Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!gem.mps.ohio-state.edu!ginosko!uunet!mcsun!cernvax!ethz!macman
From: macman@ethz.UUCP (Danny Schwendener)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: System 7.0 concern & wish list
Summary: Keep it simple.
Keywords: System 7.0, find file
Message-ID: <2245@ethz.UUCP>
Date: 15 Oct 89 10:04:55 GMT
References: <8821@spool.cs.wisc.edu>
Reply-To: macman@ethz.UUCP (Danny Schwendener)
Organization: Apple Developer Services Switzerland
Lines: 37

> A previous posting to this newsgroup suggested that System 7.0 should
> allow filename pattern searches, so that one could, for example, find all
> Stuffit files by searching for filenames ending in ".sit".

The basic idea is to include the "find file" DA into the Finder. You
have to be able to find at least a pattern at any position of a filename
(e.g. "street map" in "N Camarillo street map(1989)"). Explicit use of
wildcards is, in my opinion, not an absolute necessity.

Keep in mind that what has made the Macintosh System so attractive, was
that it was very easy to use, even for complete computer neophytes. And
I think that adding options that are nice to some power users, but
complicate the learning process to the new users, is *not* a good idea.


> The FILE INFO dialog box should display everything that "Get Info"
> displays now.  It should also contain two HyperCard-like fields
> which allow me to add more info about a file by just typing it in.
> [...] There should also be a free-form NOTES field where I can enter any
> information I want to about the file.

Whoa! A Get-Info box of the kind you'd like would take up the whole
screen. Why do you need *three* fields for your personal information? 
I think one single editable text field which will not be deleted 
when you rebuild the desktop is nice. And I agree that Find-File should
be able to look at the information in this field. 

Most people will not use the File-Info/Notes field. And even more people would
ignore the Keywords field, if it was to be implemented. I like the idea
of finding by Keywords, and I think the File-Info/Notes field is a great
place for this. 

Keep the Finder simple.

-- Danny

DISCLAIMER: These are my opinions. Leave my employers alone.