Cannot see full file name when in columns format

Question

Cannot see full file name when in columns format

files in folders displayed in column format cannot view full name:

Tahoe 26.2 completed yesterday and a new issue not in 26.1 - when viewing folder contents in column format. The column window has the slider at the bottom covering the ears for stretching the column width to aid in reading long file names. Stretching to the right displays more columns, but the slider covers and prevents stretching. Probably a bug, but anyone have a workaround?

Mac Studio, macOS 26.2

Posted on Dec 17, 2025 8:11 PM

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Answer 1

Dec 17, 2025 8:59 PM in response to leroydouglas

here's a picture of the problem:

the slider covers the ears that otherwise allow stretching to show the whole file name. And the slider moves to the spot where the pointer is when you do see the ears. I reported as a bug, but sometimes someone has a workaround or clever solution.

The problem begins when the nesting of files exceeds the width of the window: if three columns fit the window no slider. When you select in the third column, then a fourth column is needed and the columns slide left for displaying, and the slider appears, but on top of the ears instead of under them.

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Answer 2

Dec 17, 2025 9:30 PM in response to Charles Palenz

Charles Palenz wrote:

here's a picture of the problem:

the slider covers the ears that otherwise allow stretching to show the whole file name. And the slider moves to the spot where the pointer is when you do see the ears. I reported as a bug, but sometimes someone has a workaround or clever solution.

The problem begins when the nesting of files exceeds the width of the window: if three columns fit the window no slider. When you select in the third column, then a fourth column is needed and the columns slide left for displaying, and the slider appears, but on top of the ears instead of under them.

https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/ca0e3645-d882-43d4-8a09-f59590724eec

I do not see the issue.

Change your settings and compare your results...

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Answer 3

Dec 17, 2025 10:20 PM in response to dialabrain

Another illustration: This was not a problem before OS-26.2 IF the window were made wide enough the bar goes away, but that's not practical with deep nesting and is a new defect in the OS. I am looking for someone who has figured a work around, if there is one, in the columns format. I know other ways to show full file names. To appreciate, you have to be a user of columns with lots of nesting and recognize the slider is not positioned to be under the ears as it had been.

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Answer 4

dialabrain

Level 10

135,905 points

Dec 17, 2025 11:48 PM in response to Charles Palenz

As I tried to explain, if you change when the scroll bars display you don't need the "ears" to change the column width. You can click and drag the column anywhere along the vertical separation line.

But, If you must have the scroll bars visible at all times, on my Macs the "ears" are above the scroll bars.

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Answer 5

Dec 18, 2025 9:41 AM in response to Charles Palenz

Charles Palenz wrote:

Another illustration: This was not a problem before OS-26.2

I am looking for someone who has figured a work around, if there is one, in the columns format.

To be proactive you can file a bug report / submit your Apple Feedback here: Product Feedback - Apple

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Answer 6

etresoft

Level 9

56,326 points

Dec 18, 2025 9:56 AM in response to Charles Palenz

Let me guess, you're using a mouse, right?

In one of the great ironies of the Apple world, these days, Apple probably has better support for a mouse on iOS than it does on macOS.

The previous suggestions should solve the problem. Then, you won't have to look for "ears". You'll be able to just drag the divider.

In addition to putting the "ear" down in the horizontal scroll area, Apple also seems to have changed the default behaviour. I remember plugging in a mouse triggered scroll bars throughout the UI. That doesn't seem to happen anymore. I can only reproduce what you're seeing when I have it set to show scroll bars "always".

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Answer 7

Dec 18, 2025 4:05 PM in response to leroydouglas

My setting is "Always" and changing to "When .. " does as you say. So you are the sole rational answer. But I'm puzzled, why always does not work. It appears there remains a bug, was not an issue before, but your tip is an excellent solution. Thank you. one up arrow!

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