Moving Files without Creating Copies

[Dave]

When I move jpg files from one folder to another (I do this a lot editing
photos), copies are often created automatically. Typically, I wind up with
3-6 copies of one file before I'm through sorting.

Getting rid of the copies sounds like it would be fairly straightforward,
until you realize they are now all over the place.

I realize there are search/sort ways to find the copies, but it would be
very handy to keep them from being created in the first place,.

Where can I find the rules for moving without copying? Search/Agent Ransack
don't seem to help.

Thx

Dave

 

[Malke]

When I move jpg files from one folder to another (I do this a lot editing
photos), copies are often created automatically. Typically, I wind up with
3-6 copies of one file before I'm through sorting.

Getting rid of the copies sounds like it would be fairly straightforward,
until you realize they are now all over the place.

I realize there are search/sort ways to find the copies, but it would be
very handy to keep them from being created in the first place,.

Where can I find the rules for moving without copying? Search/Agent Ransack
don't seem to help.

This isn't happening because of a rule. This problem usually occurs
because the hand isn't quite as steady as one would want. You're moving
the files slightly as you drag and that is creating the extra copies.

First lower the sensitivity of your mouse from the Mouse applet in
Control Panel. Then change the way you delete. Either select files and
then right-click>Delete or select files and use File>Delete. To select
multiple contiguous files, highlight the first file in the series and
then hold down the Shift key and highlight the last file in the series.
All your desired files will be highlighted. Then use the right-click or
File menu deletion procedure. To delete non-contiguous files, hold down
the Ctrl key as you select.


Malke

 

[z1z1z1]

When I move jpg files from one folder to another (I do this a lot
editing photos), copies are often created automatically. Typically, I
wind up with 3-6 copies of one file before I'm through sorting.

Getting rid of the copies sounds like it would be fairly
straightforward, until you realize they are now all over the place.

I realize there are search/sort ways to find the copies, but it would
be very handy to keep them from being created in the first place,.

Where can I find the rules for moving without copying? Search/Agent
Ransack don't seem to help.

Thx

Dave

Don't "drag and drop" with the left mouse button - it's too easy to have
it do something you didn't intend.
Use the right mouse button to drag, and it will ask you what to do when
you drop, so you can select copy or move (or cancel, if you accidentally
dropped in the wrong place).
If you must use the left button, you can use ctrl, alt, shift to control
what will happen (watch the cursor - there will be a small plus for copy,
arrow for create shortcut, or nothing for move). I like to set some of
the extra buttons on my mouse to be ctrl and shift for this purpose.
Or select the files, then press Ctrl-C to copy, Ctrl-X to cut or Ctrl-D
to delete (or use the right mouse menu to select copy/cut/delete) - then
go to the destination and use Ctrl-V to paste (to finish a copy/move) or
use the right mouse menu to select paste. If you break up the operation
into steps this way, you will have more control.
You will likely make less mistakes if you use the keyboard instead of the
mouse. You can use the mouse or arrow keys+ctrl+shift+space to select
files in various ways (experiment) - you hardly need to touch the mouse
at all.

And remember that if you notice a mistake soon enough, you can press
Ctrl-Z to undo (or right-click and select undo there).