Enable Cut on OS X (sortof)


Recommended Posts

Somebody just sent me this on AIM, and it shows that apple is working on cut support for OS X in the finder :p

Open a terminal and paste this into it, then press enter:

defaults write com.apple.Finder AllowCutForItems true

Once you cut an item, it is just pasted in the trash, but it looks like OS X 10.4 will finally have cut support :p

Link to comment
Share on other sites

i really want cut to be in mac os but i have gotten use to dragging files around...

Drag and drop registers in my mind better as well. You don't cut and paste real life documents. You take them out of one folder and drop them in the other. Hence, drag and drop. :ninja:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Drag and drop registers in my mind better as well. You don't cut and paste real life documents. You take them out of one folder and drop them in the other. Hence, drag and drop. :ninja:

That's what I kinda find to be a problem with Maccers - too interested in things being perfect than ease of use/functionality.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The problem with dragging and dropping (well in Windows) is that you always have to have 2 windows open. You drag the file from 1 window to the other. Cut/Paste is easier since you only need one window, you cut in the source folder, navigate to the target folder and paste it there.

I prefer that for some reason. I hardly drag and drop, just don't find it as convenient as cut/paste.

Besides that, even if dragging and dropping is easier it is still totally insane that MacOSX has no "cut" action. Some people like to use that (and it is quite common) so it should just be in the system.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Cut/Paste is easier since you only need one window
You only need one window for drag/drop cut/copy paste actions in os x. That's what spring-loaded folders are for.
Besides that, even if dragging and dropping is easier it is still totally insane that MacOSX has no "cut" action.

This has been discussed to death. The short version is "cut/copy/paste" with the clip board doesn't work the same way with files and text. It makes more sense NOT to use the clipboard for the actions than it does to make it inconsistent with every other implimentation of cut/paste in the OS.

You can argue that another action should take it's place, but Apple has very good reasons for not using the clipboard for file management.

Some people like to use that (and it is quite common) so it should just be in the system.
Apparently the majority of Mac OS users don't want it - otherwise it would be in there: apple writes their OS for Mac OS users, not windows/linux users.

If you really think it's an issue: head over to the feedback page and voice your opinion.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You only need one window for drag/drop cut/copy paste actions in os x. That's what spring-loaded folders are for.

i love spring loaded folders.. :D

as for the cut function, it could be handy but really, people just have to get used to drag and drop.. it makes sense because u have to "move" the file...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You only need one window for drag/drop cut/copy paste actions in os x. That's what spring-loaded folders are for.

This has been discussed to death. The short version is "cut/copy/paste" with the clip board doesn't work the same way with files and text. It makes more sense NOT to use the clipboard for the actions than it does to make it inconsistent with every other implimentation of cut/paste in the OS.

You can argue that another action should take it's place, but Apple has very good reasons for not using the clipboard for file management.

Apparently the majority of Mac OS users don't want it - otherwise it would be in there: apple writes their OS for Mac OS users, not windows/linux users.

If you really think it's an issue: head over to the feedback page and voice your opinion.

Each his own opinion....

I just can't live without it anymore. It is too convenient to me to use CTRL+X and CTRL+V.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Each his own opinion....

I just can't live without it anymore. It is too convenient to me to use CTRL+X and CTRL+V.

then don't use osx. ta da :whistle:

i love drag and drop, and really can't get used to the horrible drag and drop implementation in windows.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

:ninja: To move files (not COPY), select the files you wish to move. AFTER you start dragging the icons, hold the command key. You will notice the green + will go away, signifying you are moving and not copying the files. Release the mouse to move the files. :ninja:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Finder - Preferences - spring loaded folders delay: short.

That drops it to about half a second.

If you go over the wrong folder, just move the icon over the previous folder - the wrong one will shrink away. I typically use column view now so it's a non issue. even with icon-mode it works though

Link to comment
Share on other sites

for some reason i have never had the need to try and cut/paste files in os x. i used to all the time in windows.

this is actually kind of freaking me out. maybe drag/drop is just more intuitive to my nature and when i figured out i could do it, i never needed to do it another way.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Actually, Windows Explorer does have a sort of spring loaded feature if you enable the folders side pane list tree.

Yeah. Just hold the icon you are draggin over the '+' sign on a folder and it will spring open.

Another cool solution is to add a toolbar to "my computer" or even to your hard-drive onto the windows taskbar. Then when you want to move or copy or create a file shortcut drag a file onto the toolbar with your right mouse. The tree will start expanding. When you drop, a menu will ask what you want to do. (You can also do this with the left mouse, but I have never been able to figure out which action is the default when.)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.