FinderJump

A Frontier 4 script by Steve Bogart

Much like the Jump command in Frontier, FinderJump allows you to type in a path to a folder or file and have the Finder open it without mousing around to get there. It's especially useful for things deep in your directory tree with short folder names.

It's a lot like Windows 95's Start / Run command, which I've often found use for.

January 1998 Update: Once I get into the guts of Frontier 5 (February?) I'll update this and perhaps add more functionality. Also, I'll make this a fat page.

Features:

• In deference to URL syntax, you can use slashes instead of colons to indicate directory levels. This comes naturally to a lot of us now, so I figured it would be a good habit to accommodate. Colons still work, though.
• Beginning the path with a single slash (ex. "/System Folder/Preferences") implies the startup disk as the volume to use.
• Beginning the path with a double slash (ex. "//document1") implies the startup volume's desktop folder
• If you want to include an actual slash in the filename, escape the slash with "\" (i.e. "01\/96" will be interpreted as "01/96")

How do I get it?

Get it from one of the following links:

• http://www.olin.wustl.edu/~bogart/macs/finderjump.bin
• http://www.olin.wustl.edu/~bogart/macs/finderjump.sit
• http://www.olin.wustl.edu/~bogart/macs/finderjump.sit.hqx

You also need to have Frontier set up to use the Scriptable Finder.

Suggested use:

Add a script to the menubar system.menubars.MACS with the name "Jump..." and the command key shortcut Cmd-J. For its script just have it execute one line:

suites.bogart.finderjump()   [or whatever name you gave it when you imported it]

Then, in the Finder, just press Cmd-J!

(The script can go anywhere; I just put it in a suite with my name to avoid stepping on other people's tables. Modify the code all you want; it's all fairly straightforward [rather obvious, honestly]. If you come up with enhancements, let me know!)

Examples:

• Typing "Network Volume:www" would open the folder named "www" on the drive named "Network Volume"
• "/documents/1997/jan/" would open the window "jan" (three levels down) on your startup disk.
• "/documents/1997/jan/letter.doc" would open the document "letter.doc" in that directory
• "/trash" opens the Trash folder
• "//blah.txt" opens a document "blah.txt" which is sitting on your desktop

Tips:

• I often find that typing Cmd-J, /, Return is the quickest/easiest way to open my startup volume's window.
• Have an alias at the root level of your startup volume or on your desktop with a short name for frequently used items. I type Cmd-J, /e, return, and I launch Eudora. Who needs menus or mice?
• Need to go back to where you just jumped to but you closed the window? Press Cmd-J and press Return. (Jump remembers the last place you jumped to).

What now?

I know I'm breaking some interface conventions with my use of the double-slash prefix... anybody have any better ideas? Suggestions for changes? Email me at bogart@wuolin.wustl.etc

A "recent items" list (like in Frontier's Jump) has been suggested by a few folks. Great idea, but not being familiar with MacBird, it may take me a while...