Finder window without adjustable list columns

I'm encountering what seems like an oddity: a specific folder that opens in list view, but without the ability to resize or move the columns around. The folder that contains it, Documents, works fine in List View, and folders contained within it also open to a functionally adjustable list view. But not this particular folder. I've shifted the view to columns and back again, tried an assortment of checked boxes in View Options, but nothing will make those columns adjustable.
I'm thinking that perhaps some parameter of that folder is corrupted, but not how to find, trash, and/or replace said parameters.
-gf

Hi..
Try deleting the Finder .plist (preferences)
Open the Finder. From the Finder menu bar top of your screen click Go > Go to Folder
Type this exactly as you see it here:
~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist
Click Go
Move the com.apple.finder.plist file from the Preferences folder to the Trash.
Now relaunch the Finder.

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on script_title()
Filename : finderwindowprops.scpt (Script Debugger)
Author : Bill Hernandez
Version : 1.0.0
Updated : Thursday, December 14, 2006 ( 6:01 PM )
end script_title
-- ---------+---------+---------+---------+---------
on script_notes( )
Setting the sidebar width for finder windows is not working consistently,
nor correctly for me. I had written several scripts to standardize the
display of windows on screen several months ago, and they have quit working
during the last couple of versions of the OS, not sure what has happened ?
end script_notes
-- ---------+---------+---------+---------+---------
on run
tell me
set this_folder to (path to current user folder)
SetupWindow(this_folder)
if (ChooseTest() = 1) then
TestOne(this_folder)
else
TestTwo(this_folder)
end if
set str to ""
set str to str & "The Sidebar Width Should be Zero" & return & return
set str to str & "It had worked well several months ago when I was doing some "
set str to str & "window stacking, but it seems to be broken for me..." & return & return
set str to str & "iMacG5 running OSX 10.4.8" & return & return
ShowMsg(str, 10)
end tell
end run
-- ---------+---------+---------+---------+---------
on SetupWindow(whichFolder)
tell application "Finder"
activate
set counter to 1
try
open whichFolder
select Finder window 1
on error
set win to make new Finder window
end try
set bounds of (Finder window counter) to {20, 60, 700, 700}
set current view of (Finder window counter) to icon view
set toolbar visible of (Finder window counter) to true
set sidebar width of (Finder window counter) to 300
set w_props to get properties of Finder window 1
set str to ""
set str to str & "The Sidebar Width Should be 300" & return & return
set str to str & "Sidebar Width : " & ((sidebar width) of w_props)
my ShowMsg(str, 0)
end tell
end SetupWindow
-- ---------+---------+---------+---------+---------
on TestOne(whichFolder)
tell application "Finder"
activate
set counter to 1
try
open whichFolder
select Finder window 1
on error
set win to make new Finder window
end try
set bounds of (Finder window counter) to {20, 60, 600, 600}
set current view of (Finder window counter) to list view
set toolbar visible of (Finder window counter) to true
set sidebar width of (Finder window counter) to 0
set w_props to get properties of Finder window 1
set str to ""
set str to str & "The Sidebar Width Should be Zero" & return & return
set str to str & "Sidebar Width : " & ((sidebar width) of w_props)
my ShowMsg(str, 0)
end tell
end TestOne
-- ---------+---------+---------+---------+---------
on TestTwo(whichFolder)
tell application "Finder"
activate
set w_props to {}
set w_props to w_props & {sidebar width:0}
set w_props to w_props & {current view:list view}
set w_props to w_props & {toolbar visible:true}
set w_props to w_props & {statusbar visible:true}
set w_props to w_props & {bounds:{20, 60, 400, 600}}
try
open whichFolder
select Finder window 1
on error
set win to make new Finder window
end try
set w_ref to Finder window 1
set properties of w_ref to w_props
set w_props to get properties of Finder window 1
set str to ""
set str to str & "The Sidebar Width Should be Zero" & return & return
set str to str & "Sidebar Width : " & ((sidebar width) of w_props)
my ShowMsg(str, 0)
end tell
end TestTwo
-- ---------+---------+---------+---------+---------
on ChooseTest()
tell application "Finder"
activate
set s to ""
set s to s & "The sidebar width is inconsistent no matter which method I use." & return & return
set s to s & "Sometimes there is a sidebar, sometimes there is none, particularly "
set s to s & "with a window that already exists." & return & return
set s to s & "Method one seems to work better, but does not always hide the sidebar." & return & return
set s to s & "Please select a choice..."
set b1 to "TestOne"
set b2 to "TestTwo"
set aReturn to display dialog s buttons {b1, b2} default button {b2}
if (button returned of aReturn = b1) then
return 1
else
return 2
end if
end tell
end Choose
-- ---------+---------+---------+---------+---------
on ShowMsg(s, howLong)
tell application "Finder"
activate
if (howLong = 0) then
set theTIme to 3
else
set theTIme to howLong
end if
set b1 to "OK"
display dialog s buttons {b1} default button {b1} giving up after theTIme
end tell
end ShowMsg
-- ---------+---------+---------+---------+---------

