overwrite previous existing file when saving...

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overwrite previous existing file when saving...

I'm running Snow Leopard. I can't for the life of me find a way to "overwrite" an existing file - either when I drag the updated file into the Finder window, OR when I save to a particular folder. I am used to Windows, where you get a prompt saying "a file by this name already exists, do you want to replace the file or rename?"....or some such thing. How do I do this in OSX - I'm sick of files just automatically saving with a new extenmsion in the name, like: "file#1.pdf" or some such thing.

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Aug 30, 2013 12:29 AM

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Answer 1

Aug 30, 2013 1:18 AM in response to timjim999

What you want is what should be happening. The options are these:

1. Open a file; modify it and hit command-s or choose 'Save' from the File menu: the amended file overwrites the original.

2. Open a file; modify it and hit 'Save as' - leave the filename unchanged: you will get this warning:

3. Open a file, modify it and hit 'Save as' - leave the filename unchanged but save it somewhere else. Then drag it to the original location and you will get this warning:

If this is not what is happening then you have a fault condition. It may be that the file's permissions have been incorrectly set. Select the file, hit command-i and scroll down to 'Sharing and permissions' and check that you have been set to read and write. You could also boot from your install disk - don't start an install, but choose 'Disk Utility' from the 'Utilities' menu and run a Disk Repair.

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