What determine whether I see 'keep both' or 'skip/stop/replace' as options when moving files??

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Level 1

122 points

What determine whether I see 'keep both' or 'skip/stop/replace' as options when moving files??

Recently I've rolled over the file numbers on my camera again, so moving new photos around often causes filename conflicts: 'An item named "_XXX1234.jpg" already exists in this location. Do you want to replace it with the one you're moving?"

What controls whether I see "Keep both files" as an option (where Finder just adds a 2 suffix to the filename of the newer item being added) vs "skip/stop/replace"?

When I'm trying to copy distinct new items with duplicate filenames, I want to use 'keep both files'; when I'm grabbing a mass of files, moving to a common storage place, and want only the new files to copy over, so that finder does the hard work of figuring out which ones are new/missing from the new folder, I want the option of 'skip' instead.

MacBook Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9.3)

Posted on Jun 7, 2014 5:58 PM

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Answer 1

Donot Haveone Author

Level 1

122 points

Jun 7, 2014 7:52 PM in response to Drew Reece

The option-click 'copy file' does not change the dialog box from just clicking and dragging without option--still only seeing the skip/stop/replace.

I do use iPhoto, but find the file structure does not follow my patterns of use, so do not let it organize the files--for those many, inevitable times when I want to access the images directly without having to export the images first. I also have Adobe Bridge, which has a file renaming feature. But I started seeing this option of 'keep both' recently--I think since my install of Mavericks when 10.9.3 came out, and determined it does something very helpful to me, but can't figure out how to make it show up consistently. For some things it would be nicer than always just making a new iPhoto library when the file numbers start over again.

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Answer 2

Drew Reece

Level 6

10,684 points

Jun 7, 2014 7:37 PM in response to Donot Haveone

Does this from bruised_blood help?

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3247340?answerId=16496055022#16496055022

To be honest with you I'd suggest you either find a way to rename files. Managing lots of files in folders with the same name is a nightmare, especially if the modification/ creation dates get lost in a bad file copy etc. Automator can help a lot with renaming, but every copy/ move is playing with fire IMO.

Or use an App like iPhoto that deals with all this nonsence for you. It simply renames when they clash & manages all the originals etc.

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