Hi Vic,
I usually keep the terminal application as one of the apps in my dock,
or your can launch it from Finder by using Command-Shift-U (the
shortcut for the Utilities folder), then pressing "T" (to go to
terminal), followed by Command-Down Arrow (to launch). The default
Unix shell you're using supports tab completion of path and
filenames. This means that you don't have to type out long file names
or paths in full -- you only need to type as much of the file or
folder name to uniquely specify the file or folder, and then press the
tab key. Let's say that under your home directory you have a folder
called "Documents" and another named "Downloads". You want to move to
the Documents folder to examine some files by using the "cd" command
in terminal to change your directory. On the command line in terminal,
you only need to type "cd" (without quotes) followed by a space
followed and then type the first few letters of the folder "D o c" and
then press the tab key. When you press tab, the rest of the folder
name will be supplied by the shell, and you only need to press the
"Return" key to execute the command. If you had just typed "D o" and
pressed tab, you would have been informed of the two folders that
matched your entry, "Downloads" and "Documents", and then you would be
presented with the command you had typed. You could then type the "c"
and press tab (to successfully complete the command) and press
"Return" to execute it.
Similarly, if I want to navigate to a file within some subfolders, I
would just type the parts of my folders needed to uniquely identify
the subfolders, and press tab to let the system complete the name.
Each time I needed to move to a sub-folder, I would type a slash for
the separator, then type a few letters of the start of the
subdirectory name, then press tab, then continue until the full file
path was laid out, at which point I would just press the "Return" key.
For example, let's say I wanted to examine files within a folder under
my home account named "Documents/Letters/March" and change to this
directory in the terminal with the command:
cd Documents/Letters/March
I'd actually only type the initial "cd" command, a space, and then "D
o c" before pressing the tab key to let the system fill in
"Documents". Then I would type a slash symbol separator and the
letter "L" (if there were no other sub-folders beginning with that
letter), and press the tab key again to let the shell complete the
path to now read "Documents/Letters". For the last subfolder I would
type a slash symbol again, and the letters "M a r" and press tab.
(This assumes that I also have a subfolder named "May" that needs to
be distinguished from "March"). When the path is complete, I just
press "Return" to execute the command to change directory to
"Documents/Letters/March". I've only typed the letters "D o c", "L",
and "M a r" out of the entire path.
Another thing you can do is use Finder to locate the sub-folder
"March", and copy the entry with Command-C. Then when you switch to
Terminal, you type "cd" with a space, and then paste with Command-V,
and press "Return". The pasted entry will be the full path name.
You can copy and paste the paths to files and/or folders from Finder
to Terminal. So you could also do this for the "mv" command, if you
wanted to move a specific file to the folder, "Documents/Letters/
March". When you do this the pasted path is the full path name (e.g.
"/Users/<your account>/Documents/Letters/March").
HTH. For more information about using the command line in terminal,
check out the Take Control book, "Take Control of the Mac Command Line
with Terminal" ($10.00 list price) by Joe Kissell which is available
as a downloadable PDF file from the Take Control Web site at:
http://www.takecontrolbooks.com/command-line
The web page describes the book's contents and links a sample excerpt.
Cheers,
Esther
Tinker Tweak wrote:
Larry,
Yes! I just saw the terminal application just tonight. I have the
feeling
that that is something like a command line with a GUI interface. I
think
I'll thrive in it cause I used to be so very comfortable in DOS. Now
I have
to learn the syntax for this OS. Typeing long path and file names
will be
interesting though. Were I 20 years younger, I'd just teach myself
programming in this platform but now programming was a life lived
and not a
life I'd want to have again.Awe, that old life with ASAP and Pascal
Thank you and so good to have met you here.
Vic
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Larry Skutchan
Sent: Sunday, May 09, 2010 7:00 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: files and folders
Vic, here is a quick and more powerful way to move files and folders.
Go to the terminal application and learn the file and folder layout
there.
You can use the mv command to do what you need in a very powerful way
indeed.
