Groups > comp.sys.mac.apps > #28976 > unrolled thread

How do mac users create a blank text file where you want it?

Started by	"Adam H. Kerman" <ahk@chinet.com>
First post	2015-04-20 00:40 +0000
Last post	2015-04-22 09:45 -0400
Articles	13 on this page of 393 — 26 participants

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#29314

From	gtr <xxx@yyy.zzz>
Date	2015-04-21 12:19 -0700
Message-ID	<2015042112195346179-xxx@yyyzzz>
In reply to	#29310

On 2015-04-21 19:07:21 +0000, M-M said:

> In article <2015041920590119679-savageduck1@REMOVESPAMme.com>,
> Savageduck <savageduck1@{REMOVESPAM}me.com> wrote:
> 
>> Open *TextEdit* go to the menu *File*->*New* and there it is a new,
>> blank, virgin text doc.
>> Now without typing a single character return to the menu and
>> *File*(while holding down the alt/option key)->*Save As*.
> 
> 
> Just "Save". While "Save As..." still works (although not in the menu),
> it makes a copy and you still have to deal with the original.

Not if you've just created a new file.

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#29316

From	Savageduck <savageduck1@{REMOVESPAM}me.com>
Date	2015-04-21 14:37 -0700
Message-ID	<2015042114375882658-savageduck1@REMOVESPAMme.com>
In reply to	#29310

On 2015-04-21 19:07:21 +0000, M-M said:

> In article <2015041920590119679-savageduck1@REMOVESPAMme.com>,
> Savageduck <savageduck1@{REMOVESPAM}me.com> wrote:
> 
>> Open *TextEdit* go to the menu *File*->*New* and there it is a new,
>> blank, virgin text doc.
>> Now without typing a single character return to the menu and
>> *File*(while holding down the alt/option key)->*Save As*.
> 
> 
> Just "Save". While "Save As..." still works (although not in the menu),
> it makes a copy and you still have to deal with the original.

Actually if you just click *Save*, the file will be given the first one 
or two words as the file name and saved.
*Save As*  is available via the menu, just hold down the *Alt/Option* 
key when you click on *File* and *Duplicate* will change to *Save As* 
all in the menu.
You can also use the keyboard shortcut Option+Shift+Command+S to get to 
the *Save As* dialog.

The original can be dealt with however you please, if you *Save* you 
might have to *Rename*, or just close without saving.

-- 
Regards,

Savageduck

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#29323

From	gtr <xxx@yyy.zzz>
Date	2015-04-21 16:24 -0700
Message-ID	<2015042116241432392-xxx@yyyzzz>
In reply to	#29316

On 2015-04-21 21:37:58 +0000, Savageduck said:

> On 2015-04-21 19:07:21 +0000, M-M said:
> 
>> In article <2015041920590119679-savageduck1@REMOVESPAMme.com>,
>> Savageduck <savageduck1@{REMOVESPAM}me.com> wrote:
>> 
>>> Open *TextEdit* go to the menu *File*->*New* and there it is a new,
>>> blank, virgin text doc.
>>> Now without typing a single character return to the menu and
>>> *File*(while holding down the alt/option key)->*Save As*.
>> 
>> 
>> Just "Save". While "Save As..." still works (although not in the menu),
>> it makes a copy and you still have to deal with the original.
> 
> Actually if you just click *Save*, the file will be given the first one 
> or two words as the file name and saved.

I just tested it, and as expected (when using File>New) a straight 
"Save" will produce a dialog box where the title is filled in with 
"Untitled" and will save the file with .txt--or not depending on your 
stated preference in the Save dialog.

> *Save As*  is available via the menu, just hold down the *Alt/Option* 
> key when you click on *File* and *Duplicate* will change to *Save As* 
> all in the menu.
> You can also use the keyboard shortcut Option+Shift+Command+S to get to 
> the *Save As* dialog.

These are all unnecessary with File>New of course, but critical if 
you're saving a modified version of something else.

> The original can be dealt with however you please, if you *Save* you 
> might have to *Rename*, or just close without saving.

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#29082

From	jamiekg@wizardling.geek.nz (Jamie Kahn Genet)
Date	2015-04-20 16:53 +1200
Message-ID	<1m36s6d.w6sxd718q3128N%jamiekg@wizardling.geek.nz>
In reply to	#28976

Adam H. Kerman <ahk@chinet.com> wrote:

