Moving Files without Creating Copies

[Guest Dave]

When I move jpg files from one folder to another (I do this a lot editing

photos), copies are often created automatically. Typically, I wind up with

3-6 copies of one file before I'm through sorting.

 

Getting rid of the copies sounds like it would be fairly straightforward,

until you realize they are now all over the place.

 

I realize there are search/sort ways to find the copies, but it would be

very handy to keep them from being created in the first place,.

 

Where can I find the rules for moving without copying? Search/Agent Ransack

don't seem to help.

 

Thx

 

Dave

[Guest Malke]

Re: Moving Files without Creating Copies

 

Dave wrote:

> When I move jpg files from one folder to another (I do this a lot editing

> photos), copies are often created automatically. Typically, I wind up with

> 3-6 copies of one file before I'm through sorting.

>

> Getting rid of the copies sounds like it would be fairly straightforward,

> until you realize they are now all over the place.

>

> I realize there are search/sort ways to find the copies, but it would be

> very handy to keep them from being created in the first place,.

>

> Where can I find the rules for moving without copying? Search/Agent Ransack

> don't seem to help.

 

This isn't happening because of a rule. This problem usually occurs

because the hand isn't quite as steady as one would want. You're moving

the files slightly as you drag and that is creating the extra copies.

 

First lower the sensitivity of your mouse from the Mouse applet in

Control Panel. Then change the way you delete. Either select files and

then right-click>Delete or select files and use File>Delete. To select

multiple contiguous files, highlight the first file in the series and

then hold down the Shift key and highlight the last file in the series.

All your desired files will be highlighted. Then use the right-click or

File menu deletion procedure. To delete non-contiguous files, hold down

the Ctrl key as you select.

 

 

Malke

--

Elephant Boy Computers

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com

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MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

[Guest z1z1z1]

Re: Moving Files without Creating Copies

 

"Dave" <djbahb@dcwis.com> wrote in

news:#oF9auW7HHA.1148@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl:

> When I move jpg files from one folder to another (I do this a lot

> editing photos), copies are often created automatically. Typically, I

> wind up with 3-6 copies of one file before I'm through sorting.

>

> Getting rid of the copies sounds like it would be fairly

> straightforward, until you realize they are now all over the place.

>

> I realize there are search/sort ways to find the copies, but it would

> be very handy to keep them from being created in the first place,.

>

> Where can I find the rules for moving without copying? Search/Agent

> Ransack don't seem to help.

>

> Thx

>

> Dave

>

 

Don't "drag and drop" with the left mouse button - it's too easy to have

it do something you didn't intend.

Use the right mouse button to drag, and it will ask you what to do when

you drop, so you can select copy or move (or cancel, if you accidentally

dropped in the wrong place).

If you must use the left button, you can use ctrl, alt, shift to control

what will happen (watch the cursor - there will be a small plus for copy,

arrow for create shortcut, or nothing for move). I like to set some of

the extra buttons on my mouse to be ctrl and shift for this purpose.

Or select the files, then press Ctrl-C to copy, Ctrl-X to cut or Ctrl-D

to delete (or use the right mouse menu to select copy/cut/delete) - then

go to the destination and use Ctrl-V to paste (to finish a copy/move) or

use the right mouse menu to select paste. If you break up the operation

into steps this way, you will have more control.

You will likely make less mistakes if you use the keyboard instead of the

mouse. You can use the mouse or arrow keys+ctrl+shift+space to select

files in various ways (experiment) - you hardly need to touch the mouse

at all.

 

And remember that if you notice a mistake soon enough, you can press

Ctrl-Z to undo (or right-click and select undo there).