How can I "move to folder" without drag/drop/open folder?

Question

Level 1

4 points

How can I "move to folder" without drag/drop/open folder?

Need help with a simple operation:

I made this suggestion years ago. It shows pretty well what I'm trying to do.

I have been sending this image periodically to "Apple suggestions" but it appears they don't feel its of much value. Perhaps because OS X already does this somehow?

I want to CTRL-Click a file and search for a folder to drop it in, directly (recent is good too) in a single action. Not open then close panes or folders. Not drag and drop. No mouseclicks only CTRL-click and a couple menu options Is there an existing way to do this?

Posted on Mar 2, 2016 1:51 PM

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Answer 1

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,084 points

Mar 3, 2016 1:48 PM in response to VikingOSX

VikingOSX wrote:

One used to be able to use Automator to generate user menu items on that Finder contextual menu.

You can still add them. You just need to make a Service and it will show up in the Services submenu. Yes it is a little more obfuscated, but it can still be done.

I even wrote a few Move to Folder type services.

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Answer 2

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,084 points

Mar 3, 2016 2:01 PM in response to TomSea

You won't see it unless you create it.

This is all you need for a Move... service:

You can then choose from the home folders or Other...

I don't know if it can be made to use another list of folders.

You can also make services to move to a specific folder by doing the same thing except don't set it to Show this action and pick the destination folder.

But, if I used them that often, I'd just put them in the Sidebar.

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Answer 3

pinkstones

Level 5

4,246 points

Mar 3, 2016 7:41 AM in response to TomSea

Not that I'm aware of, no. I'm sure you know, but Apple is under no obligation to take under advisement any suggestion that users leave for them as feedback. Maybe they don't think that's a pressing need a majority of OS X users have.

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Answer 4

TomSea Author

Level 1

4 points

Mar 3, 2016 1:15 PM in response to pinkstones

Options to move a file is at least as important as the other features offered. Perhaps MORE important, since there already exists a much easier and faster way to "Trash" a file (command+delete button). Ease of organizing files is a pressing need for a majority of OS X users.

Are you SURE there's no faster way to move files around without opening panes, drag/drop/close panes? Thats so slow and archaic, why would the programmers even tolerate that? The system KNOWS your recent folder list. In fact with ElCapitan they gave users the option to increase the number of 'recents" from 10 to 50 so they KNOW how important a "recent items list" is. Why not offer a way to make use of it?

Pinkstones obligation was not what I was thinking, I was thinking more like improvement, that it might be a "shared goal". I've been "suggesting" this image now for 8 years. I send it, then forget about it until a version change. Then I look to see if it's changed. It has not.

Do you think I should make a change to the image?

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Answer 5

VikingOSX

Level 10

123,176 points

Mar 3, 2016 1:19 PM in response to TomSea

The ability to roll your own menu items and add them to the Finder contextual menu is no longer supported. The key take-away with Apple is the word change, not user requirements, or convenience. If Apple added all of the requests that they receive for OS X customization to suit individual peeves, it would no longer be practical (or possible for many) to download the resultant 10 GB installer, and the release cycle would be 5 years, instead of annual.

If you want to see an operating system that was an answer to a question that was never asked, take Windows 10 for a drive.

I have been using Macs since System 3.2 (1986), and I just continue to adapt.

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Answer 6

TomSea Author

Level 1

4 points

Mar 3, 2016 1:32 PM in response to VikingOSX

I have no idea what roll your own menu items means. I want them to add a feature where user CTRL clicks a file and choose a destination in one step. Without so many click-click-click-drag-click clicks - t's so tedious.

They can delete "move to TRASH" option because it's already a keyboard option, and replace it with "move to folder". And add "move to recent folder" if feeling spunky.

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Answer 7

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,084 points

Mar 3, 2016 1:36 PM in response to TomSea

Whenever I move a file anywhere it is only ever one click.

I click and drag to the sidebar where a base folder opens, then I continue to hover over subsequent folders until the one I want is available and I drop.

No click-clic-click-drag-click clicks. Just click-drag-drop.