> I tried to help a friend create a simple text file on
> Macintosh OSX 10.9.5 and it was very difficult.
> 
> Right clicking didn't have any option to create a text file.
> http://i.imgur.com/RkrcG3M.png
> 
> So I had to find an existing text file because I couldn't
> just create an empty text file.
> 
> Once I dug around and found a text file, I then found the 
> "duplicate" menu, and I duplicated it to "filename copy", 
> but was unable to just cut and paste it without duplicating
> it first.
> 
> After duplicating it, I was able to cut and paste it so 
> that I could put it in the folder where I wanted it to be.
> 
> But when I changed the name to a reasonable name to indicate
> it was a text file, the file simply disappeared! (I had named
> it something like filename.txt).
>  
> Having no idea what happened to the file I had just named
> filename.txt, I tried again by duplicating and then cutting
> and pasting without a filename extension, to just a file name 
> of "save_text".
> http://i.imgur.com/Vp0LkB4.png
> 
> Only then (after far too many steps), was I able to have a 
> text file in the location I wanted it.
> 
> Since the Mac is different from what I am used to, I am sure
> I am doing something very wrong since it can't be this complex
> to do something as simple as create an empty text file where
> you want it to exist with a file name that indicates it's
> a text file.
> 
> Given the simple goal of 
> a) Creating a blank text file
> b) In a desired location
> c) With some indication that it's a text file
> How would a Mac user have done this task?

Leaving aside the question of why I'd ever care to do this, simply
launch a text editor and save a blank document. Or you could wait till
you've actually got something to type into the document...
-- 
If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate.

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#29152

From	"Adam H. Kerman" <ahk@chinet.com>
Date	2015-04-20 07:09 +0000
Message-ID	<mh28mv$i5o$46@news.albasani.net>
In reply to	#29082

jamiekg@wizardling.geek.nz (Jamie Kahn Genet) wrote in message
1m36s6d.w6sxd718q3128N%jamiekg@wizardling.geek.nz

> Leaving aside the question of why I'd ever care to do this, simply
> launch a text editor and save a blank document. Or you could wait till
> you've actually got something to type into the document...

I didn't actually want a blank document, although there are plenty of 
times that placeholder documents are useful - this wasn't one of them.

Since I didn't see a text editor in the user's desktop menus, and since 
I'm not familiar with Macintosh application names, I was unaware of the 
TextEdit editor.

However, I knew enough about the Mac to know that once I had a plain text 
file, that the default text editor would launch when I doubleclicked on 
that plain text file.

So that's the only reason I had initially wanted to create an *empty* 
plain text file.

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#29179

From	jamiekg@wizardling.geek.nz (Jamie Kahn Genet)
Date	2015-04-20 20:13 +1200
Message-ID	<1m371c3.1n6aksg1aq4t1jN%jamiekg@wizardling.geek.nz>
In reply to	#29152

Adam H. Kerman <ahk@chinet.com> wrote:

> jamiekg@wizardling.geek.nz (Jamie Kahn Genet) wrote in message
> 1m36s6d.w6sxd718q3128N%jamiekg@wizardling.geek.nz
> 
> > Leaving aside the question of why I'd ever care to do this, simply
> > launch a text editor and save a blank document. Or you could wait till
> > you've actually got something to type into the document...
> 
> I didn't actually want a blank document, although there are plenty of
> times that placeholder documents are useful - this wasn't one of them.
> 
> Since I didn't see a text editor in the user's desktop menus, and since
> I'm not familiar with Macintosh application names, I was unaware of the
> TextEdit editor.

If you mean the Finder's menus, you must think the Mac comes with no
applications at all. How can you be so stunningly clueless to not even
open a Finder window and see the Application folder?

> However, I knew enough about the Mac to know that once I had a plain text
> file, that the default text editor would launch when I doubleclicked on
> that plain text file.
> 
> So that's the only reason I had initially wanted to create an *empty*
> plain text file.

So instead of learning how a Mac works, specifically how to browse and
launch applications, you decided to do everything arse backwards?

I think you are a troll.
-- 
If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate.

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#29291

From	Howard S Shubs <howard@shubs.net>
Date	2015-04-21 10:19 +0000
Message-ID	<slrnmjc92f.307.howard@foxtrot.local>
In reply to	#28976

On 2015-04-20, Adam H. Kerman <ahk@chinet.com> wrote:
> Given the simple goal of 
> a) Creating a blank text file
> b) In a desired location
> c) With some indication that it's a text file
> How would a Mac user have done this task?

a) in Terminal, "touch filename"
b) in Word, save as text
c) in TextEdit, create and save a file
d) in BBEdit, ditto

What do you want to do with the file?  You're going to use a program on
it at some point; create it with that program.

