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Susie Ochs

I've been using Spotlight a lot recently to find files on my Mac mini running Leopard. It's great for launching files directly, but how do I get to the folder that contains those files?

If you’re using Spotlight from the menubar (Command-space), the first way is to select Show All, which is always the top result, instead of the file itself. That will launch a Finder window displaying your search results, and from there, you can just click the file to select it and then check the Path Bar (along the bottom of the Finder window) for the folder path to that file. You can double-click a folder in the Path Bar to open that folder in a new Finder window.


We found the path of this very file by Command-clicking its name in the title bar.

Alternatively, just go ahead and open the file from the Spotlight results, and then Command-click its name in the window’s title bar, which will pop up the folder path to that file. Simply click any folder in that path to open that folder.

 

COMMENTS: 4
COMMENTS
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Alternate way to get to the folder - use Command-Click

Assuming you want to manipulate the file you found instead of opening it (like to copy the file): If you have a found file in the Spotlight menu and you want the to show the file in Finder, just Command-Click the file name (or highlight with the keyboard and Command-Enter). This will open a window of the folder containing the found file with the found file selected. This can be very useful if you are looking for a group of files that have different names but are all related. For example, you have your Annual Presentation, Yearly Budget and 2010 Schedule all in a folder somewhere. You want all 3, but each have different names. Finding one and then going to the enclosing folder will bring them all to you.

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Command-click Also Works on the Dock

For example, a fast way to get to the Applications folder is to command click any application icon in the Dock, running or not. The Applications folder opens and highlights the application you clicked.

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Copy/Pasting the Path to that Found File

I'm still looking for a way to copy/paste the path to a "found" file or folder. Suggestions?

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