"cut" command disabled

for some reason my ability to "cut" files and folders seems to be disabled. The menu item is greyed out and (apple-x) does nothing. Also, when I drag and drop a file to a new HD (I have several partitions) it doesn't "move" the file/folder, instead it "copies" it and then I have to go back and delete from the original location. What up?

Welcome to OS X. Unfortunately, Apple feels that its users are too dumb to use cut/paste properly, so they only enabled cut for when you're cutting text IN a document. You can not cut document files themselves. In other words, no cutting ANY files. You can (sloppily) hold down the cmd key while dragging an file or folder or object and it will technically move it as opposed to just copying it.

Yes, it's i&#8419Stupid.

Doug

Doug b said:

Welcome to OS X. Unfortunately, Apple feels that its users are too dumb to use cut/paste properly, so they only enabled cut for when you're cutting text IN a document. You can not cut document files themselves. In other words, no cutting ANY files. You can (sloppily) hold down the cmd key while dragging an file or folder or object and it will technically move it as opposed to just copying it.

Yes, it's i&#8419Stupid.

Doug

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that is highly bad. Also, I thought OS X was supposed to be highly configurable... Maybe I'm making that up, but pretty sure I've been reading that from various places. At least a "cut" option in preferences or something would be nice.

but yes, we are very dumb and therefore need Apple to tell us what to do. Like buy phones and mp3 players w/o replaceable batteries. Real smart.

Check out FileCutter:

FileCutter

What is so hard about holding Command when moving a file?

It's in the help for the Finder also btw.

dtravis7 said:

What is so hard about holding Command when moving a file?

It's in the help for the Finder also btw.

Click to expand...

b/c i'd much rather use a keyboard shortcut and flip through the finder window than have two finder windows open and then drag it in. or go back and delete the original.

that's really quite a pain. why not just have a cut option? I'm starting to realize some ppl will never find any fault with Apple.

that is so highly...bad.

link0126 said:

that's really quite a pain. why not just have a cut option? I'm starting to realize some ppl will never find any fault with Apple.

Click to expand...

If there was no way to cut I would be annoyed. There is a way and to me it's very easy to do.

I use many Windows PC's as well as Macs daily. I often find fault with both OSX and Windows in different areas BTW.

dtravis7 said:

If there was no way to cut I would be annoyed. There is a way and to me it's very easy to do.

I use many Windows PC's as well as Macs daily. I often find fault with both OSX and Windows in different areas BTW.

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You are correct.

I find no need to open 2 Finder windows by using Spring loaded folders. I can move or copy to any folder in Finder faster than I can open a second window and locate the folder I want to move to.

Pomeroy said:

I find no need to open 2 Finder windows by using Spring loaded folders. I can move or copy to any folder in Finder faster than I can open a second window and locate the folder I want to move to.

Click to expand...

You are a better man than I, sir... or human being.

link0126 said:

You are a better man than I, sir... or human being.

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It has nothing to do with being a better man, it has to do with learning to use your Mac and stop trying to make it behave like a Windows machine.

...different strokes for different folks....

Aside from FileCutter (which is well-worth the $5, IMO), you might also want to take a look at XFolders:

Download Xfolders for Mac - Finder file management substitute. MacUpdate Mac File Management Software Downloads

Which is a split-pane file manager. But I do agree that the copy/paste paradigm is far more efficient in regular use than spring-loaded folders or opening multiple Finder windows. I may be set in my ways as a Windows user, but I figure if you can find an alternative that emulates the behavior you're accustomed to or prefer, why not use it?

I found myself really missing cut & paste for files as well at first. It's just a basic way of life in Windows...

After a while you just get used to OS X' way of doing things.

As for OS X being more configurable – I'd disagree... Windows offers several (often convoluted) ways of doing one thing, whereas OS X usually offers just one (arguably better) way of doing things.

It is a 'our way or the highway' attitude to OS design, but that's often the way Apple likes to do things.

cwa107 said:

Aside from FileCutter (which is well-worth the $5, IMO), you might also want to take a look at XFolders:

Download Xfolders for Mac - Finder file management substitute. MacUpdate Mac File Management Software Downloads

Click to expand...

CWA, that reminds me of XTGold/Norton Commander from the old days like I used back in my early PC days. I loved those programs with 2 windows side by side. I am downloading it now!

dtravis7 said:

CWA, that reminds me of XTGold/Norton Commander from the old days like I used back in my early PC days. I loved those programs with 2 windows side by side. I am downloading it now!

Click to expand...

Nothing beats Directory Opus on the Amiga.... NOTHING. Then and now, Dopus was the pinnacle of split-screen file management.

Have you seen DOpus for Windows?

GPSoftware Main Index

cwa107 said:

Nothing beats Directory Opus on the Amiga.... NOTHING. Then and now, Dopus was the pinnacle of split-screen file management.

Have you seen DOpus for Windows?

GPSoftware Main Index

Click to expand...

I am shocked I did not remember and mention Directory Opus. AMAZING file manager on the Amiga. I had mine all customized and it just was outstanding!

So glad to see DOpus is still around! Will have to give that a try on my Windows boxes for sure!

File management took a big step backward with OS X. Dragging and dropping would normally be the most intuitive and natural way of moving a file: it starts out in one place, you move it, then it's somewhere else. The problem is, the OS X Finder makes it so difficult to keep track of Finder windows.

A Finder window can change from displaying one folder to displaying a completely different one. Folders don't always remember their view styles, size, or position, and all end up looking alike, so you get "lost." They had to add the Sidebar and toolbar, since it's too hard to get around otherwise. But the Sidebar and Toolbar make windows take up way too much space to comfortably arrange on screen.

The current Finder is well suited to "browsing" your files: you can look at them in several different ways, just don't try to actually do anything with them.

Tech, do you feel 10.3 and 10.4 were that much different in the Finder area than say Mac OS8-9? I was just messing with my old Powerbook 540c last night with Mac OS 8.1 but really did not try any drag and drop.

I do know with 10.5 views change and do not change back even though you have it saved to always open that way. That bugs me for sure. Never happened in 10.4.

Aptmunich said:

I found myself really missing cut & paste for files as well at first. It's just a basic way of life in Windows...

After a while you just get used to OS X' way of doing things.

As for OS X being more configurable – I'd disagree... Windows offers several (often convoluted) ways of doing one thing, whereas OS X usually offers just one (arguably better) way of doing things.

It is a 'our way or the highway' attitude to OS design, but that's often the way Apple likes to do things.

Click to expand...

You can tweak the bejesus out of both OS's if you're willing to delve enough into either of them. I've always been a cp or mv guy anyway, but this threads been cool for some of the utilities!