Enabling "Cut" function in Finder

There is no "Cut" functionality in the Finder to be enabled. While I do realize what it is you want to do, "Cutting" a file doesn't make any sense in the paradigm. You could "Copy" a file or "Move" a file (which isn't implemented, either), but Cutting would create a dangerous situation if, prior to pasting, you unwittingly copied something else. Poof, file all gone.

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In Finder, if you select the name of a folder or file, by clicking it twice slowly, so that the name is highlighted - are you then able to use Command-X or see 'Cut' available in the Edit menu?

Probably best to try it out on one of your own files/folders - rather than anything to do with System...

To clear up any possible confusion, both VAIO's & Barney-15E's replies are correct in their contexts. You cannot "cut" a file for the reasons Barney mentioned, but you can cut text from the filename while editing it (assuming you have write privileges for the file), as VAIO said.

Basically, the Finder protects you from unrecoverable errors. For example, try VAIO's method & cut the entire filename. Without adding anything so the filename remains blank, click outside the file to tell Finder to accept your edit. It won't let you do that because all files must have a name.

Barney-15E wrote:
Cutting would create a dangerous situation if, prior to pasting, you unwittingly copied something else. Poof, file all gone.

Hmm.. It's extremely disappointing that Apple thinks so lowly of its user base. Also, this situation has been handled nicely both on the OS which shall not be named and in both of the major Linux desktop environments. If you cut, then fail to paste before you copy something else those other OSes just reverse the cut -- as if you had never hit ctrl-x. For that matter, under Leopard, files aren't truly deleted until you empty the trash, n'est-ce pas?

This is very nearly a deal-breaker for me. I use this functionality +all the time+ on my other computers, and it's really frustrating not to have it on my new favorite computer. I've sent feedback to the Apple development team on the subject but I want to reiterate it here for emphasis.

files aren't truly deleted until you empty the trash, n'est-ce pas?

Ce nes pas. Cutting doesn't send something to the Trash. It removes it from where it is and creates a copy on the clipboard. Deleting a file sends it to the Trash.

It's extremely disappointing that Apple thinks so lowly of its user base

No, it is the reason that the OS is so strong. By preventing users from accidentally causing harm, Apple has created an OS that is very forgiving, allowing users to try things without the terror of losing all their work.

This is very nearly a deal-breaker for me

Yes, I understand how hard it is to drag a file from one place to another.

Thanks for those links, etresoft.

Barney-15E wrote:

files aren't truly deleted until you empty the trash, n'est-ce pas?

Ce nes pas. Cutting doesn't send something to the Trash. It removes it from where it is and creates a copy on the clipboard. Deleting a file sends it to the Trash.

Apparently that is what the AllowCutsforItems preference does, it places the item in the trash. No way to subsequently paste it, though. Basically the only thing flipping that bit does is to add 'cut' to the context menu. Cut performing the same action as option-delete.

Barney-15E wrote:

It's extremely disappointing that Apple thinks so lowly of its user base

No, it is the reason that the OS is so strong. By preventing users from accidentally causing harm, Apple has created an OS that is very forgiving, allowing users to try things without the terror of losing all their work.

Great, I never feared for my data when I performed this action tens of thousands of times on KDE, Gnome, and Windows. I never had reason to feel terror because the developers were thoughtful enough to provide that functionality and to write the code in such a way as to make it somewhat foolproof -- I guess I was just lucky that I never happened to be cutting/pasting when I lost power. Maybe I should just wait for KDE4 for to be ready and replace Aqua, in case you've never tried it Klippy is hands-down the best clipboard ever.

Barney-15E wrote:

This is very nearly a deal-breaker for me

Yes, I understand how hard it is to drag a file from one place to another.

My, aren't we condescending. Sometimes I forget to bring my bluetooth mouse with me. Drag-n-drop on a trackpad is painful.

My, aren't we condescending. Sometimes I forget to bring my bluetooth mouse with me. Drag-n-drop on a trackpad is painful.

Never had a problem with that with an Apple Trackpad. Now with any PC/Windows trackpad, it is almost an exercise in futility.

You may be able to hack it with this hint. There are also some free utilities to do this.

I tried it, and it does seem to be fully implemented in 10.5.2 with that preference setting. Not sure about previous 10.5 versions.