Because the Finder is an application, you configure its settings in the Finder application menu. For example, you can set the Finder to control which icons appear on the desktop (or whether any do).   You can also use the Finder preferences to control whether folders open in a new window or the same window, set windows to always open in column view, and adjust settings for spring-loaded folders.

Getting Started with Mac OS X version 10.2 > Configuring and Customizing Your Mac > Setting Finder Preferences

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