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Shift - Delete

sk3pt1c

sk3pt1c

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Nov 29, 2005
918
6
a simulacrum
is there any way in Mac Os X to have the Shift-Delete function that you have in Windows to permanently delete a file without having it sent to the Trash first?
thanks
 
I've never seen one.. there is a program which will allow you to delete everything in the trash from one drive.. and I forget what it's called. Some help I am today.
 
there are automator actions that can be available from a ctrl click, in the contextual menu. And a quick search found Shortcuts http://www.abracode.com/free/cmworkshop/

So you should be able to do it. First setup the automator action and save it as a plugin in the contextual menu then create a keyboard shortcut
 
i'm actually looking for a way to do this from OS X, i don't want to start downloading small software for every little thing i want to do, too much clutter for my Powerbook. :)
i didn't see anything on Automator, am i just blind? :confused:
 
i don't mind if it's in the ctrl-click or right click drop down menu
i just want a fast way to permanently delete files without sending them to the Trash, when i want to do so
 
Do you keep your trash empty in general? If so, you can use two shortcuts, one to delete the file, and the other to empty the trash. Maybe that will work?

Delete file: cmd-delete

empty trash (without warning dialogue): cmd-opt-shift-delete
 
i usually keep it empty but sometimes i just put things in it that i don't want and that i'm not sure i want to delete or not.

the thing is that with some files you know you want them out of the way permanently.

with this workflow i just right-click->automator->permanent delete
and they are deleted permanently.

i still don't know what the "one pass wipe" is though

it seems pretty odd to me that you can't set a keyboard shortcut for a workflow...
 
I hope you solve your problem in a way that suits you. Perhaps have a second folder on the desktop marked 'Hold for deletion', and go through that once a month. (and set up an automator to empty your trash every hour.)
 
sk3pt1c said:
i still don't know what the "one pass wipe" is though
Click to expand...
it's when the hard drive is completely written with zeroes and/or random data.
This can happen 1x (one pass), 7x (US department of defense standard) or even more...if you have the patience, that is (it can take a while). It results in difficulty to near impossibility of recovering the data that was previously there (cause when you delete a file, the reference to the file is deleted, but the file is still technically on the drive until it's written over with new data).
 
Re:

No fast delete same the windows shortcut.
just if the trash not empty open the terminal and type this code:
rm -rf ~/.trash/*

welcome :)
 
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