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Software Review: Pathfinder 5.0 (File manager)

I hate Finder, bundled with Leopard for Mac. Manipulating image files is a key part of my research, and dealing with Finder drives me to distraction. It is one of the few parts of the operating system that simply is not “elegant” and “easy.” So when Pathfinder 5.0 was released, I thought it might suit me.

The Good

Pathfinder is a file management system that sits on top of Finder. This means your files are not locked into another system. Basically, it provides functionality that Finder should have, but doesn’t.

The key cool features that I have enjoyed are:

• Dual pane viewing. Within one window, you can have two different File manager windows open. This is very useful.
• The Drop Stack. When you have a file that you want to move somewher, you often get caught “holding” it with your mouse while you want to use your mouse to navigate somewhere else. Pathfinder encorporates a “drop stack” that lets you hold up to eight files while you do other things with your mouse. Think of it like putting your keys in your mouth while you rummage through your bag.
• File Bookmarks. As well as a Finder-like sidebar, Pathfinder has a bookmarks bar, reminiscent of web-browsers. This keeps your from dropping every folder in your sidebar.

The Questionable

Pathfinder also prides itself on having extra tools - like an integrated Terminal window, a recent documents window, a processes window and a dedicated preview panel. I used the preview panel, but I rarely touched any of the others. I could train myself to use them, but if I haven’t started using them after 20 days trial, I probably don’t need them.

It also allows you to open finder windows in a tabbed interface. Normally I love tabs, but I again found I simply didn’t use this feature.

Setting up Pathfinder is a bit tricky. It doesn’t play well with Spaces (what a surprise - even Apple software doesn’t play well with Spaces). It also has a weird integration with the desktop that you need to set up. This is so that clicking on a file on the desktop will open it in Pathfiinder. I found it quite non-intuitive to set up (you have to set it to transparent, as files dropped onto the desktop still land on the Finder desktop).

The Verdict

Pathfinder is a $50 product. For some people, the extra features would be ample to justify that. However, basically it is an extra preview panel, or a dual window view of Finder. Although the functions are useful, they are not as far beyond Finder that it is worth the cash, or the dock clutter.

So I am uninstalling Pathfinder. Apple has flagged that they are rewriting Finder for Snow Leopard (the new operating system). It is not clear whether they will be adding functionality, or simply fixing things beneath the hood. If I could have my way, I would request:

• Dual window viewing
• Preview pane/instant spotlight
• Integrated File tagging and tag-based filters
• Renaming functionality and algorithms built in
• Consistent behaviour with drag and drop (sometimes it copies and sometimes it moves)

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