PROBLEM

SOLUTION

Finder uses different sorting scheme.
The OS X Finder now uses Unicode to sort file names. This means that if you used to use special characters, such as the bullet and tilde, to organize your file/folders in OS 9 (for example, to keep a working folder at the bottom of a directory at all times), then your files/folders may move to unexpected positions.

The Unicode sorting scheme is here to stay, so you may have to change any special characters in your file/folder names.

This long list from unicode.org shows the sorting order for ALL unicode characters. Notice how characters like the bullet, which used to be at the bottom in OS 9, are now at the top. If anyone knows of a list that only has the Western Latin characters, please let me know!

TextEdit files can't be read by OS 9's SimpleText

TextEdit saves files in Rich Text format by default. If you want to save a file in text only format, just select "Make Plain Text" from the Format menu.

Update (Feb. 10, 05): Keep in mind though that OS 9 still can't handle the "Return" character from TextEdit's "plain text" files... they appear as hollow rectangles and run into the next line without a break. You could use Simpletext in Classic if you have it installed. Or, if you have the Developer's Tools installed you may be able to find an OS X version of Simpletext.

Can't view contents of font suitcases
In OS 9, you could view and manipulate font suitcases, by moving fonts from one to another. You can no longer do this.

No solution found. Also, note that Fontographer doesn't work under Classic. Update: As per Macromedia's OS X technote, re-installing a NON-FPU version of Fontographer will allow it to run in Classic.

Can't "put away" from Trash
The OS 9 Trash kept track of where a particular file came from, so that you could select an item in the trash and select "put away" which returned it to its previous directory. OS X's Finder doesn't allow this anymore.

The Finder does, however, provide an "undo" feature now. If you accidentally moved an item to the trash, selecting "undo" will return the file to its original directory. But you have to do that immediately, because the "undo" feature only remembers the last action.

Can't drag and drop on contents of docked folders
Unlike OS 9's pop-up windows, dragging an item onto a folder in the dock will not open that folder to allow you to drop onto the contents of that folder. For example, a pop-up folder with drag-and-drop "droplet" AppleScripts...

No solution found.

An alternate to the dock may provide some answers... please email me if you know of any app that has this feature. (DragThing seems to have some of this functionality.)