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From: tdn@cmu-cs-spice.ARPA (Thomas Newton)
Newsgroups: net.micro.mac
Subject: Re: New Finder Feature???
Message-ID: <328@cmu-cs-spice.ARPA>
Date: Sun, 31-Mar-85 20:42:35 EST
Article-I.D.: cmu-cs-s.328
Posted: Sun Mar 31 20:42:35 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 3-Apr-85 01:37:48 EST
Organization: Carnegie-Mellon University, CS/RI
Lines: 20

Is the new Finder going to use true subdirectories (like Unix and Accent), or
is it going to continue to use folders to disguise a flat file system?  A true
multi-level file system would be a great improvement over the current one.

The Standard File Dialog boxes could be extended so that
    (1) They show the name of the current subdirectory for the disk
    (2) There is a "parent directory" button that does the obvious thing
    (3) Subdirectories of the current directory are listed with the files,
        but in a way that makes them easy to identify (such as "letters/"
        instead of just plain "letters").  "Opening" a subdirectory does
        the obvious thing, e.g. moves down one level in the tree and changes
        the filename listing appropriately (without returning).
    (4) Absolute path names can be given, and they override the default
        directory (in the same way that "disk_name:" overrides the default
        diskette).  (this comment applies to the "put file" dialog box).

This way, the Mac could have real subdirectories without sacrificing the ease
of use of the Standard File Dialog boxes.  Of course, a "separator" character
would need to be set aside, in much the same way that ":" is set aside now.
My favorite would be "/", the separator used by Unix and by Accent.