Preview save as window covers the first page

J

jebbcorp

Registered
Preview
Is it possible to please make the save as drop down window detachable and movable from the menu bar at the top of the preview window of the current document.

I have pdf files I need to save, and the "save as" window drops down directly over the top of the page. Many times the pdf is scanned documents with titles, authors, and publication dates and journal names at the top of the first page. Therefore it is difficult (even though the drop down is opaque) to transcribe the article name into the save file as window, because that information is at the top of the page. I cannot scroll down in the document to have the information visible as it is typically page 1, and I cannot move the save as window over so I can see the file name I want to enter. Frustrating. I have to write the title down on a piece of paper then click save as then type the words in from the paper, even though the title I want to use is under the drop down.
 
This is the way Save As windows work in some applications. You can't change it, unfortunately.

Your topic appears as if it was written as though it were a feature request to Apple to change the behavior of the Preview software. Just to set the record straight, this site is not affiliated with Apple. It is staffed by volunteers, some of which may be Apple employees (but devote their time here voluntarily and outside of their work at Apple) and some of which may not be (actually, the majority, in all likelihood). It's simply a forum for Mac enthusiasts to discuss and troubleshoot things related to the Mac and other Apple products. We have no control over what Apple does with their software.

Apple typically does not entertain feature requests or requests for enhancements to their software from anybody outside of Apple. If there is enough clamor about a particular shortcoming of a piece of software, Apple may or may not listen. With what you're requesting, though, I don't see a large majority clamoring for this single feature, so I think you'd find it best to perhaps entertain a workaround or modifying your process.

I know for a fact that Adobe's Acrobat (at least version 9 Professional) does not display the "Save As" window in the fashion that Preview does... in Acrobat, the "Save As" window is detached from the document itself and you can move it around freely and independent of the document window. I don't know whether or not the freely available Adobe Reader application does this (it may not have a "Save As" feature at all since it's primarily geared toward viewing, not editing, PDF files), but the Professional version does. It may be worth checking out if this is a huge issue in your workflow.
 
Building on ElDiabloConCaca's comments, this feature of the Save dialog was one of the incredible features of Mac OS X that Steve Jobs previewed in 2000, ahead of the operating system's initial release. The point is that the dialog is attached to the window containing the file being saved, allowing the user to switch to other open windows or open others still without being immediately forced to complete the Save operation for the one file. The previous standard behavior, still used by many apps, makes a separate save dialog on top of all windows that forces its operation and prevents any other activity in the app.

So, if you're unable to select the text of the title, author, etc. that you want to use to name the file (because the scanned document might not enable text selection), and you can't remember it, you may have to find another mechanism for noting the desired file name. A text file or note-taking app or any of various other choices.
 
you are so right. I did wish to submit this as a request to change things internally at apple. I realize osxhints is not apple. thank you for your insights here. I am looking for a way to detach the saveas drop down, your comments have made searching with the correct keywords easier at the very least.
If it were only that easy to request feature changes from Apple!!
another mechanism for recording the author name etc= pencil
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top