These are several different patches for Finder 7.5.x that extend the space allotted for file names in various non-icon Views. They should work on any Finder from 7.5.1 to 7.5.5 (the latest with the System 2.0 Update for System 7.5.3). Check your version of the Finder before applying these patches.
See the picture below for a preview of what each does.
Instructions
Note: Trash or hide your Finder Preferences and restart after you apply this patch, and then USE THE "VIEWS" CONTROL PANEL TO SEE THE CHANGES.
1. Make a copy of your Finder by holding the option key down and dragging the Finder out of the System Folder to the desktop.
2. Use this patch on the copy of the Finder on your desktop.
3. Hide your old Finder and Finder Preferences in another folder (save them temporarily in case you don't like the results of the patch).
3. Put the updated version in the System folder and restart. Use the Views Control Panel to reset your preferences and to see the changes. (The extended names won't show up until the Views panel is used at least once.)
Description
These patches will allow extra space for the Name of a file in all non-icon views in the Finder. I borrowed some of the extra space around the small icons for the names themselves, so none of these patches will look acceptable if you use the very small generic icons. (It always seemed to me that the amount of space Apple allotted was unneccessary, and took up valuable window real estate. This is a matter of taste, and is a reason why you should not trash your old Finder before you see the results of the patches.)
You have three basic choices: Long Name, Longer Name, Longest Name. (The Finder 7.5.5 has extended name views almost as big as the メLong Name, Normal Dateモ patch, but with the extra icon space). Whether you use lots of capital letters or numbers in file names will determine which one you need. The longest version is for people with big monitors and will accommodate 31 capital Wユs for editing. (This may seem farfetched, but somebody asked for it.)
In addition to choosing the amount of space you want to devote to the file name, you have your choice of Date style:
Short: 3/7/96, 2:41 PM
Normal: Thu, Mar 7, 1996, 2:41 PM
Long: Thursday, March 7, 1996, 2:41 PM
Here are some of your options and what they look like--the different date styles can be seen in the first three options. (The font setting here is Geneva 10, your mileage may vary.):
(This picture will look best when zoomed to 640 width.)
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All of these patches were prepared with Michael Hechtユs excellent ResCompare program.
DISCLAIMER: YOU USE THESE PATCHES AT YOUR OWN RISK.