How to change default drag and drop behavior on OS X?
When you drag and drop a file in Mac's Finder, it moves the file by default. To copy the file(s) you must hold down the opt-key while you perform the action.
I found myself in a situation where I have to copy a lot of files, and it doesn't feel very "superuser" having to hold the opt-key down for the whole time. Hence, my question is if I can change the default drag and drop behavior to copy instead of move?
macos finder
edited Aug 16 '11 at 16:45
Diogo
22.1k57132211
asked Aug 16 '11 at 16:43
0sh0sh
70611122
add a comment |
When you drag and drop a file in Mac's Finder, it moves the file by default. To copy the file(s) you must hold down the opt-key while you perform the action.
I found myself in a situation where I have to copy a lot of files, and it doesn't feel very "superuser" having to hold the opt-key down for the whole time. Hence, my question is if I can change the default drag and drop behavior to copy instead of move?
macos finder
edited Aug 16 '11 at 16:45
Diogo
22.1k57132211
asked Aug 16 '11 at 16:43
0sh0sh
70611122
1
FYI, you only need to hold the Option key down when you drop the set of files that you're dragging. As soon as the copy starts you can let go. And you can Shift-click and Cmd-click to select multiple files to drag, so you shouldn't usually have to do a lot of separate drags. Use outline list view with the triangles toggled open and then Cmd-click all the different files you need and copy them at once.
– Spiff
Aug 16 '11 at 21:12
Doesn't apply to my situation. Thank you though, for sharing this utterly basic information with us.
– 0sh
Aug 20 '11 at 9:25
add a comment |
When you drag and drop a file in Mac's Finder, it moves the file by default. To copy the file(s) you must hold down the opt-key while you perform the action.
I found myself in a situation where I have to copy a lot of files, and it doesn't feel very "superuser" having to hold the opt-key down for the whole time. Hence, my question is if I can change the default drag and drop behavior to copy instead of move?
macos finder
edited Aug 16 '11 at 16:45
Diogo
22.1k57132211
asked Aug 16 '11 at 16:43
0sh0sh
70611122
When you drag and drop a file in Mac's Finder, it moves the file by default. To copy the file(s) you must hold down the opt-key while you perform the action.
I found myself in a situation where I have to copy a lot of files, and it doesn't feel very "superuser" having to hold the opt-key down for the whole time. Hence, my question is if I can change the default drag and drop behavior to copy instead of move?
macos finder
macos finder
edited Aug 16 '11 at 16:45
Diogo
22.1k57132211
asked Aug 16 '11 at 16:43
0sh0sh
70611122
edited Aug 16 '11 at 16:45
Diogo
22.1k57132211
asked Aug 16 '11 at 16:43
0sh0sh
70611122
edited Aug 16 '11 at 16:45
Diogo
22.1k57132211
edited Aug 16 '11 at 16:45
Diogo
22.1k57132211
edited Aug 16 '11 at 16:45
Diogo
22.1k57132211
22.1k57132211
asked Aug 16 '11 at 16:43
0sh0sh
70611122
asked Aug 16 '11 at 16:43
0sh0sh
70611122
asked Aug 16 '11 at 16:43
0sh0sh
70611122
70611122
1
FYI, you only need to hold the Option key down when you drop the set of files that you're dragging. As soon as the copy starts you can let go. And you can Shift-click and Cmd-click to select multiple files to drag, so you shouldn't usually have to do a lot of separate drags. Use outline list view with the triangles toggled open and then Cmd-click all the different files you need and copy them at once.
– Spiff
Aug 16 '11 at 21:12
Doesn't apply to my situation. Thank you though, for sharing this utterly basic information with us.
– 0sh
Aug 20 '11 at 9:25
add a comment |
1
FYI, you only need to hold the Option key down when you drop the set of files that you're dragging. As soon as the copy starts you can let go. And you can Shift-click and Cmd-click to select multiple files to drag, so you shouldn't usually have to do a lot of separate drags. Use outline list view with the triangles toggled open and then Cmd-click all the different files you need and copy them at once.
– Spiff
Aug 16 '11 at 21:12
Doesn't apply to my situation. Thank you though, for sharing this utterly basic information with us.
– 0sh
Aug 20 '11 at 9:25
1
1
FYI, you only need to hold the Option key down when you drop the set of files that you're dragging. As soon as the copy starts you can let go. And you can Shift-click and Cmd-click to select multiple files to drag, so you shouldn't usually have to do a lot of separate drags. Use outline list view with the triangles toggled open and then Cmd-click all the different files you need and copy them at once.
– Spiff
Aug 16 '11 at 21:12
FYI, you only need to hold the Option key down when you drop the set of files that you're dragging. As soon as the copy starts you can let go. And you can Shift-click and Cmd-click to select multiple files to drag, so you shouldn't usually have to do a lot of separate drags. Use outline list view with the triangles toggled open and then Cmd-click all the different files you need and copy them at once.
– Spiff
Aug 16 '11 at 21:12
Doesn't apply to my situation. Thank you though, for sharing this utterly basic information with us.
– 0sh
Aug 20 '11 at 9:25
Doesn't apply to my situation. Thank you though, for sharing this utterly basic information with us.
