One of the most common Mac OS disco biscuit feature article requests I get — mainly from Windows users switch to the Mac — relates to creating Modern files . In Windows , if you right - click in a leaflet , one of the alternative in the leave contextual menu lets you create a new text file right there in that pamphlet . This is indeed a peachy john — when create a new document , you often have a passably serious idea where you ’re move to redeem it ; in fact , that folder is often assailable in the Finder , so why should n’t you be able to create a new document just as you’re able to a new folder ?
Last March , I say you about Document Palette ( ) , a usefulness that let you create a new document in the current Finder leaflet by campaign a keyboard shortcut and then take the hope document type . you may even add templates for oft - used documents to Document Palette , making it a large manner to create novel documents based on a template .
But I lately discoveredNuFile 1.7 (; donations accepted ) , which is trusted to please many former Windows substance abuser ( as well as many longtime Mac user ) by nearly replicating the aforementioned feature of Windows . When installed , NuFile give the Finder ’s contextual menus a “ New File ” item ; only decent - click ( or Control - click if you have a single - push button mouse ) in any Finder windowpane — or on the screen background — and then choose the character of file you want to create ; a novel filing cabinet of that case as if by magic appear .
Like Document Palette , you’re able to customize the potential papers types supply by NuFile ’s carte du jour item . The NuFile pane of System Preferences name the current file type , include a description of each , how its name appear in the NuFile computer menu , what the Modern file will be identify ( include its Indian file extension ) , and the location of the “ templet ” for that new single file . you could remove file types from the computer menu ( or just hide them so that they do n’t appear ) , as well as add your own — for example , I ’ve sum a “ New BBEdit Document ” item . you’re able to also change the order in which written document case appear . ( Unfortunately , unlike Document Palette , which consolidate your added text file type / guide in a single brochure inside ~/Library / software Support , NuFile entrust them wherever they were when you added them to the NuFile menu . If you later move a written document “ guide , ” NuFile wo n’t be able to get it . So I commend keep all your custom “ novel document ” templet files in a specific pamphlet . )
You also get the choice — via the Open checkbox — to automatically spread new created written document . This is a handy feature , but I did experience one quirk with it : Because it uses the Finder ’s data file associations to open files , some are n’t actually open up in the listed program . For example , Modern “ BBEdit ” files — which are simply text files — are automatically opened in TextEdit rather ; the Finder does n’t automatically associate the file with the BBEdit practical app . So I ’ve disabled the Open option for novel BBEdit files .
Like Document Palette , if you tend to apply a particular document as a scratch for new files — for example , a partially - complete invoice in Microsoft Word format — you could tot that written document to NuFile ’s tilt . choose it from NuFile ’s card is the same as making a copy of the already - partially - completed document in the desired folder .
I do have a few ill , though . In addition to the usage quirks I already mentioned , I ’m not impressed by the developer ’s download and installation process . For starters , NuFile comes with no support — the download includes only an installer package , without any reading of what will be establish , and where . Bad form . ( If you ’re curious , it set up the NuFile contextual bill of fare plugin in /Library / Contextual Menu Items , and a preference pane in /Library / Preference Panes . Limited documentation can be found on the utility ’s Web site . ) Also , you ’ll notice that those paths begin with /Library rather than ~/Library ; in other words , NuFile ’s constituent are instal at the arrangement level rather than the user level . The installer should give you the option to install it in just your own story ( or should install it at the user layer by default so you do n’t affect the accounts of other users on your computer ) . I ’ve moved both portion — the contextual menu plugin and the preference Zen — to the corresponding folders in my own Library folder .
Finally , set up NuFile mechanically re-start the Finder without discourage — and does not do so gracefully , which mean you lose all your open Finder window . Granted , after installing a new contextual menu plugin , the Finder has to resume in club for that plugin ’s functionality to become uncommitted . However , the developer should use the approach taken by other developer : First , notify the drug user that a Finder restart is required ; secondly , give the user the choice of either now depart and restart the Finder , or waiting until they lumber out and back in on their own ( which accomplish the same goal ) .
But for the most part , these are facility and software documentation number ; Nufile itself works quite well . It is n’t yet as polished as Document Palette , but I distrust many users will prefer NuFile ’s Windows - like contextual carte memory access to the keyboard - centric glide path used by Document Palette .
