How to cut/paste files & folders in OS X

[Gregg2]

There is no safety net with drag and drop, if you accidentally release the mouse button you could lose your files in amongst files in another directory.

I've done that often, using Windows, rarely using Mac OS.

 

[ICEBreaker]

In fact, it sometimes requires less effort to move a file than copy it because it can often just update file system references instead of copying any data!

Totally agree with you. Under NTFS, this kind of action will really cause a lot of fragmentation. Luckily the Mac FS doesn't have much fragmentation issues.

I actually sometimes still use Windows... just so that I can move and organise my file systems. It's essentially impossible using the drag and drop of Finder.

Actually, I kind of like using Finder to organise my files. Finder is crap when it comes to quickly moving one file from one place to another (as stated many times in this thread). However, if one were to do lots of file management, then Finder is better than Explorer. What you need to do however is to open TWO Finder panels in order to drag and drop properly. I love using the Columns View of Finder to navigate through the folders, better than using the Tree Structure of Explorer. And Quick View is essential - it's so convenient!

There is no safety net with drag and drop, if you accidentally release the mouse button you could lose your files in amongst files in another directory.

What I do in that case is to UNDO the action with CMD+Z. Unfortunately, Mac OS has another irritating deficiency whereby it can only undo ONE action, as oppose to Windows and Linux which can undo a whole series of actions. There are many times when I only realise I have lost files in the "drag and drop" action after I have already done something else, and cannot undo back to the point where I made the mistake. I am sure there will be people who will try their best to defend this deficiency too.

 

[magickangaroo]

You and everyone else in the "whaa whaa Apple should do this" camp choose to come here ("here" as in "a site not affiliated with Apple") and vent your frustrations. The proper channel for giving feedback to Apple is via their feedback page.

Statements like this

...just confirm that you don't really get it.

What, so you think that people haven't suggested this to apple? You don't want people to discuss apple related issues on an apple related forum? Stop thinking so binary, its not an either or situation. Do you not think that apple engineers may pay attention to what is said on this and other sites?

I think the killer thing here that nobody seems to have said is that if the feature was implemented, what would be the problem? If you wouldn't use it, good for you, but why don't users get the choice? Surely the fact there are apps out there for $40 bucks a pop, illustrate that there is a large enough market for this?

Originally people were banging on about lost files, but despite using *nix for years and windows before then, this never happened. What are you on about? If the open source community can work it out, and the idiots at microsoft can, why cant the guys at the golden temple of jobs?

/Mgk

 

[Kristenn]

I don't care if some bozo cuts a folder or file in Finder and forgets to paste!!
I still say it is annoying to have to open multiple Finder windows to drag & drop a file where I want it to be. And Copy & Paste just means I need to go back and delete the other file I copied after pasting it into the new area.

Okay so maybe I'm being a little bit picky... but cut and paste would be nice. I use it in text all the time. However, I have gotten used to just multiple Finder windows. Its different then Windows and since I didn't grow up with Windows I'm actually used to it. My previous part of the post was kind of a joke rant even though I don't think it would be horrible to have cut and paste in the finder. LOL

Anyway yeah... what everyone else said.

 

[ICEBreaker]

I think the killer thing here that nobody seems to have said is that if the feature was implemented, what would be the problem? If you wouldn't use it, good for you, but why don't users get the choice? Surely the fact there are apps out there for $40 bucks a pop, illustrate that there is a large enough market for this?

Agreed, and I did mention this numerous times in lots of other threads. Those against the suggestions are not upset about the implementation of a feature that they won't use and one which won't affect them. They are upset that new Apple users (i.e. Windows and Linux users) want new features. It's an inability to accept positive criticisms and suggestions and the overall haughty attitude and narrow mindedness that is causing the arguments.

We are not here to force people to use copy and paste features, but they are here to force us to accept the lack of copy and paste. Quite ridiculous, really.

 

[jsalzer]

We are not here to force people to use copy and paste features, but they are here to force us to accept the lack of copy and paste. Quite ridiculous, really.

You know the funny part - I think that several of us in this discussion (including myself) haven't even realized that Copy and Paste Item are already allowed in Snow Leopard. The menu even changes to say, "Copy 3 Items" if you select 3 files to copy. When did that get introduced? I just ran into it. That changes the discussion, doesn't it? Apparently, Apple has crossed the line with one foot (copy item) and not the other (cut item). So, the new question becomes, is there a reason to allow one and not the other?

Those against the suggestions are not upset about the implementation of a feature that they won't use and one which won't affect them. They are upset that new Apple users (i.e. Windows and Linux users) want new features. It's an inability to accept positive criticisms and suggestions and the overall haughty attitude and narrow mindedness that is causing the arguments...Quite ridiculous, really.

Come on, now. As with any issue, you can't lump together everyone who stands on one side of an issue as having the same or even equally valid reasons. Sure, there are definitely people who will argue against any suggestion to implement a feature found in Windows and Linux. And, if they have no reason other than that, you can blow them off as being unable to accept positive criticism.

However, you can't just point to those folks as representative of everyone who does not want Apple to implement a specific task implementation and blow off everyone's arguments. Some are perfectly valid and worthy of being considered in search of a healthy compromise.

My personal reason for opposing this implementation (already discussed) involves avoiding, whenever possible, anything that requires a user to know that "that's how we do things on a computer" so that the computer is intuitive for someone just starting out on it (be it a child or an adult).

Apple has somewhat addressed this by having the wording in the menu items change to "Copy 3 Items" and "Paste Items", rather than a simple "Copy" and "Paste". It's a positive step toward meeting the needs of both those with your desires and those with my concerns. Though I still think that the wording needs to be tweaked to:

1) Say "Copy Item" instead of just "Copy" when only one file or folder is selected.
2) Replace "Paste" with something more accurate, such as "Place Item", "Set Down Item", or even "Put Item Here".
3) Allow the "Cut" functionality, but with wording such as "Pick Up Item".

🙂

 

[annk]

Since the OP's question has been answered and the thread got OT, I have now closed it.