This is a re-post since I learned how to format the output a little nicer...
on script_title()
   Filename : finderwindowprops.scpt (Script Debugger)
   Author : Bill Hernandez
   Version : 1.0.0
   Updated : Thursday, December 14, 2006 ( 6:01 PM )
end script_title
-- ---------+---------+---------+---------+---------
on script_notes()
   Setting the sidebar width for finder windows is not working consistently,
   nor correctly for me. I had written several scripts to standardize the
   display of windows on screen several months ago, and they have quit working
   during the last couple of versions of the OS, not sure what has happened ?
end script_notes
-- ---------+---------+---------+---------+---------
on run
   tell me
      set this_folder to (path to current user folder)
      SetupWindow(this_folder)
      if (ChooseTest() = 1) then
         TestOne(this_folder)
      else
         TestTwo(this_folder)
      end if
      set str to ""
      set str to str & "The Sidebar Width Should be Zero" & return & return
      set str to str & "It had worked well several months ago when I was doing some "
      set str to str & "window stacking, but it seems to be broken for me..." & return & return
      set str to str & "iMacG5 running OSX 10.4.8" & return & return
      ShowMsg(str, 10)
   end tell
end run
-- ---------+---------+---------+---------+---------
on SetupWindow(whichFolder)
   tell application "Finder"
      activate
      set counter to 1
      try
         open whichFolder
         select Finder window 1
      on error
         set win to make new Finder window
      end try
      set bounds of (Finder window counter) to {20, 60, 700, 700}
      set current view of (Finder window counter) to icon view
      set toolbar visible of (Finder window counter) to true
      set sidebar width of (Finder window counter) to 300
      set w_props to get properties of Finder window 1
      set str to ""
      set str to str & "The Sidebar Width Should be 300" & return & return
      set str to str & "Sidebar Width : " & ((sidebar width) of w_props)
      my ShowMsg(str, 0)
   end tell
end SetupWindow
-- ---------+---------+---------+---------+---------
on TestOne(whichFolder)
   tell application "Finder"
      activate
      set counter to 1
      try
         open whichFolder
         select Finder window 1
      on error
         set win to make new Finder window
      end try
      set bounds of (Finder window counter) to {20, 60, 600, 600}
      set current view of (Finder window counter) to list view
      set toolbar visible of (Finder window counter) to true
      set sidebar width of (Finder window counter) to 0
      set w_props to get properties of Finder window 1
      set str to ""
      set str to str & "The Sidebar Width Should be Zero" & return & return
      set str to str & "Sidebar Width : " & ((sidebar width) of w_props)
      my ShowMsg(str, 0)
   end tell
end TestOne
-- ---------+---------+---------+---------+---------
on TestTwo(whichFolder)
   tell application "Finder"
      activate
      set w_props to {}
      set w_props to w_props & {sidebar width:0}
      set w_props to w_props & {current view:list view}
      set w_props to w_props & {toolbar visible:true}
      set w_props to w_props & {statusbar visible:true}
      set w_props to w_props & {bounds:{20, 60, 400, 600}}
      try
         open whichFolder
         select Finder window 1
      on error
         set win to make new Finder window
      end try
      set w_ref to Finder window 1
      set properties of w_ref to w_props
      set w_props to get properties of Finder window 1
      set str to ""
      set str to str & "The Sidebar Width Should be Zero" & return & return
      set str to str & "Sidebar Width : " & ((sidebar width) of w_props)
      my ShowMsg(str, 0)
   end tell
end TestTwo
-- ---------+---------+---------+---------+---------
on ChooseTest()
   tell application "Finder"
      activate
      set s to ""
      set s to s & "The sidebar width is inconsistent no matter which method I use." & return & return
      set s to s & "Sometimes there is a sidebar, sometimes there is none, particularly "
      set s to s & "with a window that already exists." & return & return
      set s to s & "Method one seems to work better, but does not always hide the sidebar." & return & return
      set s to s & "Please select a choice..."
      set b1 to "TestOne"
      set b2 to "TestTwo"
      set aReturn to display dialog s buttons {b1, b2} default button {b2}
      if (button returned of aReturn = b1) then
         return 1
      else
         return 2
      end if
   end tell
end ChooseTest
-- ---------+---------+---------+---------+---------
on ShowMsg(s, howLong)
   tell application "Finder"
      activate
      if (howLong = 0) then
         set theTIme to 3
      else
         set theTIme to howLong
      end if
      set b1 to "OK"
      display dialog s buttons {b1} default button {b1} giving up after theTIme
   end tell
end ShowMsg
-- ---------+---------+---------+---------+---------

