How do you 'move' a file and not copy it?

[Sirious]

Been using Mac for a few years now and sometimes I often want to transfer files from my Mac to my USB.

I noticed that it actually copies the file into the USB rather than moving it - so I have to delete the original after (using drag and drop).

Can this behaviour be changed? I just want a simple move-to-USB, like on Windows.
I know that having a copy created is better, but just want to quickly get on my way without fiddling with the trash and what-not.

Thanks

 

[dejo]

Try holding the Command key while dragging. You'll know you're moving instead of copying because the green + will go away.

 

[Sirious]

Try holding the Command key while dragging.

Wow, I can't believe it was that simple!
Thank you very much

 

[chown33]

There's also Copy (Edit -> Copy), followed by a Paste Special (Edit, hold down alt/option key, Paste becomes Paste Special).

Google search terms: Finder paste special

 

[MacBH928]

I have a similar kind of question. I want to copy files but keep all the metadata of the file(Date Created, Date modified) .

how can I do this? alt+drag and drop will work? or copy and paste?

 

[Gregg2]

Try holding the Command key while dragging. You'll know you're moving instead of copying because the green + will go away.

I thought it was the Option key. Command-click = right click, n'est pas?
Now I'm gonna hafta check it out at home...

 

[dejo]

I thought it was the Option key. Command-click = right click, n'est pas?

No, it's definitely the Command key. I checked before I posted just to be certain. As for right-click, that's control-click.

 

[Darth.Titan]

I thought it was the Option key. Command-click = right click, n'est pas?
Now I'm gonna hafta check it out at home...

Option-drag does the opposite of what the OP wants. It forces a copy when moving a file on the same drive.

For the record, you can also command-option drag to create an alias of the file you're dragging.

 

[SnowLeopard OSX]

Click and drag the file where you want to move it while holding command. For me, it's control because I switched out the command and control functions.

 

[Dana Cline]

I thought it was the Option key. Command-click = right click, n'est pas?
Now I'm gonna hafta check it out at home...

i press the Option key,,if the OP means like the window. The file still in original folder after dragging to other places. Control + click = right click.

 

[Fishrrman]

This is one of my gripes with the Finder.
There is no "move" command for files or folders (as there is a "copy" command).

I've found that sometimes the "command key" trick works, and sometimes it doesn't.

Usually the only certain way to do it is to copy first, then to delete the old file/folder once you know the replacement is "in place".

Or, use a "finder replacement" app that DOES have a "move" command.
For this, I like "Pathfinder".

 

[chown33]

This is one of my gripes with the Finder.
There is no "move" command for files or folders (as there is a "copy" command).

I've found that sometimes the "command key" trick works, and sometimes it doesn't.

Usually the only certain way to do it is to copy first, then to delete the old file/folder once you know the replacement is "in place".

Or, use a "finder replacement" app that DOES have a "move" command.
For this, I like "Pathfinder".

First, which OS version are you referring to?

Second, try the following:
1. In Finder, select several files.
2. Press ⌘C.
3. Open a folder on another drive.
4. Click the Edit menu to show it.
5. Observe the "Paste ..." menu item.
6. Press the ALT/OPTION key.
7. Does the "Paste ..." menu item change? To what?

When I do the above on a 10.8 OS, the word "Paste" changes to "Move".

 

[MacBH928]

on 10.9 it says "move item here"

 

[TioP]

I am still running Snow Leopard and had something related to this question ... but only 'related'. Because the original question as-is makes no sense. I fail to figure out how the asking user (Sirious) expects to move an object to another medium (USB drive) without copying it. The only way that you can do this is copying and then deleting the original. That effects a 'move' semantics, but the copy is unavoidable. Effectively, you can truly move objects (that is WITHOUT COPYING THEM as an intermediate step) only within the same medium (the hard disk, e.g.). This amounts (or should amount, I should say) to replicating the (source) directory entry of the object to the target/destination directory, then deleting the entry in the source directory, all done atomically, so that the file system doesn't get corrupt. NO DATA MOVEMENT IS INVOLVED.

To me, as a rarely-Mac-user, this very question sounds fascinating. UNIX has the 'mv' command that does exactly what I described when source and destination are different directories (semantics change, of course when 'mv' is used as 'rename' within the same directory). That exists since the first UNIX systems, somewhere in 1972 or 1973. Here we have, 45 years later, MacOS that has similar functionality only in 10.9 !!!. At least that is what I understand from the various posts here.

Kind of pathetic, I think. Makes me understand better why I am just an occasional Mac user.