10.6: Create a shortcut to move files in Finder
Feb 03, '11 07:30:00AM
Contributed by: rodneyweston
Many ex-Windows users are frustrated by the fact that (in a standard Snow Leopard installation), there is no way to move files/folders using only the keyboard. In Windows, this is a Ctrl+X/Ctrl+V keystroke pair. In OS X, the Command+X equivalent is not enabled in the Finder.
I have developed an easy way to get equivalent functionality for free using by creating an Automator service in OS X 10.6.
There are some shareware utilities to enable 'Command+X' -- but for relatively minor functionality, they are big RAM hogs. Besides, I think that cutting and pasting a file is illogical and not directly connected to what the you are doing - you are really moving the file!
My Automator workflow is called 'Move Selected Items.' I have bound it to the keyboard shortcut of Command+Control+M.
To install it and assign the keyboard shortcut:
- Download the workflow and save it to ~/Library/Services (for the use of the current user only) or /Library/Services (for the use of all users).
- Double click the workflow to activate it in Finder. Automator will open. When you have finished looking at the Workflow, save it and exit.
- Open System Preferences » Keyboard » Keyboard Shortcuts
- Click on Services, and scroll down to 'Files and Folders'. Double click in the shortcut space to the right of the 'Move Selected Items' label and press Cmd+Ctrl+M (or whatever keyboard equivalent you wish to use).
That's it; you can now move files and folders using only the keyboard, to your heart's content. Don't forget that you can navigate up and down the folder hierarchy using Cmd+Up Arrow; or Cmd+Down Arrow.
To use the service, you:
- Select the files/folders you want to move,
- Press your keyboard shortcut (Cmd+Ctrl+M). A Finder dialog box will appear asking you to choose a destination for the items you are moving.
- Press the Down Arrow key to navigate the file structure using the keyboard.
- When you have the destination folder selected, press Return and the files will be moved there.
NOTES:
- The Finder 'Undo' function does not work with this. Once your items are moved, it is done.
- If you try to move items to a subfolder of the item you are moving, or if you don't have write permission to the destination folder, you will get a workflow error.
- If a file of the same name already exists, it will not be moved. There is no message to warn you of this.
- If you change your mind before you have selected a destination, just press the Escape key.
[crarko adds: I tested this, and it works as described.]
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