File transfers - overwrite options

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Level 1

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File transfers - overwrite options

Hi guys,

I'm having some problems with files being overwritten without prior warning.

I'm a PC user and this MacBook is still a great and daunting, if totally wonderful experience to me. I do a lot of key administrative work for an organisation I belong to, and in the absence of remote access the way to do that is to use a USB be on which to carry the folder my work is kept in so that I can sync between my own PC and that in the office.

On the PC (Vista) that works flawlessly. Vista will ask you whether you want to overwrite the older files with the new ones, you say yes, and that's it -- you're always up-to-date.

Not so, I find, with Leopard. For some reason as of yet unbeknownst to me, it copies the folder and its contents, but doesn't ask me whether I want to overwrite pre-existing versions with the more recent ones or, crucially, newer ones with older.

This has caused me to lose some key information, and I really can't afford to screw up the files in the office.

Is there anywhere in Leopard where I can change settings so that it will ask me what exactly I want it to do with those files?

Your advice will be gratefully received:-)

Cheers,

Cora

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.5.4)

Posted on Sep 21, 2008 12:09 PM

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Answer 1

baltwo

Level 9

62,386 points

Sep 21, 2008 12:33 PM in response to Cora B

If the files have the same names, you should be getting a dialog box stating files with that name already exist and giving you options to overwrite, ignore, etc. If you're not getting that, then I suspect a corrupt preference (plist) file. Start with moving the com.apple.finder.plist located in /Users/username/Library/Prerferences/ to the Desktop, log out and back, and see if the dialog pops up when you try copying a same-named file from one folder to another.

Once you sort this problem out, check:

Switching from Windows to Mac OS X,
Basic Tutorials on using a Mac,
MacFixIt Tutorials,
MacTips, and
Switching to the Mac: The Missing Manual, Leopard Edition.

Additionally, *Texas Mac Man* recommends:

Quick Assist.
Welcome to the Switch To A Mac Guides, and
A guide for switching to a Mac

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Answer 2

Kappy

Level 10

362,007 points

Sep 21, 2008 12:35 PM in response to Cora B

For as long as I've used Mac OS or OS X any attempt to copy a file with the same name to the same location as an existing file of the same name, the OS always pops up an alert dialog.

In OS X the dialog asks if you want to Replace, Not Replace, or Replace All. If it's a folder with the same name the dialog asks if you want to Stop or Replace.

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Answer 3

Cora B Author

Level 1

0 points

Sep 22, 2008 4:52 AM in response to baltwo

Thanks Baltwo -- I'll try that when I get home tonight. I'm glad to hear that it's not a completely unknown issue, and happier still that there may be solutions.

Question is, how does a plist file get corrupted on a brandnew Mac?

If this is the case, it may account for some other odd file related problems I have had. The weirdest so far is saving a Word file and being able to see that file in its location when approaching it through Word, but when using Finder it's not showing. Then there's the two files gone missing I spoke of in my earliest thread ... Corruption makes sense.

Thanks again -- I'll let you know how I get on.

Cheers,

C.

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Answer 4

Cora B Author

Level 1

0 points

Sep 22, 2008 4:53 AM in response to Kappy

Kappy - consider yourself lucky then; the gods must like you;-)

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Answer 5

Kappy

Level 10

362,007 points

Sep 22, 2008 8:53 AM in response to Cora B

If you knew me better, then you'd know that's not true.

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Answer 6

baltwo

Level 9

62,386 points

Sep 22, 2008 10:28 AM in response to Cora B

Question is, how does a plist file get corrupted on a brandnew Mac?

Age has nothing to do with it. As long as the machine's running, there's a possibility that extraneous bits (zeros and ones) are written to the wrong places on the disk. As for not being able to find things using the Finder's Find, see http://www.pinkmutant.com/articles/Leopard/leospot.html and my mod to Finder's Find at http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=6725932

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Answer 7

Cora B Author

Level 1

0 points

Sep 22, 2008 3:24 PM in response to baltwo

Ummmm ... okay, this is a tad disconcerting, although it explains a thing or two. I don't appear to have a com.apple.finder.plist file ..!

Help ..?

I'll tell you one thing. I'm a CompTIA certified PC service engineer, but I feel like I've never touched a computer before with this thing LOL

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Answer 8

baltwo

Level 9

62,386 points

Sep 22, 2008 5:50 PM in response to Cora B

Each user's preference files (plists) are stored in /Users/username/Library/Preferences/. That's where the com.apple.finder.plist should reside. If you have a Desktop, then that file exists. As I noted in my Finder's Find mod, Spotlight doesn't report on any files in that folder unless you've opted to show System files.

Then, perusing the linked switching docs should be a breeze for you.

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Answer 9

Cora B Author

Level 1

0 points

Sep 23, 2008 1:32 PM in response to baltwo

Well what do you ... I moved my com.apple.finder.plist to the desktop as suggested, logged out and in again and hey presto! I get an alert when I'm trying to overwrite files ..!

Thanks Baltwo:-)

I'm thinking I'm going to get a copy of that "Missing Manual"😉

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Answer 10

baltwo

Level 9

62,386 points

Sep 23, 2008 1:50 PM in response to Cora B

Thanks for the feedback. With your PC background, I also recommend Mac OS X Support Essentials, 2nd Ed, by Kevin White. It's part of Apple's Training Series put out by PeachPit Press.

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