Finder: how do I create a folder in a sub directory, or paste in a directory?

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Finder: how do I create a folder in a sub directory, or paste in a directory?

In the Finder, the only usable (for large numbers of documents in deep folder structures) mode is the details mode where you see a tree view of files and folders.

The problem is that if you are deep in the tree, e.g. 10 sub-directories down, and need to create a new folder, there does not seem to be a way to do this. If you right click, there is no "new folder" option. At the top, in there is File->New Folder, but always creates folders in the wrong dir -the top level dir, which Is always the wrong place - I want to create a folder where I am in the structure, just like on windows.

Also, frequently I need to copy a file from one place in the hierarchy, and paste it into the folder I have currently highlighted. I copy, then when I paste inside my destination folder, it puts the pasted file in the root again.

The end result is spending hours looking for files and folders I have just created and pasted, then having to tediously drag them into the right place.

Interestingly, this is one of the reasons I switched from Mac to Windows 12 years ago. Now I have just switched back from windows to Mac, and find there are no visible differences in OSX in 12 years. Wow. Unfortunately, the finder is just as painful to use as before (at least compared with windows file explorer which has these features)

Or am I missing something?

MacBook Pro TouchBar and Touch ID, iOS 11.3.1, null

Posted on May 2, 2018 2:23 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Yer_Man

Level 10

166,158 points

May 2, 2018 3:39 AM in response to sfromgi

Check out PathFinder - it's an alternative File Manager and it has a couple of features that address your converns, including a new folder command in the contextual menu that creates the folder where you want it and both the copy/paste option, anf alternatives, including a shelf and a dual pane view as alternatives. No connection with the company, just been using it for years.

https://cocoatech.com/#/

That said, the OS has been privileging search rather than files-in-folders for years now, and there are apps that will enhance this, like Foxtrot Pro or even DevonThink and EagleFiler.

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Answer 2

Barney-15E

Level 10

123,326 points

May 2, 2018 8:27 AM in response to sfromgi

In List View, the topmost folder is the target. You cannot make a target out of one of the subfolders. You can tell what the target folder is by looking at the window Title.

Use Column View instead.

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Answer 3

VikingOSX

Level 10

124,862 points

May 2, 2018 5:46 AM in response to sfromgi

I almost never use the list view in Finder, but I do see what you mean about selecting a folder, clicking the Action toolbar to select New Folder, and then have Finder make a peer, not a child folder in the selected folder.

Your only option at that point is to switch back to Icon view, double-click the folder where you want the new folder, and right-click to select New Folder, or click the New Folder menu item from the Action toolbar item.

If you have the Finder View menu : Show Path Bar selected, you can always see where you are in Icon mode by the path along the bottom of the browser window.

UNIX has a better solution on the Terminal command-line via the mkdir(1) command where by using the -p switch, it will make intermediate directories as required.

$ cd ~/Desktop

$ mkdir -p Test/Test1/Test2/Test3/Test4/Test5/Test6/Test7/Test8/Test9/Test10

Which results in the following:

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Finder: how do I create a folder in a sub directory, or paste in a directory?

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