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#29326

From	Alan Baker <email@domain.com>
Date	2015-04-21 18:28 -0700
Message-ID	<mh6tgn$21m$1@news.datemas.de>
In reply to	#28976

On 2015-04-20 00:40:12 +0000, Adam H. Kerman said:

> I tried to help a friend create a simple text file on
> Macintosh OSX 10.9.5 and it was very difficult.
> 
> Right clicking didn't have any option to create a text file.
> http://i.imgur.com/RkrcG3M.png
> 
> So I had to find an existing text file because I couldn't
> just create an empty text file.
> 
> Once I dug around and found a text file, I then found the
> "duplicate" menu, and I duplicated it to "filename copy",
> but was unable to just cut and paste it without duplicating
> it first.
> 
> After duplicating it, I was able to cut and paste it so
> that I could put it in the folder where I wanted it to be.
> 
> But when I changed the name to a reasonable name to indicate
> it was a text file, the file simply disappeared! (I had named
> it something like filename.txt).
> 
> Having no idea what happened to the file I had just named
> filename.txt, I tried again by duplicating and then cutting
> and pasting without a filename extension, to just a file name
> of "save_text".
> http://i.imgur.com/Vp0LkB4.png
> 
> Only then (after far too many steps), was I able to have a
> text file in the location I wanted it.
> 
> Since the Mac is different from what I am used to, I am sure
> I am doing something very wrong since it can't be this complex
> to do something as simple as create an empty text file where
> you want it to exist with a file name that indicates it's
> a text file.
> 
> Given the simple goal of
> a) Creating a blank text file
> b) In a desired location
> c) With some indication that it's a text file
> How would a Mac user have done this task?

Why would you actually WANT a blank text file?

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#29329

From	JF Mezei <jfmezei.spamnot@vaxination.ca>
Date	2015-04-21 21:40 -0400
Message-ID	<5536fbf5$0$44517$c3e8da3$66d3cc2f@news.astraweb.com>
In reply to	#29326

On 15-04-21 21:28, Alan Baker wrote:

> Why would you actually WANT a blank text file?

-Application which checked for existence of file as some sort of flag.

-Application which opens file as "append", and expects the file to be
present when it starts up. But you want to create a blank version at
start of month after you've moved the old log file elsewhere. (yeah,
some operating systems will automatically create the file with just an
"a", but some will fail if the file doesn't yet exist).


Or when you start some project, you create the filenames where you will
be entering notes at different stages of project. With the files already
there, you can just click on the relevant one and add comments to it
when needed.

There are plebnty opf scenarios where a blank file can be needed.

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#29336

From	Lewis <g.kreme@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies>
Date	2015-04-22 03:32 +0000
Message-ID	<slrnmje5ki.3d5.g.kreme@amelia.local>
In reply to	#29329

In message <5536fbf5$0$44517$c3e8da3$66d3cc2f@news.astraweb.com> 
  JF Mezei <jfmezei.spamnot@vaxination.ca> wrote:
> On 15-04-21 21:28, Alan Baker wrote:

>> Why would you actually WANT a blank text file?

> -Application which checked for existence of file as some sort of flag.

Like what?

> -Application which opens file as "append",

Like what?

> There are plebnty opf scenarios where a blank file can be needed.

Not really.

-- 
Q is for QUENTIN who sank in the mire
R is for RHODA consumed by a fire

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#29342

From	Warren Oates <warren.oates@gmail.com>
Date	2015-04-22 08:15 -0400
Message-ID	<553790eb$0$25104$c3e8da3$92d0a893@news.astraweb.com>
In reply to	#29336

In article <slrnmje5ki.3d5.g.kreme@amelia.local>,
 Lewis <g.kreme@gmail.com.dontsendmecopies> wrote:

> 
> > There are plebnty opf scenarios where a blank file can be needed.
> 
> Not really.

Well, I'm glad you've set us straight on that. I'll sleep better tonight.
-- 
Where's the Vangelis music?
Pris' tongue is sticking out in in the wide shot after Batty has kissed her.
They have put back more tits into the Zhora dressing  room scene.
  -- notes for Blade Runner

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#29330

From	dorayme <do_ray_me@bigpond.com>
Date	2015-04-22 12:07 +1000
Message-ID	<do_ray_me-6B64B3.12072722042015@aioe.org>
In reply to	#29326

In article <mh6tgn$21m$1@news.datemas.de>,
 Alan Baker <email@domain.com> wrote:

> Why would you actually WANT a blank text file?

To name it and keep it in a folder for a job, after which is done, to 
then write relevant things for say a Read Me. Why not do it later? 
Because some people like to do as many easy things on a big job as 
possible first, the low hanging fruit, it gets them to feel they are 
finally getting into the job they have been putting off.

-- 
dorayme

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#29345

From	M-M <nospam@ny.more>
Date	2015-04-22 09:45 -0400
Message-ID	<220420150945150077%nospam@ny.more>
In reply to	#29326

In article <mh6tgn$21m$1@news.datemas.de>, Alan Baker
<email@domain.com> wrote:

> Why would you actually WANT a blank text file?

I do all the time. I create blank text files with information I need
that I can access with Spotlight.

-- 
m-m
http://www.mhmyers.com

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csiph-web

How do mac users create a blank text file where you want it?

Contents

#29314

#29316

#29323

#29082

#29152

#29179

#29291

#29326

#29329

#29336

#29342

#29330

#29345