Changing Finder default behaviour to copy rather than move files

Question

Level 1

5 points

Changing Finder default behaviour to copy rather than move files

Hello

Finder seems to copy files between folders on different drives but defaults to moving files between folders on one drive.

Is there a way to configure Finder to default to copying files at all times and in all situations ? If so please let me know. I don't mind digging around in the command line if that is necessary.

Thanks in advance.
Stan

Macbook Powerbook Macmini, Mac OS X (10.5), Leopard and Tiger

Posted on Jan 9, 2010 9:30 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

362,017 points

Jan 9, 2010 10:12 AM in response to blahsnr

No, but if you want to copy a file from one folder to another on the same volume then the easy method is to select the file or files, press COMMAND-C to copy to the clipboard. Navigate to the target location then press COMMAND-V to paste. The file or files will be copied into the active Finder window.

If you wish to use drag and drop then hold down the OPTION key then drag the file or files to the target location.

Reply

Answer 2

blahsnr Author

Level 1

5 points

Jan 9, 2010 12:55 PM in response to Kappy

Thanks for the response, I'm aware of using the OPTION key but it is all too easy to forget to press it and also aware of copy-paste keyboard shortcuts. Looking away from the screen to the keyboard to use these methods cost time and doesn't fit in with how I work.

I am basically selecting photos from a source directory which I want to keep intact and making copies to another directory for further processing. With Mac OS X I am forever 'loosing' copies of images as they have been moved rather than copied. That is why I'm looking for a way of changing the default behaviour of the filer.

Cheers
Stan

Reply

Answer 3

Kappy

Level 10

362,017 points

Jan 9, 2010 1:27 PM in response to blahsnr

Unfortunately this is both the normal behavior of the Finder and the method of moving or copying files. I'm not aware of any way to set a different default behavior.

Reply

Answer 4

blahsnr Author

Level 1

5 points

Jan 10, 2010 11:40 PM in response to Kappy

Thanks again for the reply, it is unfortunate indeed. I cut my teeth on an OS that always copies as default. I have a similar problem with the versions of Windows I have used. I discussed this problem with my partner who grew up with Mac and Windows computers and she didn't realise that drag and drop moves files under certain circumstances rather than copying. She also has been 'losing' files but assumed it was something dumb that she had done.

There is no way to use Apple Script to identify a drag and drop action and automatically 'press' the Option key ?

Regards
Stan

Reply

Answer 5

Kappy

Level 10

362,017 points

Jan 11, 2010 10:17 AM in response to blahsnr

No, I'm afraid not. Even were you to write such an AppleScript it would be much easier to simply hole down the OPTION key in order to copy rather than move when doing a file transfer on the same volume.

Reply