A pretty handy tip I picked up from the Mac OS X Hints useful if you tend to open multiple Finder windows for organising/moving folder/files on the Mac OS X. This script helps to reduce the time after you open a new instance of Finder (ctrl + N) and navigate through endless sub-directories to reach the folder you want.
In more details, this Applescript gets the location of the front-most Finder window and opens a second instance of Finder with the same path and view. If there is no Finder windows at the present when this script is executed, it launches a new Finder window at the system root directory (or any other pre-defined target path).
tell application "Finder"
get the exists of the front Finder window
if the (exists of the front Finder window) is true then
try
set newWindow to target of front window
set oldView to current view of front window
make new Finder window to newWindow
set current view of front window to oldView
end try
else
try
make new Finder window to alias ":"
set the current view of the front Finder window to column view
end try
end if
end tell
Copy above script and paste it to the new project window opened via the “Script Editor.app” (Applications/AppleScript/), then choose “application” as the “File Format” and then save/compile the project with a meaningful name such as “CloneFinder”. Once that is done, drag ‘n drop the newly compiled CloneFinder.app on to the Finder tool-bar for quick access.
September 4th, 2008 at 15:39
Brilliant !!! priceless trick and excellent presentation as I’ve never dealt with applet scripts so really appreciate your handholding to engage your source – take care
September 4th, 2008 at 15:55
@Scott Stensland: you are welcome ;D
June 23rd, 2009 at 23:43
Works like a charm. Thanks for helping me with the task of moving files around!
August 14th, 2009 at 17:06
Thanks for the great script!
However, while it works in Leopard, I can’t get it working in Tiger. Any suggestions?
October 10th, 2009 at 8:47
Genius. Big ups to yrself. Thanks a lot, very useful.
May 6th, 2010 at 19:25
I’ve never used apple scripts, but this took five seconds and now I have it as an app on my doc. Thanks!
September 22nd, 2010 at 20:12
very nice. I added it as an icon on my Finder toolbar for easy access.
Is there a way to specify size and position of the new window? For example I would like to have the new Finder window be the same size as the old one, and then be position a few pixels below the old one…
September 27th, 2010 at 17:33
Cool!
June 13th, 2011 at 17:42
Very neat trick! This helps a lot. For most people do not find mac, user friendly. But many still purchase them because of the great quality in their products.. Thanks for the help!
July 15th, 2011 at 21:55
this is such a great trick, thanks very interesting.. and it worked well when i executed it.. thanks again for the advice
July 22nd, 2011 at 19:31
Thanks for creating a convenience that puts an end to frustration!
July 30th, 2011 at 9:14
Dude!!! You chose the difficult solution. What you want is already built -in in the OS!!
Just bring the Finder application to front and from the “View” menu click on “Show path bar”.
Then every time that you go through multiple folders you see the path bar on the bottom of the Finder. Now here is the trick: “Command + double click” on the folder that you want. Tad-a !!! Another finder window opens exactly in the same path. This is the same logic that you use in browsers for opening a link in new tab.
April 24th, 2012 at 15:07
To make it easier, install the program Quick Silver (http://www.blacktree.com/) you can set up a keyboard shortcut and assign it to any script (if you saved it as a script and not an app).
For example I made the shortcut “Command + Right Arrow” and assigned the above script to it. Now whenever I am in a folder I can just press “Command + Right Arrow” (without the plus sign) and a new folder opens that is the same directory/location as the other.
Hope that helps!