On May 9, 2010, at 6:38 AM, Scott Howell wrote:
Hi Anne,
Thanks for the info. I have been meaning to try Automator out for a
while,
but just never seem to quite get to it. I followed the instructions
and
although it worked, I continue to get some critical error that seems
to not
affect the operation for the most part. I think I need to understand
what is
going on on the backend and that will make this much easier. In
other words,
if I learn the scripting that goes on behind the scenes, I will be
able to
understand what automator is doing. However, very cool and just
looking at
what is available in the automator, it is very powerful and now I
have the
push I needed to find time to study this.
THanks,
On May 9, 2010, at 4:31 AM, Anne Robertson wrote:
Hello Vic,
Here's an Automator work flow to do what you want. It was posted
by Yuma
Antoine Decaux a little while ago.
1- Open Automator
2-It will ask you to choose from a template. Right arrow until you
find
services, then press return.
3-at this stage, VO should say name. VO right arrow until you are
on the
actions description split view. interact with it
4-you should be now in action library view. interact with it. Its an
expandable element. go down to files and folders.
5-VO right arrow till you get to the actions, and choose down the
list to
move finder items. Note:at this stage, things might seem a bit
sluggish, but
it will go away, and only happens once every 3rd session.
6-press return. you should now have created an action to define,
and VO
should say move finder items. Interact with it
7-VO left until VO says text in service action selected any
application
replaces selected text. This is a group you interact with, in which
there
are static texts and pressable dropbox menus.
8-VO to text, VO space bar and choose files and folders in the
list. Then
VO right to any applications, VO space bar again and choose finder
in the
list of choices.
9-stop interacting with the group, VO right to move finder items,
and
interact with that.
10-go right until you find the options check box. check it.
-11-VO right to show this action when the workflow runs.
13-save the file with command S, call the service whatever you want.
You will now have a service for moving files and folders in your
contextual menu VO shift M, or control mouse click.
If you want something faster than a contextual menu, you can bind
the
automator service to a keypress.
Cheers,
Anne
On May 9, 2010, at 10:09 AM, Tinker Tweak wrote:
I'm really thunderstruck and I don't know what to say. How does
one do
without this basic function of computing then?I think I don't
like the
derection this is headed but I am here now so what would be my
options
towards getting my work done in an efficient manner?
Again, thanks for any help.
Vic
_____
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Sarah Alawami
Sent: Sunday, May 09, 2010 3:53 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: files and folders
.sadly you cannot cut and paste. I don't like it but that's just
the way
it
is.
take care.
On May 9, 2010, at 12:26 AM, Tinker Tweak wrote:
First I tried command-x only to realize that it is dimmed out on
the
edit
menu. Command-c and command-v works though but without the
command-x, I
have
to go back to the folder where I coppied the files to delete all
the
files I
just copied to the other folder. It is taking so much time cause
it is
acctually copying the files instead of just changing the point of
reference
as command-x then command-c will do. Is there a setting I am
missing?
Why is
my edit menu having this dimmed item? It is tedious to be going
back and
forth folders first to select then copy, go to another folder and
paste,
then go back to the source files and delete but right now, that
is the
only
way I know And there is very little I do know cause it is all new
to me.
The second that I tried is to learn or at least try my skills at
drag
and
drop but I haven't gotten the hang of it yet so far. What am I
doing
wrong?
Thanks.
_____
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf OfRob Lambert
Sent: Sunday, May 09, 2010 2:57 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: files and folders
What methods have you tried thus far?
On Sat, May 8, 2010 at 11:44 PM, Tinker Tweak <[email protected]
>
wrote:
Hi All!
I'm a new Apple switcher and I like it very much. Its just been a
week
since
I got a new Macbook pro and I've been learning fairly quickly if
I may
say
so myself. I love challenges and this thing about learning the
operating
system plus its screen reader surely qualifies for one big
challenge
indeed.
So far I've been doing very well until I ran into a problem with
cutting
and
pasting with in the Finder. I can't make it to work no matter
how I
try. I
have to learn how to do this cause my work involves moving lots
and
lots of
files and folders all day. I'd truly appreciate it if someone can
help
me
learn how to move files and folders.
Thanks in advance.
Vic
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