Difference between "Copy" and "Duplicate"?

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Difference between "Copy" and "Duplicate"?

Of course, copy is found under the Finder's 'Edit' tab and duplicate is under the 'File' tab. But what is the difference? Seems like they serve the same purpose.

Macbook 2.4GHZ, Mac OS X (10.5.5), Hitachi 7K200, 4GB Ram

Posted on Jan 14, 2009 2:01 PM

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Answer 1

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Matt Clifton

Level 7

29,991 points

Jan 14, 2009 2:13 PM in response to stikygum

Not quite.

"Duplicate" will create a copy of the file or folder instantly, in the same location as the original file. The new file will be named with the word "copy" as a suffix. If you continue to create duplicates, they'll be called "copy 2", "copy 3" and so on.

"Copy" will effectively place the file or folder in a kind of clipboard / holding pattern, and you can then browse in the Finder to another location and use Paste to save a copy to the new location. It will be given the same name as the original (no "copy" suffix) unless a file of that name already exists, in which case you'll be prompted to overwrite it. If you do a copy/paste operation in the same folder as the original, it'll have the same effect as Duplicate.

Matt

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Answer 2

stikygum Author

Level 1

10 points

Jan 14, 2009 2:30 PM in response to Matt Clifton

So the only major difference is that Duplicate will create a copy in the same folder/area (and name it copy) where the Copy function will allow you the freedom to paste to wherever we choose (and naming it the same)? That makes sense, if I understood the difference correctly.

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Answer 3

Jan 14, 2009 2:43 PM in response to stikygum

Yes, that's basically it. If you want to quickly create a bunch of copies of something in place, then Duplicate is the one to use. If you want to copy a file or folder elsewhere, use Copy/Paste.

Matt

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