Moving, Copying Files without Dragging and Dropping

[rlm45]

Seems like something that should be simple, but can not seem to find the solution.

I am tired of dropping and dragging files into a Folder and missing the folder, have to undo the move.

This happens a lot, for example dropping a new application into the app folder. It misses the folder and get placed in some other folders.

How do I select a bunch of files and easily tell the Mac what folder I want them either dropped into or copied.

In Finder there is New Folder with selections, but not select folder with selections.

I was trying to move a bunch of audio files into NAS drive folder and I to undo the move about 4 times before the files got placed into the folder.

Comments?

 

[MacInWin]

Several ways. For one at a time, click on the file or folder, the press CMD-C to copy, move to where you want it to go and CM-V to paste it there.

For multiples, hold down Shift and click on the first one, then move to the last one and click again. Everything in between will be highlighted. CMD-C, CMD-V again.

Or, for multiples that are not side by side, click on one to highlight, then hold CMD and click on the next. Repeat until you have them all selected. CMC-C, CMD-V.

Or, you can replace CMD-C with doing a right click (Ctrl-click) then pick the "Copy" item. Navigate to where you want to put it all, right click again, chose Paste.

Those are the ones I use. Others may have different options for you.

 

[Rod]

I don't think rlm45 is trying to copy but actually move the files from one location (Folder) to another. I encounter this a bit myself.

For example I have a Folder on my desktop called DT Stuff, a temporary resting place for files I have downloaded from the internet or email.
Say I want to move one or more file from DT Stuff to my Pictures folder.

With the DT Stuff folder open on the desktop I can open another Finder window from the File Menu , select and open the Pictures folder from the Sidebar. Now that I have two folders open on two seperate Finder windows I can drag the item/s from the open DT Stuff folder to the open Photos folder easily.
Having more than one Finder window open is the key to this.
That works for me but on occasion I have just tried to drag from the DT Stuff folder to the Pictures folder on the sidebar and missed, ending up with the item/s in the Recents folder instead so I understand your issue.

If you move files to a particular folder frequently you could also put an Alias of that destination folder on the Dock. I have one just for handy Mac articles. With average Dock magnification on it's pretty hard to miss.

I cannot think of another way of doing this in an easier way.

 

[toMACsh]

... I want them either dropped into or copied.

So it's both.
The highlight and Copy/Paste method works to copy. To move, I think you're stuck with drag 'n drop. I'm noticing for the first time that I'm required to enter my password to copy files. This is whether I use Copy/Paste or dragging with Option.

 

[Sawday]

I always open the target folder thus creating a bigger 'target' to move/copy into and also avoiding hitting any other target.

 

[Lifeisabeach]

Do you perform this task frequently to the same location on that NAS? If it's consistently the same location, you can create an Automator action that resides in the Services submenu that can move selected folder contents to a pre-designated folder. Unfortunately, I can't see a way to make an action that prompts you for the name of one once triggered, but there may be a way that I haven't worked out yet.

EDIT: Scratch that.... you CAN force a popup to ask for a folder location! I'll make a followup post with details.

 

[Raz0rEdge]

Open multiple tabs, go fully into the target folder in one tab and then you can easily drag and drop anything you want from another tab without misfiring.

 

[Lifeisabeach]

Build yourself an Automator Workflow. When you open Automator, it will initially ask for the location of an existing workflow. Instead, click on New Document at the bottom. Next, select Quick Action. On the right hand side, you'll see some parameters. Change as follows:

Workflow receives current files or folders in Finder

You can set Image and Color to your liking.

Next, from the left hand side, look for Move Finder Items, or Copy Finder Items if you don't want to simply move. Double-click to add it to the workflow on the right.

In the action, you'll see a to destination, Set a folder of your choice. I suggest putting a frequent destination, but if you want to always be asked where to move your files to, there's an additional setting to give you that prompt.

To always get a prompt for where to move the files to, click on Options and check Show this action....

Once done, save it with a name that makes sense to you. You can now find this action when you right-click on anything in Finder under Quick Actions. Super easy. See screen cap of my example below.




If you want to get REALLY fancy, you can assign a custom keyboard shortcut to activate this workflow so you don't even have to mess with using the mouse to find it. Crazy easy, done using the App Shortcuts feature in the Keyboard System Preferences. I can walk you through that if you desire.

 

[MacInWin]

See, lots of options. Pretty much that's the Apple way--multiple ways to get something done.

 

[Rod]

As is often the case. I didn't know about the Automator Workflow method although I suspected it was a possibility.
It is Apple's great strength that we can all find ways of performing tasks that suit our individual work styles and needs.

 

[GordWebster]

I found that it is possible to use keyboard shortcuts to cut and paste files in Finder (at least in Monterey).
Cmd+C to copy (same as for copy and paste), then Cmd+Option+V to paste (and retroactively cut from the original location).

 

[cwatson69]

Or you can also use Default Folder X. “Default Folder X attaches a toolbar to the right side of the Open and Save dialogs in any OS X-native application. The toolbar gives you fast access to various folders and commands. You just click on the buttons to go to your favorite and recently used folders, manage the folders and files shown in the list, and make changes to your settings. It also fixes a number of problems in Open and Save dialogs, "rebounding" to the last selected file, putting the path listing back in the top menu, and correcting bugs in scrolling column views.”

Download Default Folder X for Mac | MacUpdate

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[xcrosswitch]

Is there an app or setting that would magnify the target folder 3 or 4 times in screen size when you mouse arrow passes over it to aid in this task. I know that sometimes my mouse cursor arrow grows in size when I'm zipping around the desktop. May be something in accessibility section that may help? Plus, further to the above advice, couldn't you cut and paste rather than copy and paste?

 

[MacInWin]

I think if you hold down CMD as you move the mount the text items magnify. It does on my system. Don't know if that's a accessible setting or not.

 

[jpdemers]

If there's a single folder (or a few folders) that you frequently use as a target, you can drag them onto the "Favorites" list on the left side of a Finder window. They will always be there in every other Findeer window, and you can drag files to them with pretty good accuracy. My problem has always been lifting a finger when trying to drag a file to a buried folder, and dropping the file before I got to where I needed to be - this solved the problem for my frequent target folders.
(Keeping an alias of the target(s) on the Desktop is another option . . . if your Desktop is more visible than mine usually is.)

 

[toMACsh]

Plus, further to the above advice, couldn't you cut and paste rather than copy and paste?

I highlighted a folder, and then a file and went to the Edit menu where both times I found that Cut was greyed-out. So, no. Do you get a different behavior?

 

[monk64]

I realize the command line isn't for everyone, but when I have to do anything in bulk, I fire up terminal. mv, cp, rsync, etc. are all very powerful commands.