Why is there not cut in OSX?

[RobH]

Okay I've owned a MacBook for some time now and in the past I've just ignored it, thinking I was doing something wrong. Why is there no ability to cut files or folders in Finder like you can on Windows (ie. move files)? I can easily drag the file/folder to the new location but it's not as easy as doing cut and paste. It's an intuitive feature that you would expect to exist on any operating system, I mean the option is on the menu, does anyone know the reason this feature seems to be 'disabed' ?

 

[SooTyLaD]

i was wondering that just earlier today... my thought process was like:

1) oh, cmd+x doesn't seem to cut on mac (still relatively new to os x)
2) i'll check the edit menu
3) oh, there it is...
4) but it's locked??
5) must be a bug i'll wait till the next update then if its still there i'll rant about it on OcuK

but since you bought it up

 

[ringo747]

i think it is disabled by default but there is some way of enabling it by tweaking some stuff... either i read that somewhere or else i dreamt it!

edit: http://www.versiontracker.com/php/q...arch&str=finder+cut&srchArea=macosx&submit=Go

 

[barnettgs]

I have noticed that too but you can drag folder/file to the folder list on left panel, hold it over a folder and it will soon open itself in a second or so, keep holding it for next level(s) until you reach the folder you want and drop it there.

 

[PardonTheWait]

I have noticed that too but you can drag folder/file to the folder list on left panel, hold it over a folder and it will soon open itself in a second or so, keep holding it for next level(s) until you reach the folder you want and drop it there.

If you hold a dragged file over a drive, folder, shortcut, whatever, you can press spacebar too to immediately open that folder. T'is just as quick as cut and paste.

 

[barnettgs]

If you hold a dragged file over a drive, folder, shortcut, whatever, you can press spacebar too to immediately open that folder. T'is just as quick as cut and paste.

Thanks, didn't know that!

 

[SooTyLaD]

Thanks, didn't know that!

+1

 

[RobH]

If you hold a dragged file over a drive, folder, shortcut, whatever, you can press spacebar too to immediately open that folder. T'is just as quick as cut and paste.

Thanks, that's a better solution than just dragging, not perfect because I have to keep the mouse button held but good enough.

 

[Founder_film]

I have been working on setting up a script to "move" files. Here is the code.

set the_folder to (choose folder)
tell application "Finder"
move selection to the_folder
end tell

Copy that into the Apple Script editor ( under Applications/AppleScript) and save it somewhere, I called it "QuickMove".
Then in the Apple Script Utility select to show the script menu in the Menu Bar.
Now select the Finder and in the script menu (on the top to the right if your using Leopard), select "Open Scripts Folder" > "Open Finder Scripts Folder".
Now copy your saved script in there.
Now when you click the script menu when using the Finder you will see your script ("QuickMove") at the bottom.

Ok now you can use it, select the files you want to move and click QuickMove in the scripts menu and select where you want them to go. Done done and done!

Hope that all makes sense, I find it very useful. Currently working on a keyboard shortcut for it but for some reason it doesn't work, maybe you guys can get it to work .

 

[Spyhop]

Perhaps it's to stop things getting lost? If you cut file A then cut file B before pasting file A anywhere, does file A disappear? Bizarrely I can't remember if that's the typical behaviour of cut for files, and can't be bothered booting Windows to find out

 

[ringo747]

I have been working on setting up a script to "move" files. Here is the code.

set the_folder to (choose folder)
tell application "Finder"
move selection to the_folder
end tell

Copy that into the Apple Script editor ( under Applications/AppleScript) and save it somewhere, I called it "QuickMove".
Then in the Apple Script Utility select to show the script menu in the Menu Bar.
Now select the Finder and in the script menu (on the top to the right if your using Leopard), select "Open Scripts Folder" > "Open Finder Scripts Folder".
Now copy your saved script in there.
Now when you click the script menu when using the Finder you will see your script ("QuickMove") at the bottom.

Ok now you can use it, select the files you want to move and click QuickMove in the scripts menu and select where you want them to go. Done done and done!

Hope that all makes sense, I find it very useful. Currently working on a keyboard shortcut for it but for some reason it doesn't work, maybe you guys can get it to work .

That is very useful - thanks for that! I wonder is it possible to enable that script on right click? i.e. instead of right click + copy you could right click + quickmove.

 

[Founder_film]

That is very useful - thanks for that! I wonder is it possible to enable that script on right click? i.e. instead of right click + copy you could right click + quickmove.

Good point, that would be useful as well. Not sure how you could do it though, you would probably have to write some code to add as a plugin to the Finder. Here is a link to the way of creating keyboard shortcuts, but for some reason it isn't working for me, see if you have any luck:

http://www.macdevcenter.com/pub/a/m...lescripts-with-keyboard-shortcuts.html?page=1

I am trying to expand the QuickMove code to include a Spotlight search (so instead of browsing to the folder you want the files to move to you can just search for it then hit Enter) But can't for the life of me find the AppleScript code to do it!

 

[JonB]

Perhaps it's to stop things getting lost? If you cut file A then cut file B before pasting file A anywhere, does file A disappear? Bizarrely I can't remember if that's the typical behaviour of cut for files, and can't be bothered booting Windows to find out

On windows if you don't paste it or copy or cut something else, then it stays where it is.

 

[Fillado]

The dragging things everywhere is fine for me, unless I want to move something to an external drive in which case I have to drag it and then delete the original...

As someone has said it can be a pain having to hold down the mouse button for ages too if i'm having to bury into deep folders.

Ah well, no OS is perfect

 

[ringo747]

The dragging things everywhere is fine for me, unless I want to move something to an external drive in which case I have to drag it and then delete the original...

As someone has said it can be a pain having to hold down the mouse button for ages too if i'm having to bury into deep folders.

Ah well, no OS is perfect

did u try pressing spacebar when mouse over a folder?

 

[Whiskas]

Terminal > * tbh