Lately, I've seen a lot of people asking this question:
"How can I change the System 7 Finder so that it displays the dates in
the short format (9/7/92) rather than the long format (Fri, Aug 28, 1992)?"
Since I hadn't seen the answer posted, I decided to experiment & find out. However, since the System 7 Finder no longer has the LAYO resource, this proved to be somewhat complicated.
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The Finder's display preferences are stored the the 'fval' resource, ID = 128. In order to edit this resource, you will need ResEdit and the 'fval' template. While one of my copies of ResEdit came with the 'fval' template, another didn't, so I have included one for your convenience.
If, when you open a 'fval' resource, you are presented with the hexadecimal editor rather than the template shown below, follow these instructions to install the 'fval' template: Simply open the "fval template" file (included) with ResEdit, double-click the template icon, and then select the "fval" template & copy it. Last, open your ResEdit Preferences file, paste the 'fval' template, and save & close the preferences file.
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Let me point out that there are two possible 'fval' resources that you can edit, with slightly different results. There is one in the "Finder Preferences" file in the Preferences folder in the System Folder. This is the one that the Finder will normally use, and is the one we will be editing. There is also one in the Finder itself. This is the one that the Finder uses when it creates a new "Finder Preferences" file. So, if you find yourself trashing the "Finder Preferences" file often, it might be a good idea to edit the Finder also, so that you won't have to keep re-editing the "Finder Preferences" file!
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Another problem is that you can't simply open up the "Finder Preferences" file in ResEdit, since the Finder always has this file open & in use. Thus, you have two choices: Either use one of the Finder-quitting utilities (after launching ResEdit, of course) to quit the Finder, and then open the "Finder Preferences" file directly from ResEdit. This is the easiest.
Otherwise, you can make a copy of the Finder Preferences file, edit that one, and then trash the old one & rename the new one in place of it.
Note that while it is usually recommended to work on a copy of the file, the first option is much easier to use, and if by chance you do damage the preferences file, simply drag it to the trash & the Finder will automatically create a new one for you.
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Once you have opened the Preferences file (or a copy of it) in ResEdit, double-click the 'fval' icon, double-click the 'fval' ID = 128 (the only one there), and you'll be presented with a screen similar to the one below:
If you see a screen full of numbers (the hexadecimal editor), you don't have the 'fval' template installed -- see the instructions above to install it.
In order to change the format the Finder uses to display the dates, simply replace the number in the "Date Abbreviation" box with a new number:
Number Date display
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0 = "8/28/92, 6:48 PM"
2 = "Fri, Aug 28, 1992, 6:48 PM" (This is the normal display)
4 = "Friday, August 28, 1992, 6:48 PM"
Save the changes, close the preferences file, and either re-launce the Finder (if you had quit it), or replace the old preferences with the new (if you worked on a copy)!!
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If you have any questions or comments, you can catch me at:
