There already has been a long debate about Mac’s Finder without the Cut option for folders. Cut option is enabled while working in TextEdit to cut the text but the same Cut option seems disabled for folders inside Finder. I use Cut very frequently in my Windows machine but i am missing such flexibility of file moving in Mac. Cut basically is similar to Move function but in “Move” i have to drag the folder to the destination . With “Cut” the process becomes very fast. I think in Cut what extra is given over to Move is , Cut just keeps the path of the Cut Folder in Clipboard/temporary memory and when pasted somewhere else the foder/file is moved from the Clipboard location to the destination. Programatically Cut shouldn’t be any problem for Mac developers but still its not there . I dont understand why. This should easily be done through AppleScript . I dont have knowledge of AppleScript but when i learn it , the first thing i will do would be to create a AppleScript for Cut and Paste. So till now Cut paste is availabe in Apple Mac but it includes two steps 
. Oh there already is a scrip here but i cant seem to get that work on my Leopard. The two steps for Cut in Mac are
1. Copy the folder to destination ( takes longer time than Cut in windows because contents should be duplicated )
2. Delete the folder/file from original location
Apple’s apparent philosophy here is that it would be confusing to the user if they were to cut a file in the filesystem, then cut something else (such as text from a document) without having first pasted the cut file (where does the file go?). To avoid this situation, Apple has opted to prevent the user from using cut in the filesystem entirely. Unforunately, this means that if you want to move a file from one location to another using the keyboard, you’ll need to copy the file, paste it into its new location, and then delete the original file.
There is a Script which enables Cut Option for folders in Finder window but this only moves the folder to Trash. No paste option is available after Cut. And to have the Script Menu bar extras available in the Apple menu bar like shown below in image we need to activate Script Menu.menu file by double clicking the file which is located at Apple Drive>System>Library>CoreServices>Menu Extras .
There also is an utility called Finder Cut & Paste which does the work . This utility is basically the applescript ( but works the previous script didn’t work for me). To have key combination for Cut and Paste like in Windows , we can use Spark
The nearest built-in solution to Cut optin i have found is related to Spring loaded folders which makes the Move process Animated and little easy . But this is no way equivalent to Cut but comes closer . Below is the Video about how to use Spring loaded folders inbuilt in Mac.
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Using
With the help of Exposé, I don’t find it’s hard to move files from one place to another. But still, Windows switchers will find it’s really difficult to live without Cut option.
Using
Expose is one Good thing i like in Mac . It sure makes Moving of files or folder easier but not as easy as it is with Cut and paste . In cut and paste there is no dragging , no mouse freezing
Using
i’m not able to enable cut/paste option you explained.when i try to run it,an error is generated like this:Can’t make “Macintosh HD:Users:akashjain:Library:Preferences:CutAppleScript Prefs” into type specifier.
Using
Hello Akash, Did you use this utility found here. http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/30250
Using
Yeah, I’m totally self-promoting, but I think I have one of the cleanest solutions out there:
http://www.mactipper.com/2008/09/cutpaste-in-finderapp.html
Basically, I use a Service in conjunction with a keyboard shortcut (Cmd-X of course) to mimic cut in Finder. Enjoy!
Using
Great utility MacTipper. Thanks!
Using
In mac with out cut option we can forgo. There is no need of cut in mac because we always use drag and drops in mac. Mac is a Gorgeous OS.
Using
haha… janakarim! love the sarcasm.
Using
Apple could just have a beep if you try and paste a ‘cut’ item from its clipboard to somewhere it can’t go permanently.
beep!?
Seems like an easy fix that isn’t too confusing.
Using
the most absent feature in mac is the right click->cut (on files and folders),
i wonder who is the jerk in apple that is keeping us from getting this feature,
PathFinder is a good replacement for Finder and it has cut feature,
but it lacks several features that the new Finder in leopard has, for instance Cover-Flow, quick look etc.
1. open terminal and write this line:
defaults write com.apple.finder AllowCutForItems 1
2. restart Finder, in terminal write:
killall Finder
or
right click dock finder icon with option button pressed (Alt/WinKey in hackintosh) and choose “relaunch”
to undo this simply execute the same lines only this time replace the value 1 with 0 like this:
defaults write com.apple.finder AllowCutForItems 0
killall Finder
Using
Aces: That is good, but it doesn’t seem to make the file available for pasting. It only trashes the file.
Using
The property “com.apple.finder AllowCutForItems” doesn’t work. The ‘cut’ command it enables, is actually a ’send to trash’ command. Odd!
Using
ZERO excuse to not allow file cut & paste (and I’m a Mac user who loves his mac.) For one, I’d also argue it’s a BILLION times safer than trying to teach someone how to correctly drag and drop to move items. When you have directories that are large that you have to wait to spring load etc - drag and drop is a pain and often you’ll ”unclick” at the wrong spot, or realize you’re in the wrong directory and have to ‘unclick’ somewhere safe and start over. I’ve watched my parents try to keep the left click pressed the whole time while trying to drag things with a mouse and it’s not nearly that easy as telling them ‘”highlight what you want to move. Select cut.” Now take your time and find the folder where you want to add the item. Then click “paste.”
As a side note in all OSs, I wish the default behavior of “pasting” when you have selected a folder is to paste the item “IN” the folder you have selected. Too often the behavior is to paste the item at the same level directory you are at, which I do not find intuitive.
Using
thank’s for the great app, i worked well in my Leopard
at the first time i thought it didn’t work, because i used cmd+x and cmd-v… but how fortunate i am, in comments above i noticed the approprate way to do “cut & paste” is push cmd-x twice
Using
Hold Command and Drag file to move
Using
You DO NOT put a space before a dot or a comma. There we go.
Using
@ traxexx
sir thanks for that advice, my mac has been with me for almost a year now, and i finally know the option or at least something similar to “cut”… thanks again for the shortcut!
Using
I forgot to mention that FileCutter works with Leopard but unfortunately it is not compatible with Snow Leopard.
Using
The reason Apple does not make a Cut option: It’s too dangerous for an average user. Apple tries their best to make sure the user can not shoot themselves in the foot. What if someone cuts and never pastes? What happens to the file? It’s a safety thing.
But for regular folks like Us, it’s kinda lame. You have to keep going back to delete the original because it wont cut.
For the longest time I wondered why the Mac OS is stupid simple. Then I saw Apple Store employes training a bunch of old farts and it all makes since now.
Using
What if someone cuts and never pastes? What happens to the file?
^^
the file just remains in the original folder.
Using
@Clank: Nothing happens to the file if you don’t paste it, since Windows doesn’t do anything to it is until you paste it somewhere. Even if you put normal text onto the clipboard, Windows just aborts the cut/paste operation on the file and it stays where it is.
Using
This ‘feature” annoys me every day. I’ve been a mac user for several years now, and I’m still not used to not having a cut function for files and folders. As Steve_largent points out, there is no ‘problem’ to begin with.
Using
I posted a link to an application that adds a ‘cut’ feature to the contextual menu.
It still says “awaiting moderation”, next to my username (this was posted over a month ago). Any mods out there??
But if you do a search for FileCutter and Mac it should lead you in the right direction.
Using
I hope Apple will ad an option in control panel to select (enable) cut/past style in finder or select (enable) classic mac “move” style in finder. That way both folks can learn co-exist peacefully. That’s not such a complicated thing to do for Mac. I can’t get it they haven’t done it yet. Same thing with iPhone copy past function, it took so long for Apple to implement it.
Using
You know what? When I first switched to Mac, i thought this was the most ridiculous thing ever. But, as with anything, you learn to use the features that are present. It isn’t difficult to understand that all one need do to cut (move) a file is to drag it do the destination of choice. If you want to cut from one medium to another, simply click cmd as you drag the file to the destination.
Every operating system does the same thing, it’s just about getting accustomed to its method.
Using
I use cut and paste all the time on my PC. On my mac I am reduced to tears at the stupidity of the interface designers. If the only issues are …
“it would be confusing to the user if they were to cut a file in the filesystem, then cut something else (such as text from a document) without having first pasted the cut file (where does the file go?)”
or
“What if someone cuts and never pastes? What happens to the file?”
…then just rename the commands to “move file from here” and “move file to here”.
And if it is still too difficult for some people to manage, why not have the presence of these commands as an opt in option in system preferences.
That way the OS will be useful to us who use the computer with both hands, instead of only to those who keep one hand on the mouse and one hand on something entirely different.
Using
I can’t believe Mac users still think that if you cut a file in Windows, then cut something else without pasting the first one, it DOES NOT DISAPPEAR. The file is not moved until you select paste, if you cut a file then cut another one, the first one simply stays there because NOTHING HAPPENS TO THE FILE UNTIL YOU PASTE IT. It’s not like as soon as you select cut the files gets lifted to some temporary memory and disappears if you cut something else, they aren’t that stupid. The stupid ones are the guys at apple that have no freaking reason to not have cut for files and folders. As soon as I bought this mac I was surprised there was no cut for files, spring loaded folders and drag n drop are not a valid alternative to just selecting an option in a menu.
Using
I respect the power and design of the macbook pro but… The OS… SUCKS!
Sorry Apple.
Awesome hardware though.
Using
@Kee
No, it doesn’t suck. Overall it’s more efficiant than Windows and other OSes, but of course you have to get used to it. Saying that Mac OS X sucks because it doesn’t do this and that exactly like in another OS is unfair. Then I can say the same for the other OSes that doesn’t behave exactly like Mac OS X. :/
Using
@Kee
No, it doesn’t suck. Overall I find it more efficient than Windows and other OSes, but of course you have to get used to it. Saying that Mac OS X sucks because it doesn’t do this and that exactly like in another OS is unfair. Then I can say the same for the other OSes that doesn’t behave exactly like Mac OS X. :/
Using
Every operating system does the same thing, it’s just about getting accustomed to its method.
Using
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Using
Actually, there IS a way to cut or move files in OS X. Just hold down the CMD + SHFT keys, then drag-n-drop your file to the new location. It will automatically move your file from destination A to B.
Using
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Using
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Using
@vizualgraphix: You do realize that CMD+SHIFT isn’t really doing anything, right? if you’re dragging and dropping you don’t need to hold anything to move files.
Using
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Using
@Eduardo: You would be correct, if you’re only considering moving files around on the internal drive. But if you have many partitions or additional internal/external drives, as I do with my Mac Pro, then drag-n-drop won’t suffice. In this case you MUST hold down CMD+SHFT in order to move files from A to B; otherwise it will just copy the files/folders and not remove them from their origin.
Another scenario is if you’re a “limited user” (non-admin account) or have restricted access via permissions to a certain folder or drive. Then you would need to “authenticate” (enter an admin username and password) before you could copy or move files.
Using
After 3 years of using Mac OS, another one I hate the Finder is that after you delete a file, the next one is not selected automatically. If the down arrow is pressed after delete a file, you’re all the way back to the top of the file list. Very bad behavior and Apple refused to fix this saying that’s a Mac feature. Yeah, right, why not try this feature on the email app: after an email is deleted, you’re brought all the way to the top of the email list to start scroll down again.
Using
Having recently added OSX to the list of environments I use, I too find this lack of Cut to be annoying. In the Windows world, drag and drop behaves just like the OSX environment for those users who wish to use it that way (with the exception of which key to hold down when dropping). Even the other x-windows based shells that I have used, which run on various *nixes allow for the Cut feature should you wish to use it instead of drag and drop with a modifier key. Additionally, not to steer too far off-topic, I do really miss the complex click-shiftclick-controlclick-controlshiftclick form of multiselect that Windows provides; which is great for selecting subsets of files in folders where there are many files.
Using
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Using
I think you can get every operating system to do this. The way is not different (totally)
Using
Mac OS X Lion (10.7) now lets you do cut and paste in the Finder. Well, it’s actually “copy and move”, but that’s the same thing. Copy your file as usual, e.g. with Cmd-C. Go to where you want to move it to, and press Cmd-Opt-V (or hold down Option while using the Finder’s Edit menu).
My usual method, however, is to drag. Watching some Windows users, you’d think it was only possible to have one Windows Explorer window open at a time. If you’re dragging between servers you have to hold down Command to force a move rather than a copy, similar to in Windows – although if I don’t trust the network I’ll usually copy the file then delete the original, just to be on the safe side.
Using
Yes, no cut and paste is a finder annoyance. Worse for me is the way folders are listed mixed in with files - how weird is that?
Luckily help is at hand. Get a copy of TotalFinder on your Mac and you have keyboard cut/copy/paste of files, sorting of folders before files in list views, tabbed finder browsing and a few other nice features too.
It is an essential Mac add-on for me.
Using
you CAN cut & paste in OSX, just follow these steps:
1. select files in finder
2. press left mouse button on any of these files icon
3. drag to new location, DO NOT release mouse button yet
4. either press OPTION key (leave source files untouched) or COMMAND key (delete source files after copying)
5. release mouse button
PS. if you dont press any key, OSX will leave source files untouched if destination is not on same volume as source, or delete them if destination is on same volume as source. i always press one key or the other, just to make my intention clear to the OS, plus its easier than trying to figure out beforehand what the OS is going to do.
Using
Props to Jaime for pointing out the simplest solution that equates to a Cut-Paste function on a Mac.
Props to Hex for giving the detailed breakdown of what happens internally when the method is used.
Using
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Using
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Using
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Using
in iOSx i.e Lion Past option is available for files and folder.
select file (single click)
press command + c (to copy the fie folder)
in the destination folder/location
press
command + option + v (this will paste the file in destination folder and remove the file from source folder/location)
enjoy trying