Yet another Mac OS X 10.2.x Finder oddity: "Select All" function inconsistent; solution

The latest in our recent round of investigation into interface and file manipulation oddities in Mac OS X 10.2.x's Finder deals with "Select All" function, accessible via the keyboard shortcut "Command-A."

If you are in Column View and have selected a file, the "Select All" command will select all of that file's "siblings" (files that are in the same directory). However, if you have selected a folder, the "Select All" command selects all that file's "children" (files contained in that folder), instead of its "siblings" (other folders in the same directory).

There are some viable alternatives to Mac OS X 10.2.x's Finder if you do not like the way it handles file selection and manipulation.

CocoaTech's Path Finder, though somewhat sluggish on older systems and carrying a hefty price tag, does not display the same odd selection behavior. If you have a folder selected in Column view, and invoke the "Select All" command, Path Finder will select all of the folder's "siblings" and not its within-contained "children.

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