Cut and paste in Finder?

jack presley · 04-09-2010 7:53pm #1

I'm probably just being an idiot but why can't I cut and paste in Finder on my Mac? I only seem to be able to copy (and then paste) meaning I then have to go into the original folder and delete the files. The cut command seems to be shaded out and I can't select it.

Surely this can be done?

DryCleanOnly · 04-09-2010 7:58pm

You can Drag and Drop it moves the files instead of copying them

big_moe · 04-09-2010 8:00pm

nope. no cut & paste in finder.

if you want to mess around a bit, you can use terminal to enable cut & paste in FInder - but its not 100% working.

adam

mcw92 · 04-09-2010 10:52pm

Drag and Drop is pretty Much Cut and Paste.
It removes the file from the original location and places it in the 'droped' location, thus leaving only one file.:D

jack presley · 05-09-2010 8:58am

Yeah, drag and drop works. Thanks!

conor.hogan.2 · 07-09-2010 10:00am

mcw92 - it doesn't remove the original file.

jack presley · 07-09-2010 4:25pm

conor.hogan.2 wrote: »

mcw92 - it doesn't remove the original file.

It does for me!

conor.hogan.2 · 07-09-2010 6:08pm

hmm ok - I might have changed it so it doesn't on my macbook.

Sad Professor · 07-09-2010 6:32pm

If you drag a file to another hard disk or partition it will be copied (rather than moved) over. You'll know this will happen because a green plus sign will appear. Holding the option key and dragging will copy the file as well.

As an aside, former Windows users should really familiarise themselves with drag and drop. It was the first thing I ever learned to do on a Mac and it remains the primary way of interacting with the system. Apple assumes that everyone gets it, but Windows is actually a very menu-driven operating system and people coming from it aren't always fully familiar with drag and drop. They are used to sending, cutting/pasting and scrolling through contextual menus.

Here's a useful guide (with video) that explain things like spring loaded folders, etc:

http://smokingapples.com/basics/macs-beginners-drag-drop-extreme-screencast/

conor.hogan.2 · 07-09-2010 7:44pm

Hey you're right - I just noticed that when transferring within the same drive it moves the whole file/folder - thought it did that everywhere. Obviously i never gave it much thought.

Never mind me

Cut and paste in Finder?

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