When you drag a file from one volume to another by default the system performs a copy operation. You can tell if you're copying because a green button with a plus sign will appear next to the ghost image of the file icon. If you only intend to move the file and not copy, you can simply press and hold the Apple (Cmd) key while performing the drag operation.
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Logically, the command-drag does 2 things:
1) copy the file to the new destination.
2) delete the original.
My experience with Windoze (not Mac OS), if something goes wrong in the move, your file will be lost forever. I lost several files doing that.. (again, not Mac OS)
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http://twitter.com/waleedalzuhair
the files are not at all lost forever. a simple ctrl+z on windows will move the file back to where it was originally, same with cmd+z on os X
andrew harrison
http://andrew.harrison.org
hold SHIFT key (windows) to do the same thing...
Good to have the windows equivalent!
In Windows, I like to drag files with the right mouse button then when you drop it a little context sensitive menu comes up asking you if you want to copy, move, create a shortcut or even unzip a zip file. This takes the guess work out of it and I don't have to rememeber. Mind you I have major Mac envy and would give this functionality up in an instant!!
Chris Brown
OP Tech Works
This ability has been around since at least Jaguar, but I've refused to use it after I had a random crash in the middle of a "move" - after the restart, the file wasn't to be found anywhere on either drive. Luckily, the file while huge, wasn't that important and I had a backup anyway.
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to create an alias of the original.
Hi there,
Just wanted to chip in with my two cents worth. Well actually 2 pennies as I am from the UK!! :-)
Have been using Mac systems now ever since they first came out and as soon as the move command was added I have been using it. I have never once lost a file due to the command. I think that if you are losing data through the command then there must definitely be something wrong in your system somewhere as it MOST definitely should NOT be doing that.
Best wishes,
Mark