A very good helper is the PathFinder application, because it can count all directory size contents even recursively and you can sort by size or any other properties. So you will find large files very quick. But this can take much time and needs a lot of attention not to remove files, which should not be removed.

When surfing I found a free application called GrandPerspective which scans a folder or drive you have specified for sizes and then displays a graphical block view.

Grand Perspective

You can point with the mouse over the blocks and you see details like file size, file name and which directory it is. Files and directories are grouped by colors, so that you see at the first glance what belongs together. With the context menu you even can reveal the directory in the finder, so that you can delete the files or directories from every level. A rescan function is also included, so that you can compare the before and after version. Scanning is really fast, so that you even could scan the root of any mass storage device.

Quick access Desktop in Finder

In any file dialog box of the OS X you have all your favourites in left pane. They are really useful to quick access favourite places on your computer.

The current things I am working on, are organized on my desktop. So inside a file dialog box, I just click the sidebar and click on desktop to go to there.

But, mostly I am using the keyboard, especially when I am working on the MacBook and using the trackpad. Also, keyboard strokes are still quicker for a fast typer than pushing the mouse around.

Just hit Command+D when a file dialog box is open and the desktop folder will become the active directory.

Pathfinder with different options

Managing Files on your Harddrive is one of the most done tasks for people like me. I really got very familar to Finder, because it is quite powerful and I can achieve really almost everything with help of the OS X Automator application.

In former Windows times, I was using the Total Commander. It is lend on the design of the very old skool Norton Commander.

The Cocoatech’s Pathfinder, has like its relatives, two panes with different directories open and you can organize your files from left to right and vice versa. The thought of source and target principle is really practicable if you are once used to this.

I prepared a screenshot of the version 5.0.5.

The top one has almost all options and facilities open, to show you, how mighty this application is.

The bottom is the standard as I am currently working with.

Just imagine, that you have two completely different designed Finder windows implemented in just only one. Let’s say, one has a list view with cover flow and the other a icon view.

Also,  you have dozens additional tools like a task manager, detail viewer, terminal and many more.

Because I am as lazy as most people, I do not want to type much. The console helps you out a lot with that. Just type the first letters and hit tab to autocomplete the name.

But what, if you did a download and want to run a included script from the extracted directory? Then you have to use the cd command (change directory) for every directory as long as you reached the target path. Use the magic and just type “cd ” (with a blank after cd). Next, drop the little folder icon from the finder’s window title bar to the console window to have the full path in the terminal session.

Terminal with drag and drop