As any frequent visitor to theMacworldforums has likely noticed , we get more than a few questions from “ switchers”—people who ’ve switch to the Mac from Windows — calculate for manner to get Windows - like feature in Mac OS X. Now , a practiced many of those requests are a resultant of the fact that the “ OS X way ” is just different from the Windows approach ; after spending a bit more time with their Mac , they may amount to value the OS X method acting . In fact , many times they may come to like the Mac way better ! But sometimes they really are looking for a singular feature of speech of Windows they miss on the Mac , such as the ability to make a newfangled Indian file by rightfulness - clicking .
Another adept instance , and the topic of today ’s Gem , is the power to cut - and - paste files to move them . The Mac OS has long had the power , via the Finder ’s contextual menus , tocopyfiles and then glue them elsewhere . You simply right - click — ascendancy - click if you do n’t have a multi - button mouse — on a Indian file or brochure in the Finder , and then choose “ Copy ’ Filename ’ ” ; when in the desired address folder , mightily - click in any blank arena and then prefer “ Paste item . ” The problem with this approach is that you ’ve now gottwocopies of the item in question — the original and the duplicate . Windows provides the obvious complement : a Cut command , which lets youcutan item and then paste it elsewhere . It works just like slue - and - paste in a text document ; you ’re left with a exclusive transcript of the point in the Modern positioning .
Windows switcher , as well as Mac substance abuser who ’ve long care for this feature article on the Mac , should check out Greg Weston’sFileCutter 1.2.2 (; $ 5 ) .
To set up FileCutter , a contextual bill of fare plug - in , you merely localize the FileCutterCM.plugin data file in ~/Library / Contextual Menu Items ( for purpose in only your own account ) or /Library / Contextual Menu Items ( for use in all accounts on your Mac ) , and then re-start the Finder ( by lumber out and back in , or by Control - Option - clicking on the Finder image in the Dock and then choose Relaunch from the menu that appear ) ; if you con’t have a Contextual Menu Items folder in the appropriate Library folder , just produce a new folder there and rename it such .
Once install , FileCutter adds a new FileCutter submenu to the Finder ’s contextual menus . When right - clicking on a file or folder ( or multiple files or booklet ) , this submenu control Cut , Copy , Move To and re-create To detail :
Move To and re-create To will move or copy , severally , the selected item(s ) to the emplacement of your choosing ; a received Mac OS X file dialogue appears for navigating to that location . But it ’s the Cut and Copy command that old-hat - Windows users will most appreciate . After using one , the next clip you mighty - click in an open field of a Finder window , the FileCutter card will include Paste and Paste Alias dictation :
In other words , you’re able to bring down and then glue a file cabinet to move it from one placement to another . replicate and then Paste form much like the Finder ’s own Copy / Paste functionality , but with one of import difference , noted below . Copy and then Paste Alias lease you create an assumed name to a file using contextual menus — and , even well , lets you quickly make aliases tomultiplefiles in a unlike location than the originals .
The “ important remainder , ” take down above , between the Finder and FileCutter is that FileCutter does n’t in reality practice the Mac OS X Clipboard to do its affair . This has two benefit . First , it mean that copying / cutting a data file in the Finder using FileCutter wo n’t reset the Clipboard of any authoritative information — text , an icon , etc.—you had previously re-create / cut and were still planning on using . Conversely , it intend that you wo n’t unintentionally mislay file / folders by re-create other data to the Clipboard while FileCutter - trim back items are “ in oblivion . ” In fact , FileCutter does n’t in reality delete “ cut ” items until they ’ve been pasted elsewhere . ( This has long been a valid argument against the Finder having a Cut command : What if you cut a single file , take out it from one folder , but then , before you have a probability to paste it elsewhere , copy schoolbook in an email , deleting the former contents of the Clipboard — in this display case , your file — in the summons ? FileCutter avoids such a scenario entirely . )
FileCutter is n’t the first utility to let you manipulate data file via the Finder ’s contextual menus . Several other utilities , such as Move Items X (; $ 15 ) andQuickAccessCM(free ) offer somewhat similar functionality — and , to be fair , quite a bit more — but in the form of file - piloting duologue and folder - specific bill of fare items , rather than the much simpler cut - and - spread .
If you ’re expect for a Mac OS disco biscuit equivalent to Windows ’ file - specific track command , FileCutter is the closest thing I ’ve see — and add a few other useful feature , as well . I wish well there was an option to place all of FileCutter ’s bid in the main contextual menu instead of all in a cascading menu , and FileCutter does n’t sum a Cut command to the Finder ’s Edit card for people who are n’t fans of contextual bill of fare . But it ’s still a nifty utility at a sensible price .
FileCutter 1.2.2 expect Mac OS X 10.3 or subsequently and is a Universal binary .
