder icon. You can single-click any number of triangles to display the contents of folders. This way you can see the contents of more than one folder at a time.

Exercise 2: Experiment with List View.

  1. The List View button (circled, above) is second from the left in the row of four View buttons.
  2. When in List View, single-click any "disclosure" triangle next to a folder to display its contents in a sub-list in this same window. You can open more than one folder in this way; try it.
  3. To see the contents of just one folder, double-click any folder icon; the contents of that folder you double-click will replace the contents you see at the moment.
  4. To go back to the previous window pane of contents, single-click the Back button, the triangle in the upper-left corner of the Toolbar.

Resize the columns in List View

Exercise 3: Resize the columns in List View to suit yourself.

  1. Position the pointer directly on the dividing line between columns of information. When you are positioned correctly, the pointer changes into a two-headed arrow, as shown circled below.
  2. When you see the two-headed arrow, press-and-drag left or right to resize the column. The column to the left of the two-headed arrow is the one that will be resized.

Apply an arrangement

Exercise 4: Arrange the items in List View to suit yourself.

When an arrangement is applied to a window, it organizes things in a particular way, but it also limits what else you can do. For instance, you can't resize or rearrange the columns or the items in the window. An arrangement can be a great solution for a window; just be aware of how it impacts other features.

  1. From the Arrange by menu, circled below, choose an arrangement.
  2. This can be very useful, but notice that you cannot resize the columns, nor rearrange them (by dragging the column names left or right).
  3. Change the arrangement to "None" for now. Then try dragging a column heading left or right to rearrange it. The "Name" column cannot be moved.

Column View

Below is a Finder window in Column View. Notice there are little triangles to the right of each folder icon. The triangles indicate that the contents of those folders will appear in the column to the right when you single-click the folder name.

Exercise 5: Experiment with Column View.

  1. Single-click the Column View icon in the Toolbar, as circled above.
  2. Single-click "Applications" in the Sidebar.
  3. In the first column of files, single-click any folder icon to see its contents displayed in the next column.

    If you see another folder to the right, single-click that one to display its contents in yet another column.

    Your Mac will keep making columns to the right until you select a document of any type (as opposed to a folder) or an application package, at which point a small preview will be displayed in the last column.

Resize the columns in Column View

You can resize the columns in Column View using the vertical column dividers. Position the pointer on top of a dividing line, and the pointer changes shape to indicate it will now adjust columns.

Exercise 6: Resize the columns in Column View.

  1. To resize one individual column at a time, just press-and-drag left or right on any divider. This resizes the column to the left of the selected divider. If you're using a wired mouse, drag the thumb marker.
  2. To resize all columns at once, hold down the Option key while you drag the divider or the thumb marker left or right. This makes all columns proportionally larger or smaller as you drag.
  3. This is the most useful technique of all: Double-click on the dividing line or thumb marker to widen the column so you can see the complete file names of all files.

Cover Flow View

Below you see a Finder window in Cover Flow View. This is quite different from the other views in that it shows you a graphic image of each item in a folder.

  • To skim through the images in the upper preview, use one finger to swipe across a Magic Mouse, or two fingers to swipe across a trackpad. With a non-gesture mouse, "press-and-toss" on either side of the center image to flip through them (try it!), or drag the slider that appears beneath the images.

Peachpit Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from Peachpit and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Overview


Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about Peachpit products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information


To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites; develop new products and services; conduct educational research; and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email ask@peachpit.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information


Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security


Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children


This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing


Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

  • Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
  • Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
  • Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
  • Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information


If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out


Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by Adobe Press. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.peachpit.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information


Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents


California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure


Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

  • As required by law.
  • With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
  • In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
  • To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
  • In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
  • To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
  • To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
  • To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
  • To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links


This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact


Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice


We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020