No...it seems like you got it perfectly...Or, am I missing something obvious here?
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Cut/Paste in Finder???
- Thread starter MattSepeta
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One can use the finder correctly but cut/paste is much more efficient then what apple has you to do. No need to option two windows, holding the cmd key while dragging. Its much better imo and I'm using the finder correctly.
There's also never been copy/cut/paste of files in Finder either.
Wrong.. there is copy/paste of files today. Only the cut is missing.
I think someone explained it the best and I'll quote that. Don't take my quoting as defending apple. I do miss the cut/paste option.
So unlike data, text, or objects that you cut and are removed to the clipboard. Cutting files are not removed until you paste it. This as I mentioned seems to be the best excuse as why apple does not implement cut/paste in the finder. To be truthful, its a bit of a weak argument but apple does what apple wants. You either do it their way or the highway.
Since you're you new, you may not know about the move technique for Finder. When dragging files to a new location in Finder (say to another HD), if you hold down the cmd key when you release the files, it will perform a move rather than a copy. This keeps you from needing to delete the original files.
You still need to open the second window (or navigate to) when using cut and paste plus there's the extra key strokes so drag and drop is easier in my opinion. I do agree it's strange that its there but greyed out. If they activated it would be an extra (useful for some) feature.
I make this point every time cut and paste in finder comes up but I dont quite know what would happen if there was a power cut when you had just cut something. Would you lose that file because it was in memory? If you cut some important stuff and the power goes out you could possibly lose it. Thats another reason (if accurate) that I'm not keen on cut and paste.
Oh sure I didn't know about this. Thanks for the tip. Next time, I'll search before posting
So, there is indeed a GUI method of moving a file in OS X, or mouse method, call it what you will. Hold down the command key while dragging.
So, tell me. Why the paranoia, fear and ignorance about making this a keyboard shortcut?
This is all that we're talking about.... as a user and not a programmer, I am not in the least interested, concerned or impressed by the amazing revelation that a command-x will not put a file/folder on a 'clipboard'. It's just a keyboard shortcut ( and a language shortcut to call it 'cut and paste' a file rather than 'move' a file) for a built in to UNIX command 'mv'... nothing outrageous, scary, or in the least bit unusual.
Now then -
"If you cut some important stuff and the power goes out you could possibly lose it. Thats another reason (if accurate) that I'm not keen on cut and paste."
this might result in some useful input from a programmer/true expert. From my experience as a user only - if i try to move a file or folder and there's a problem halfway (whether a file is corrupted or similar) then there has been no loss of data at all - the files/folders that have been successfully moved are ok any others remain where they were originally - unmoved. This looks to me like a simple file/redundancy check after moving that the new file matches the original before the final deletion of the original file..... probably not far off what happens when copying a file - no doubt there's some error checking 'as you go' for lost data/packets and if needed re-copying moving of data.
Coops
No you don't.
The windows explorer has a nifty tree view pane, so its quite easy and efficient to just select the directory on the tree view and then hit paste.
Thats windows. We are talking about Finder. If you mean column view in Finder then you may as well drag and drop as its quicker and easier than cut and paste. Try it! I know it wont actually cut and paste but if you go through the motions its much quicker dragging and dropping.
Yeah, and if you ever have to do 30 of those consecutively, you lose a whole minute! Now, that starts to be significant. Madison Avenue can sell you two products you don't need in that minute.
But, doing that once in awhile for 30 years, really adds up. However, doing it once today, and once the next day, etc. for 30 years is still insignificant each day. If you can cut out 2 seconds of daydreaming for every move you do, you have that time back.
I am more or less a MAC noobie (a little over a year). I have had many instances where I needed to move files. I did not know about the cmd key for the move as opposed to copy. Thanks for that post. But... the only way I can see to move a file still in finder from one directory (for example the documents directory on the MAC) to a directory on the NAS is to open 2 windows. I see the column view in the finder but don't get how this makes anything more efficient. The only way I can see to move the file is to click &drag and hold it over the NAS computer and wait while it drills down through all of the subdirectories to reach the destination. Unless I am missing something here.
No one here has mentioned any paranoia, fear, or much ignorance about it being a keyboard shortcut. Gross simplification only adds to the misunderstanding of the topic.
The cmd drop is a single action, whereas the cut 'n' paste action is 2 actions. It's Apple's choice whether to add the capability. No amount of discussion here will change this fact. I personally have no need for it.
What's so bad about using 2 Finder windows? That's what I do if I'm doing many moves, otherwise for single moves I use the spring-loaded folders as you stated.
Edit:
For those who would like a "Move to" feature, Automator comes in handy. With two Automator actions to you can create it.
- From File and Folders category: drag Get Selected Finder Items to workflow space
- Then drag over the Move Finder Items action.
- In the workflow, select Options for the Move Finder Items and select the checkbox Show this action when the workflow runs.
- Save the workflow as an application.
- Drag the created application to the Finder toolbar.
- Now when you want to move files, highlight them, click this application icon, and select the destination.
TuffLuffJimmy said:
You did (and still can) get different options by holding down the Control, Option, Shift or "Apple" / "Daisy" / "Splat" / Command keys while dragging the file / folder ... unfortunately, although my computer is a Mac OS 9 PowerMac, I'm stuck using this hopeless old Windoze PC for Internet access, so I can't double-check exactly what those options are.
ScoobyMcDoo said:
I was replying to a message about "Classic".
Most folks will instinctively hit escape when that happens and that will cancel the cut/paste action. I suspect re-hitting ctrl-c on anything will also cancel the operation as well, though I've never tested that
This argument is strange to me in some ways. Perhaps it's because I'm so used to things, I never give it a thought.
For example, on Windows:
- I do like and use the cut/paste option on files themselves.
- I have an overwhelming need to make all windows full screen.
On Mac:
- The thought never occurs to me to cut/paste files, nor do I miss it.
- I NEVER want windows full screen.
I feel like I have a Mac and Windows mode.
For example, on Windows:
- I do like and use the cut/paste option on files themselves.
- I have an overwhelming need to make all windows full screen.
On Mac:
- The thought never occurs to me to cut/paste files, nor do I miss it.
- I NEVER want windows full screen.
I feel like I have a Mac and Windows mode.
I like to keep my files organized in folders. Sometimes I want to move some files, up 1 directory, but if I drag those files I have to start from the beginning (like many directories up) or I have to have a second Finder window open. I find that very frustrating. What can I do?
I can't just cut those files and click on the back arrow to paste them. I have to copy them (which I don't want to do) and then go back and delete the originals... If Apple doesn't want the cut feature here, fine, but at least have it as an option to activate it in system preferences (keep it disabled by default).
I can't just cut those files and click on the back arrow to paste them. I have to copy them (which I don't want to do) and then go back and delete the originals... If Apple doesn't want the cut feature here, fine, but at least have it as an option to activate it in system preferences (keep it disabled by default).
That doesn't make any sense what you wrote. If Apple doesn't want to put Cut N Paste in Finder then putting as an option puts it there.
You may have missed most of the posts on here that explain how to use Cut in Finder. It's for cutting text, not files. If you use it correctly, it's not grayed out in Finder. It does enable when you cut text and/or data in Finder. Don't take this the wrong way but please TRY and figure out something before you make blanket statements that are wrong.