Struggling With File Management

[mdindestin]

I'm convinced the whole Mac ecosystem is the best way for me.

However, I am very good at file management in Windows and struggling hard with this new way of thinking. I'm fighting the OS and it's winning. Just simple a simple cut and paste of a file is an exercise in frustration. I'm not keen on dragging (which just copies) files and such. I want a right click cut and paste menu with a vengeance.

Also, I've got thousands of pictures and video clips along with many documents and not sure when to store on iCloud, in Photos, or on external media. So, not only is file management a challenge, where to store the files is also a challenge.

If anyone has insight on what made things click, so to speak, for them when converting from Windows, or found a really good tutorial geared toward someone coming from the Windows world, I'd appreciate a link. I keep giving up and walking away from my MacPro so I can get some work done on my Windows machine.

 

[Gav2k]

Ok generally if your copying within OS folders it'll move the item. If your copying to external drives etc then it'll duplicate the file. But to do it more Windows like then you use the following.

Command+C (cuts)
Command+Option+V (pastes removing the original)
Command+V (pastes leaving the original)

 

[Azl]

or hold down cmd while dropping,
will move the file as well

 

[Mr. Buzzcut]

I'm a little confused since it works much the same way as Windows, especially now that MS has onedrive.

For pictures and videos, I'd really suggest letting iTunes deal with it if you don't have a specific reason against that. Now the decision becomes whether to use iCloud Photos and iTunes Match. I personally like the freedom from managing and copying files so I do use them. My music and pics are available across all my devices without having to do anything.

For other files, you can choose to have the app save in iCloud Drive which makes the file available everywhere. Then it's just a matter of making sure you have the space for what you want to save.

There are some geeky things you can do to sync up folders across devices but it takes time and effort to manage. It's sort of counter to the Apple way, if you will.

 

[mdindestin]

I'm a little confused since it works much the same way as Windows, especially now that MS has onedrive.

For pictures and videos, I'd really suggest letting iTunes deal with it if you don't have a specific reason against that. Now the decision becomes whether to use iCloud Photos and iTunes Match. I personally like the freedom from managing and copying files so I do use them. My music and pics are available across all my devices without having to do anything.

For other files, you can choose to have the app save in iCloud Drive which makes the file available everywhere. Then it's just a matter of making sure you have the space for what you want to save.

There are some geeky things you can do to sync up folders across devices but it takes time and effort to manage. It's sort of counter to the Apple way, if you will.

Did you mean iTunes or iCloud? I have no problem with paying for additional iCloud storage - except for archived video files that are now several TBs in size. I used to save all pictures and also videos on redundant external drives with the file folder names like this:

2015-11-24, Thanksgiving
2015-12-25, Christmas

Those would be in a 2015 folder. Finding content was not a problem and everything sorted nicely. What you seem to be saying is that system of organization is unnecessary somehow with iTunes? Whatever I do, I need back-ups of all files.
[doublepost=1459635692][/doublepost]

or hold down cmd while dropping,
will move the file as well

Sweet! I'll give both ideas a try. Thanks

 

[Mr. Buzzcut]

Did you mean iTunes or iCloud? I have no problem with paying for additional iCloud storage - except for archived video files that are now several TBs in size. I used to save all pictures and also videos on redundant external drives with the file folder names like this:

2015-11-24, Thanksgiving
2015-12-25, Christmas

Those would be in a 2015 folder. Finding content was not a problem and everything sorted nicely. What you seem to be saying is that system of organization is unnecessary somehow with iTunes? Whatever I do, I need back-ups of all files.
[doublepost=1459635692][/doublepost]

Sweet! I'll give both ideas a try. Thanks

Ok I see your dilemma with the videos, but why can't you just continue doing what you're comfortable doing with the external storage? You don't have to change just because you got a Mac. Keep in mind, though, that redundant drives do not constitute a backup.

I use iTunes for Music, TV shows, imported home movies. I use Photos for pics taken with iPhone and SLR. iCloud is used by both of these to provide the synchronization between devices. I have around 100GB of photos and 10K songs in iTunes. The videos are a few more GB. Everything has a Time Machine backup.

You can always test drive Photos or iTunes by copying your content and keeping the originals safely separate. Sounds like you have quite a bit and you need to be comfortable with whatever you choose.

 

[throAU]

On a tangent, there's another feature you may want to consider that OS X has and Windows does not - tags.

You can tag files with multiple tags so they can be "grouped" into projects or purposes wherever they are - then you can search by tag.

e.g., you have a file that was for related to insurance for your car - does it get filed under "car" or "insurance"? You could tag it with tags for both. That way whether it is in a car folder or an insurance folder, you can find it easily by tag.

 

[Mr. Buzzcut]

On a tangent, there's another feature you may want to consider that OS X has and Windows does not - tags.

You can tag files with multiple tags so they can be "grouped" into projects or purposes wherever they are - then you can search by tag.

e.g., you have a file that was for related to insurance for your car - does it get filed under "car" or "insurance"? You could tag it with tags for both. That way whether it is in a car folder or an insurance folder, you can find it easily by tag.

Windows does have tags.

 

[mdindestin]

I just selected 1000 photos and videos in the photos app from a recent trip. I know the files were selected because the thumbnails were all highlighted in blue.

I then drug them over to copy them to an external hard drive. The number of files to be transported showed up, the beachball came up, but nothing happened.

That's the kind of thing I'm talking about.
[doublepost=1459701534][/doublepost]The files started transferring. There is no Windows file transfer type notification that shows the progress and action.

It's a different world.

 

[Azl]

In this case, the progress is in photos app since it is exporting.
On the top left you see a little circle, click it to reveal progress.

 

[mdindestin]

What's the consensus on the photos app? Is it well loved?