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Comment by nprateem | Hacker News Reader

Finder on Macs. I've used a Mac for over 5 years and it still amazes me how unintuitive it is for basic tasks like copying and pasting files, creating new directories, etc.

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I've been using it for 25 years but don't seem to have the same problem. Across macOS Finder, Windows Explorer and the likes of KDE and Gnome's file managers most of those tasks are identical.

Copying and pasting are universally hotkey+c and hotkey+v as an example. Creating a directory is context->new in all cases.

Some changes were weird for a small period of a few days, like when moving from Classic Finder to Mac OS X Finder where the priority of hotkeys for new windows vs. new directories changed. Or when in Windows the address bar got a lower priority than filesystem abstraction of user directories (at which point the purpose got mixed). Same with Gnome2 to Gnome3.

I'm curious to see if it's "hard" as-is, or "hard" when you come from one single environment with a lot of experience that is hard to adapt to something that is not visually identical.

Is it possible to cut and paste files/ folders in Finder?

I feel like I try every few years and am unable to do it.

Instead of using Cmd+V to paste, use Cmd+Option+V to cut from the original location and paste. I like it because it lets me postpone the decision to copy or cut until the very end :)

It should be possible from the right click menu like in every other OS, but for some reason it's not. Same for creating directories.

To create new folder, right click in the window (not on a file nor a folder).

Copy paste also works with right click. To move (a la cut), hold option key.

Also hold option key to see "move" menu option under Edit - Paste (Move)

I think it's in the standard system-wide list, let me check.

Edit: yep, it's in the 'common' list: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201236

They are also visible by simply clicking a menu or context-menu which shows the shortcuts on the right side at the end. Alternatively the built-in Help is actually usable as well as searching for menu items (click help and the text field will also interactively point to menu items with a big floating arrow when hovering over the search result with your cursor - that functionality works in all native HIG-conform apps, and it is dynamic so it also works when you have stuff like a "history" menu in the menu bar in a browser).

> Copying and pasting are universally hotkey+c and hotkey+v

After a couple decades, I'm still holding out for ctrl+x. Someday, someday...

A few years ago I lost several GBs (thousands of rendered images) when I stopped a long move action midway. I tried to resume the process by just repeating the directory move, unsuspectingly expecting that the existing files in the destination directory would be left alone and new files just would be appended, ala Windows (since at least 95). I was unpleasantly surprised to learn that on OSX "Warning: This action will overwrite existing directory" means the destination directory will be wiped out prior to starting the move.

Talking to other Mac users, this seems to be common knowledge - I guess only Windows users moving to OSX should be wary.

> Talking to other Mac users, this seems to be common knowledge - I guess only Windows users moving to OSX should be wary.

It's common knowledge because very single Mac OS X user has lost data due to this bug that Apple has refused to fix for years.

Is it actually considered a bug? I have heard from other Mac users that it's just normal, expected functionality, as if there weren't any other way.

Please Check Alfred https://www.alfredapp.com

I found alfred to just be bloat after they improved spotlight. I have it installed but rarely actually use it at this point.

This. It’s easier to swap to a terminal and mkdir than figure out where in hell the new directory button is. I constantly paste files into the wrong directory because I’m actually ‘focused’ on a dir that’s one above or below where I think I am. The noise it makes when you paste sounds like an error noise. It seems to take delight in re-ordering my files in random ways every time I open the window. I still haven’t figured out how to simply order the list in date order when I’m trying to upload a file. The whole thing drives me insane.

Learn CMD+shift+N and your life will be complete.

In Explorer, just learn Ctrl-Shift-N.

And alt-up to go to the directory above (cmd-up for Mac). Honestly, using the keyboard for both applications removes a lot of the pain.

I don't mind the Finder, but I do use Path Finder now and then:

https://cocoatech.com

I've been an avid TotalFinder user for years, it fixes pretty much every gripe I have with Finder:

https://totalfinder.binaryage.com/

Did they ever fix that memory leak?

Have not any any leaks lately that I know of.

Try xtrafinder. I've been using it extensively for the last 5-6 years and it's way easier to use than the stock Finder app.

I can’t find anything easily. I am used to moving around by tweaking path ( win explorer). Really miss that

If you know the name of what you’re looking for Spotlight search (cmd+space) can be a quick way to find it. Not always helpful, depends on what you’re trying to do

Cmd-shift-g for "go to path"

any good alternatives to your problems?

Not the OP but I use a shell and “open” most of the time.

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