Changing from earlier use, the 'favorites' folder is used to provide a stationery file (see below) type of service for any file in that folder.
The 'favorites' folder name is case sensitive and is found at
~/Library/Application Support/Tinderbox/favorites/
TBX files or aliases of TBX files placed in the folder are automatically added to the File menu's 'Open Favorites…' sub-menu. Items remain listed in the menu until removed from the folder. This ensures such files are always available whether recently used or not.
Files opened directly from this folder, or indirectly via an alias, are opened as unsaved copies of the source file and given the name 'untitled.tbx'. This simulates the old Mac stationery file behaviour.
To make it easier for the general Mac user to access Tinderbox's support folders, the Help menu's 'Reveal Support Folder in Finder' option will open the folder in a new finder window.
What are stationery files and why the change in Tinderbox behaviour?
The Mac's notion of a 'stationery file' is one that acts like a stationery pad: for a fresh copy you take the top item, i.e. the file acts as a template. Thus files that are set in the OS as stationery files (via a tick box on the their Finder/Get Info dialog), will open an unsaved copy of the file with an 'untitled' filename.
This OS behaviour exists (as at macOS 10.15.1) when manually opening such a file in Finder. However, the API allowing programatic creation of a copy a stationery file has been deprecated and cannot be relied upon its use.
Thus current Tinderbox behaviour is to treat all files in the folder as if they were stationery files regardless of the actual OS setting.
So how is a stationery file edited?
IMPORTANT: do not use the File ▸ Favorites menu for this task or you will edit a copy of the original!
First check whether the TBX is itself flagged to the OS as a stationery file. Longtime users are more likely to have TBX set as stationery file. To check status:
- use the menu Help ▸ Reveal support Folder In Finder.
- in the window that opens select the 'favorites' sub-folder. This should show all the files you normally see in you File ▸ Favorites menu.
- in the finder window select the file you wish to edit and then Get Info (⌘+⌥+I).
- if the desired file is an alias, first find the original of the alias in its true Finder location
- in the 'General' section of the Finder's Get Info dialog (expand the section if collapsed), there are two tick-boxes, one titled 'Stationery pad'.
- if the box is ticked, you will need to un-tick it before you can edit.
Once assured the original TBX is not set in the OS as a stationery file—something only likely for longer term users—it can be edited:
- open the TBX in situ directly from Finder.
- make any edits, save and close.
- open the same file but via the Favorites menu and ensure the new unsaved file created shows the recent edits.
Is it necessary to re-apply the OS stationery flag if it was originally set (above)? For this 'favorite' file use within Tinderbox, no, but the user may have it so set for other reasons so act accordingly.
Legacy only(!): use of aliases
Unlike in older versions (pre v6?) of Tinderbox, the 'favorites' folder cannot be used to store (or alias) files you wish to edit directly. Previously, aliases files were handled differently. By placing aliases in this folder rather than the TBX file itself, the TBX can be kept in a more obvious location (such as within the ~/Documents/ folder hierarchy). A Mac alias can even track the file if moved around the same disk.
See also—notes linking to here: