(copied from
How to cut/paste files & folders in OS X [Archive] - MacRumors Forums
1) command+drag = move
2) option+drag=copy
3) option=command+drag=make alias(shortcut)
Just to clarify a few things...
File management within the same drive/partition:
1) The act of drag-drop alone will move the file. There is no need to use "command+drag"
2) If you want to duplicate the file. Then option+drag is what you want (as others have pointed out, a green circle with a "+" will be displayed under the curser).
File management across two different drives/partitions:
1) Drag-drop alone will duplicate the file onto the second drive by default. Option+drag not necessary.
2) If you wish to move the file (leaving no copy on the original drive), then command+drag comes into play. The green-circle with the "+" icon will disappear from beneath the cursor.
Both cases:
3) Making aliases is the same for each. alt+command+drag
NOTE: for PC keyboards Command (Cmd) = windows key and Option = Alt
if you want to install your own keyboard shortcuts for cut/paste functionality until Apple decides to make it official do this:
Install OnMyCommand from free.abracode.com/cmworkshop.
(By copying the program file to Applications.)
Install OMCEdit from inside the OnMyCommand package (by copying the program file to Applications).
Install Shortcuts from free.abracode.com/cmworkshop.
Go to free.abracode.com/cmworkshop -> Online archive of user submitted commands -> view "File" commands by category -> 212 Cut Item(s) -> Open (Firefox gives a inappropriate error window.) Then save that text file somewhere.
Do the same with 213 Paste Item(s).
Run OMCEdit and File -> Import those two commands.
You can now ctrl click -> Cut and Paste Item(s) Finder items.
Now quit OMCEdit and run Shortcuts.
On the Setup tab start the ShortcutObserver and add it to your login startup.
On the Assign Hot Keys tab under File select Cut Item(s) and assign it Shift Command X.
Under Folder select Paste Item(s) and assign it Shift Command V (or whatever you want that doesn't conflict with other shortcuts).
Quit Shortcuts and give it a try!
Many thanks to Abracode, Knut Lorenzen and Fredrik Andersson!
or you could try Pathfinder from
Path Finder 5 by Cocoatech
