How to get a clean file path in OS X Yosemite?

I'm also concerned about the inability to copy normal file path. There are many cases where this is necessary.

"Quit whining!

Most users will never ever need to copy a file path."

Following the analysis in my previous post, this statement reads like it could actually be Apple's official position on the matter. It even has a Jobsian ring to it! =)

If I drag the file to textEdit I get the whole path without blanks replaced with "\ "

If you're concerned with about opening yet another application, TextEdit is a very light-weight one

Annoyingly, this has always been easy on Windows. So many simple things like this has been simple on Windows. And I've since moved to Mac and learnt that if my mouse dies, I am almost unable to use the computer. (Then again, at least I don't have to use Windows 8).

I'd suggest just doing the textEdit drag, it does the job, just another workaround for an OS I thought would have such simple intuitive features that "Just Works", makes you wonder what the developers themselves use!

among all solutions discussed, this worked the best for me because of its simplicity. usually i have to set the file path only once so i can live with this solution. thanks.

I think everybody makes great points. For everybody that gave ideas on how to get a clean file path Thank You. For anybody that wants to send Apple feedback about this or anything else related to Mac OSX or the Finder can do so here: https://www.apple.com/feedback/macosx.html

Another way you can get the path, and yes I'm aware its cumbersome, is you can open the "Go to Folder" window and drag your folder or file into it and it will give you the path. Free of modifiers and without opening another application.

I find it works best if when you start there is no Finder windows open. If you leave one open you just have to open another one as it doesn't let you drag and drop from the one with the "Go to Folder" window in it.

Finder has to be Active > Select Go ( Menubar ) > Go to Folder...

Or you can use the keyboard shortcut ( Command ) ( Shift ) ( G )

At this point I like to clear out the address field as if there is anything in there it will stay.

Next Open a new Finder window.

Examples on how to: Select File > New Window, or the keyboard shortcut ( Command ) ( N )

Find the File or Folder your interested in then drag and drop it in the Address Field of the "Go to Folder" window and it will give you the path.

Best of Luck and Hope that helps,

Weston

Another solution:

Finders View Menu

Select, Finder---View---Show Path Bar

Drag the directory of interest where you want will generate a clean directory string.

pwd

The \ before a space is completely normal - spaces and other special characters have to be preceeded with a backslash or \ character - you can also inclose the full name in double quotes. For example the file name is

/Macintosh HD/Users/myuser/myfile name is abcd

would always be entered as

/Macintosh\ HD/Users/myuser/myfile\ name\ is\ abcd

or with quotes as

"/Macintosh HD/Users/myuser/myfile name is abcd"

If the Stata software can't digest the backslashes and spaces then you perhaps shouldn't use "special" characters in file names

Good luck...

thanks westongallagher,

your solutions work best!

KtOl77,,

Thank You! for the complement, I'm glad I could help,

Weston

In Finder select the icon of the file and in the menu bar select File > Get Info.

Drag and drop the proxy icon (that’s the small icon in the title bar) to the Comments part of the window; the path to the file will appear.

http://www.macyourself.com/2011/12/31/copy-file-or-folder-path-to-the-clipboard- in-mac-os-x-lion/

This just worked for me in Yosemite.

There is an easy way. Make a new finder window (separate from the window with the file), and on that new window press Command + Shift + G. Delete any text in the prompt. Then, move the new window down and drag the file that you wish to obtain the path of onto the bar titled "Go to the folder:" in the new window. It should give you a file path.

Hope this helps! Reply if you have any questions or need more help!

Best Regards,

OSX Enthusiast

For reference, Find Any File provides three option of copying the path: Shell Style, POSIX Style, and Mac Style

You need the backslash for unix otherwise it will "see" it as two strings.