10.5: Leopard file duplication and naming behaviors
Nov 07, '07 04:30:00PM
Contributed by: joelbruner
Leopard changes the way files are named when duplicated via Optiond-drag (which appends numerical increments) and Command-D (which appends copy first, then numerical increments). To elaborate:
Duplicating a file using Command-D or the menu File » Duplicate will append copy to the filename; if it already ends with copy, then the next available number greater than 1 is used. Here are some examples of Command-D behaviors:
- myfile.txt creates myfile copy.txt
- myfile copy.txt creates myfile copy 2.txt. Repeating the command again on myfile.txt creates myfile copy 3.txt, etc.
- 1.txt creates 1 copy.txt
Option-dragging a file in the same folder will append the next available number, greater than 1, to the file name (even on numerical filenames). Some examples of option-dragging behaviors:
- myfile.txt creates myfile 2.txt; option-dragging it again creates myfile 3.txt. If you then option-drag myfile copy 2.txt, OS X creates myfile copy 4.txt (because copy 2 and 3 exist)
- list 58.txt creates list 59.txt
- 6.txt results in 6 2.txt
[robg adds: I realized the behavior had changed, but I hadn't bothered to figure out exactly how.]
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