Software Update doesn't open a Finder window

I am helping a friend new to the Mac OS learn to use the "download only" option in Software Update. On my Mac, when the download completes, a new Finder window opens and shows the complete path to the update pkg(s). I have my Finder window preference set for column view.
I recommended that my friend use the "download only" option on 4 recent updates.
On her Mac, the downloads arrived, but a Finder window never opened. As a result, she was in a panic because she had no idea where the downloads went.
It has now been verified that they are indeed in /Library/Packages. But she had no way of knowing to look there.
I am trying to win this new user over to the Mac, and told her how Software Update would simply show her where it put the pkg files, but it truly doesn't happen on her machine.
It is the late 2006 Core 2 Duo iMac, 2.0 GHz (Intel), running 10.4.11, with almost all subsequent updates.
She is a "new user" in the sense that a) she is 78 years old and b) her previous PC ran Windows 95. She has had a very rough 2 years to date with Tiger - I receive a "HELP!" e-mail or phone call every 2-3 days. She looks for Mac Help in Mail, looks for Address Book Help in iPhoto, etc.
Excuse the digression. Any ideas why Software Update refuses to show where the downloads are? Any possible fixes? I know this is a small problem, but it's a significant one for my friend.
Thanks

I'm aware of that approach. I personally think its handy to have the update installers all at hand before I do any updates. If an update goes badly, sometimes it can be a good idea to verify the hard drive, repair permissions, and reapply it, at least that's what I've seen recommended many times for problematic updates.
I'm trying to avoid a philosophical discussion, though, of how to do OS X updates (standalone dmg files vs. Software Update, repairing permissions, or not, safe boot, or not etc. etc.) I've seen long, long discussions. I've never used Software Update to do an update on my machine, but that's only my preference. I could be branded a complete Luddite for this.
I was just hoping that someone out there had a quick fix for the "busted" automatic Finder window - that's all I seek. If not, it's not a serious problem, and I'll move on. Just irritating to see it work 100% perfectly on one Mac and not at all on the other.
Thank you for your input.

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Thanks
Bill

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This was a great place for me to start
Thank you
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Once all that is done, at least on my box, I closed it out and opened up a new finder window and everything was as I wanted.
Thank you for the help from the above helper to get me here

The drop down menus in Photoshop CC 2014 are too small to read without using the magnifier. They are OK in Photoshop CC. I have been unable to find anyplace to adjust the font size. I have Windows 7 Pro. Looking at the Photoshop version history, it lo

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I've been having the same problem (though I haven't looked at the console yet to verify the same exact error).
There doesn't seem to be a situation that I can identify to cause the problem (i.e. waking from sleep mode), so it's difficult to reproduce consistently. The error seems to happen randomly. Last night I was getting the error every time I sent a single message. So I'd create and send a message, and then the next message I'd try to create or reply to, I couldn't. I'd have to quit Mail and start it again to gain functionality.
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http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1197152&tstart=1020
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Post a screenshot. AFAIK, this is the only toolbar option:
27" i7 iMac (Mid 2011) refurb, OS X Yo (10.10.1), Mavs, ML & SL, G4 450 MP w/10.5 & 9.2.2

Finder window without adjustable list columns

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