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Answer 8

VikingOSX

Level 10

123,176 points

Mar 3, 2016 1:40 PM in response to TomSea

One used to be able to use Automator to generate user menu items on that Finder contextual menu. That is what I meant about roll your own, and that capability was removed.

I wish I was 26 again too. Sometimes, I wish real hard, and nothing happens. It is just so frustrating because 26 was a very special year for me. Same issue wanting Apple to make changes to that contextual menu. It isn't going to happen.

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Answer 9

TomSea Author

Level 1

4 points

Mar 3, 2016 1:49 PM in response to Barney-15E

Barney that works OK if the target folder is on the desktop, but in my case I'm trying to CLEAR off my desktop. If the target folder is on the desktop then you don't even need to go to the sidebar.

I probably have many more folders than you, and more levels. I tried moving an item from the desktop to 3 levels down, and it was much slower than click-open-search-select-drop-close. And if you have to back out of a folder to go up one (very likely) that takes a lot more time. So no "clicks" but much more time wasted "scrolling".

I don't want to click or wait for screen-scroll, I want to move an item to the "recent folders" list, and be done, instantly, one operation. And go on to the next file. I would say that 90% of the files I have to move will be found in a recent folders list. It would be a significant time-savings in organization.

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Answer 10

TomSea Author

Level 1

4 points

Mar 3, 2016 2:01 PM in response to TomSea

Barney I have to study that "services > move files" bizness, I have never seen it.

This gives me hope there's a faster way to locate folders (when moving files). I found a possible option to automate moving files to one pre-ordained folder. If that service could offer up the "recent folders list" that would RULE!

Your post has given me hope.

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Answer 11

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,084 points

Mar 3, 2016 2:05 PM in response to TomSea

I probably have many more folders than you, and more levels. I tried moving an item from the desktop to 3 levels down, and it was much slower than click-open-search-select-drop-close. And if you have to back out of a folder to go up one (very likely) that takes a lot more time. So no "clicks" but much more time wasted "scrolling".

That's just a function of setting up the Sidebar favorites with useful starting points.

I also have never worked from the Desktop itself. I always open a Desktop window in Finder.

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Answer 12

TomSea Author

Level 1

4 points

Mar 3, 2016 2:05 PM in response to Barney-15E

It would take a lot of effort to maintain my own "recent folders list" in the sidebar. That would constitute me doing work for the computer, it should be the other way around because the computer can do it much faster. The computer maintains a recent folders list for the very reason that it is constantly updated and correct, and useful. It's in there, I want to use it.

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Answer 13

TomSea Author

Level 1

4 points

Mar 3, 2016 2:11 PM in response to Barney-15E

Sidebar might work for one level down, if folders were named phonetically or with some system. Many of my folders destinations are 2,3,4 levels down. It's not worth the scroll time.

The recent folders list has it all, it's in there NOW and takes a fraction of a fraction of a second. Designing your own system can be no comparison. But if there is a function that I can configure, to do this, I want to do it!

Don't want to click, or scroll, I want to select a file and drop it in a recent folder.

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Answer 14

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,084 points

Mar 3, 2016 2:12 PM in response to TomSea

TomSea wrote:

It would take a lot of effort to maintain my own "recent folders list" in the sidebar. That would constitute me doing work for the computer, it should be the other way around because the computer can do it much faster. The computer maintains a recent folders list for the very reason that it is constantly updated and correct, and useful. It's in there, I want to use it.

Well, yes. But you seem to be under the false impression that Apple is going to write that for you. Until then, you'll have to work around the issue.

You could do a similar thing by creating a folder somewhere, then adding aliases to all the primary folders you use frequently. It would still use the Spring-loaded folder routine, but you could have a single item in the sidebar that opens up to show all the frequently used folders.

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Answer 15

TomSea Author

Level 1

4 points

Mar 3, 2016 2:20 PM in response to Barney-15E

I was under the impression that Apple would improve their product, for everyone. Especially those who have a lot of files to organize. My daughter in 8th grade, for example would never comprehend why I use more than 1 level of folder organization.

I will just remain hopeful that SOMEBODY chimes in with a method to make a "service", or applescript? Or some way such that I can select a file and drop it directly in a folder from the "recent folders list" (which is in there).

I cannot be the only OS X user with several levels of folder organization.

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