Finder: moving from one subfolder to another subfolder

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Finder: moving from one subfolder to another subfolder

Hi everyone. I'm just switching from PC to Mac and trying to figure out how to do some of the things I used to have well organized on the PC.

My current problem is with moving files among subfolders in Finder. Let me use an example: I have a folder called "new" which holds my new files. I keep it sorted by date to go through the oldest stuff first. When I'm ready to move a new mp3 to the "mp3" folder, I would like to drag and drop. This turns out to be very difficult, especially if I want to move into a subfolder.

Let's say I want to move a new Pearl Jam track into "mp3:Pearl Jam." I'd go into the new folder, which is sorted by date, and drag the Pearl Jam song. But where do I drag it to? In column view, although "new" and "mp3" are in the same folder, I can't move to a subfolder of "mp3," at least as far as I know. I personally think it would be sad, coming from a PC perspective, if I would have to use two Finder windows to complete this simple task.

But even then I still can't do it! I've sorted by date, and I have a lot of mp3s, so the Pearl Jam folder is way down the list of mp3s. I mean, I CAN do it, but it would take forever. This is a terribly laborious "solution" and I would really like to avoid it.

So I am hoping I'm missing something here. Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks!

iMac, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on May 5, 2009 8:00 PM

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Answer 1

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

May 5, 2009 8:12 PM in response to terry312

In Column view, drag the Pearl Jam song from New and hold it over the MP3 folder and the window will open the MP3 folder. Drag it to the Pearl Jam folder.

But since you are doing MP3, just drag it to iTunes and let it sort it out.

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Answer 2

LarryHN

Level 10

106,142 points

May 5, 2009 8:13 PM in response to terry312

Using two finder windows is the easiest IMHO

LN

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Answer 3

May 5, 2009 8:17 PM in response to terry312

It's possible to move files between subfolders in column view - you grab the files from the final column, move back to the target subfolder in the previous column and wait a second or two, then, when the folder is opened, drop the files in. (Or just hit the space bar to open the folder immediately).

Make sure you've turned on "Spring-loaded folders and windows" in Finder's Preferences.

Reading between the lines of your post, I think what you're also asking for is all folders listed at the top of a column in column view, which OS X doesn't have any option for at the moment.

Matt

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Answer 4

terry312 Author

Level 1

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May 5, 2009 8:22 PM in response to Chris CA

Thanks for the reply, Chris. I didn't know you could hover over a folder and it would open. That will help in the future.

Unfortunately, I have a LOT of mp3s, and the Pearl Jam folder would literally be several thousand down. That's why I wish I open up the destination subfolder, then open the source subfolder, and then have it all set up to just drag from A to B.

And the iTunes thing is a good idea too, but I do this for more than just mp3s.

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Answer 5

terry312 Author

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May 5, 2009 8:25 PM in response to LarryHN

Thanks for the post Larry. I'd be OK with using two windows, but to do this I'd want to sort the source window by date, and the destination window by name. Is there a way to do that?

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Answer 6

terry312 Author

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May 5, 2009 8:29 PM in response to Matt Clifton

Thanks for the post, Matt. As I said in reply to another post a couple posts up, I'd like to do this with huge destination folders. Using the example in my initial post, I'd hover over the "mp3" folder, but I'd have to scroll down and find where the "Pearl Jam" subfolder is when sorted by date, which could be several thousand down.

And you're right that I would be perfectly happy with folders listed at the top of the column, and I do think it's odd that this isn't an option. The problem is that if I sort the source window by date, OS X sorts the other window the same way. I don't understand why I can't limit the sorting only to one window, or one folder, but that's one of the reasons I"m stuck.

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Answer 7

LarryHN

Level 10

106,142 points

May 5, 2009 8:33 PM in response to terry312

Sure - under the file menu open a new finder window -position it so you can see both windows and drill down in the new window to where you want to go - then go to the original window and drag to the new one

LN

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Answer 8

red_menace

Level 6

17,066 points

May 5, 2009 9:00 PM in response to terry312

If the Finder preferences are set to always open folders in a new window, then the spring loaded folders will open with the view options they are set to. Just use the Show View Options menu for the specific folder, set it to always open in list view, and select the desired column to sort by - it will be remembered the next time the folder is opened in a new window.

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