– 0sh
Aug 20 '11 at 9:25
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
The default to move between drives is to copy, so if you have a sufficiently large external disk (or you make a sufficiently large disk image), you can copy in and out without holding option.
Otherwise, no. I have never heard of a way of changing that default, as it has been the same since the Classic Mac OS in the nineties.
answered Aug 16 '11 at 16:52
CajunLukeCajunLuke
2,08321426
Good to know, but unfortunately this doesn't help me. I realize this can't be done anywhere in the preferences - but perhaps there is something one could do withdefaults write ...?
– 0sh
Aug 16 '11 at 16:56
I've not heard of any such flag, and I suspect that the authors of the Finder have been using it this way for so long that they wouldn't think to put in an option.
– CajunLuke
Aug 16 '11 at 17:33
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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1 Answer
1
active
oldest
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oldest
votes
The default to move between drives is to copy, so if you have a sufficiently large external disk (or you make a sufficiently large disk image), you can copy in and out without holding option.
Otherwise, no. I have never heard of a way of changing that default, as it has been the same since the Classic Mac OS in the nineties.
answered Aug 16 '11 at 16:52
CajunLukeCajunLuke
2,08321426
Good to know, but unfortunately this doesn't help me. I realize this can't be done anywhere in the preferences - but perhaps there is something one could do withdefaults write ...?
– 0sh
Aug 16 '11 at 16:56
I've not heard of any such flag, and I suspect that the authors of the Finder have been using it this way for so long that they wouldn't think to put in an option.
– CajunLuke
Aug 16 '11 at 17:33
add a comment |
The default to move between drives is to copy, so if you have a sufficiently large external disk (or you make a sufficiently large disk image), you can copy in and out without holding option.
Otherwise, no. I have never heard of a way of changing that default, as it has been the same since the Classic Mac OS in the nineties.
answered Aug 16 '11 at 16:52
CajunLukeCajunLuke
2,08321426
Good to know, but unfortunately this doesn't help me. I realize this can't be done anywhere in the preferences - but perhaps there is something one could do withdefaults write ...?
– 0sh
Aug 16 '11 at 16:56
I've not heard of any such flag, and I suspect that the authors of the Finder have been using it this way for so long that they wouldn't think to put in an option.
– CajunLuke
Aug 16 '11 at 17:33
add a comment |
The default to move between drives is to copy, so if you have a sufficiently large external disk (or you make a sufficiently large disk image), you can copy in and out without holding option.
Otherwise, no. I have never heard of a way of changing that default, as it has been the same since the Classic Mac OS in the nineties.
answered Aug 16 '11 at 16:52
CajunLukeCajunLuke
2,08321426
The default to move between drives is to copy, so if you have a sufficiently large external disk (or you make a sufficiently large disk image), you can copy in and out without holding option.
Otherwise, no. I have never heard of a way of changing that default, as it has been the same since the Classic Mac OS in the nineties.
answered Aug 16 '11 at 16:52
CajunLukeCajunLuke
2,08321426
answered Aug 16 '11 at 16:52
CajunLukeCajunLuke
2,08321426
answered Aug 16 '11 at 16:52
CajunLukeCajunLuke
2,08321426
answered Aug 16 '11 at 16:52
CajunLukeCajunLuke
2,08321426
2,08321426
Good to know, but unfortunately this doesn't help me. I realize this can't be done anywhere in the preferences - but perhaps there is something one could do withdefaults write ...?
– 0sh
Aug 16 '11 at 16:56
I've not heard of any such flag, and I suspect that the authors of the Finder have been using it this way for so long that they wouldn't think to put in an option.
– CajunLuke
Aug 16 '11 at 17:33
add a comment |
Good to know, but unfortunately this doesn't help me. I realize this can't be done anywhere in the preferences - but perhaps there is something one could do withdefaults write ...?
– 0sh
Aug 16 '11 at 16:56
I've not heard of any such flag, and I suspect that the authors of the Finder have been using it this way for so long that they wouldn't think to put in an option.
– CajunLuke
Aug 16 '11 at 17:33
Good to know, but unfortunately this doesn't help me. I realize this can't be done anywhere in the preferences - but perhaps there is something one could do with
defaults write ...?– 0sh
Aug 16 '11 at 16:56
Good to know, but unfortunately this doesn't help me. I realize this can't be done anywhere in the preferences - but perhaps there is something one could do with
defaults write ...?– 0sh
Aug 16 '11 at 16:56
I've not heard of any such flag, and I suspect that the authors of the Finder have been using it this way for so long that they wouldn't think to put in an option.
– CajunLuke
Aug 16 '11 at 17:33
I've not heard of any such flag, and I suspect that the authors of the Finder have been using it this way for so long that they wouldn't think to put in an option.
– CajunLuke
Aug 16 '11 at 17:33
add a comment |
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1
FYI, you only need to hold the Option key down when you drop the set of files that you're dragging. As soon as the copy starts you can let go. And you can Shift-click and Cmd-click to select multiple files to drag, so you shouldn't usually have to do a lot of separate drags. Use outline list view with the triangles toggled open and then Cmd-click all the different files you need and copy them at once.
– Spiff
Aug 16 '11 at 21:12
Doesn't apply to my situation. Thank you though, for sharing this utterly basic information with us.
– 0sh
Aug 20 '11 at 9:25