Command On Mac For Copy And Paste



You must use an added keyboard command to copy anything. The only cure is to Quit the app. Then Command-C works again. You can restart CopyPaste Pro again and probably Command-C. Excel for Mac uses the function keys for common commands, including Copy and Paste. For quick access to these shortcuts, you can change your Apple system preferences so you don't have to press the FN key every time you use a function key shortcut. Mac’s now feature Cut, Copy, and Past of file on Mac OS X desktop and Finder. This Cut, Copy, and Paste ability behaves much like the Windows explorer counterpart, and it represents a fast and efficient way to move and relocate files from one location to another location, without using the standard drag & drop.

What is Xcopy command?

Xcopy is a command that can copy files, directories, and even entire drives from one locationto another. It is an advanced version of the copy command that it has additional switches tospecify both the source and the destination in detail. And it is useful in particular whencopying files from CDROM to a hard drive because it will remove the read-only attributeautomatically.

The Xcopy command is available in most current operating systems such as Windows 10, Windows8, Windows 7, Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 98. The Xcopy command is also DOScommand available in MS-DOS.

Can I copy folders and subfolders using Xcopy command?

“I have a folder with a lot of subfolders and files in them. Now, I want to copy the folderto another location, but I don’t want to recreate directory structures. Can I use Xcopycommand to copy the directory structure of the folder and subfolders to anotherlocation?”

As we know, recreating directory structures can be a tedious and error-prone thing,especially if using the right-click method to create multiple structures and folders. So,you may want to copy folders and subfolders by Xcopy command directly. If you don’t know howto achieve it via Xcopy, keep reading to learn the detailed steps.

Copy folders and subfolders using Xcopy command in Windows 7/8/10

To move folders and subfolders in cmd, the most used command syntax would be:

xcopy [source] [destination] [options]

Copy

And there are plenty of options and switches for different demands. You can copy folders andsubfolders including or excluding files from one location to another location by followingthe steps in different situations.

Situation 1. copy folders and subfolders and contents

1. Click Start and type cmd in the searchbox. Right-click Command Prompt from the list and select Run asadministrator.

2. Now, when you're in the command prompt, you can type Xcopy command asbelow to copy folders and subfolders including contents. For example, you want to copy“test” folder and its subfolders on C drive to D drive, type Xcopy command as:

Xcopy C:test D:test /E /H /C /I

  • /E – Copy subdirectories, including any empty ones.

  • /H - Copy files with hidden and system file attributes

  • /C - Continue copying even if an error occurs.

  • /I - If in doubt, always assume the destination is a folder. e.g. when thedestination does not exist.

Note:

  • Xcopy will not copy open files.

  • Xcopy doesn’t display any progress or completed operations information whenexecuted.

  • Remember that for folders with spaces in the name or folders larger than 8 charactersin length, it is a good idea to put quotation marks around the path as in the figureabove or you may get an error.

Situation 2. copy folders and subfolders without files

You can open the Command Prompt according to the steps shown above. Then, type the Xcopycommand as below to copy folders and subfolders without files:

Xcopy Source Destination /T /E

  • /T - Copy the subdirectory structure, but not the files.

  • /E - Copy subdirectories, including any empty ones.

Situation 3. copy folders and subfolders with NTFS and Share permission

Sometimes, you may need to transfer the NTFS and Share permission together with your folders.Once the Command Prompt is open, you can then type the following command to copy all filesand folders and retain its NTFS and Share permissions.

Xcopy Source Destination /O /X /E /H /K

  • /E - Copy folders and subfolders, including empty ones.

  • /H - Copy hidden and system files also.

  • /K - Copy attributes. Typically, Xcopy resets read-only attributes.

  • /O - Copy file ownership and ACL information.

  • /X - Copy file audit settings (implies /O).

Actually, there are many syntaxes for the Xcopy command, and you should use differentsyntaxes for different situations. Under most circumstances, you need to use severalsyntaxes at the same time. But if one syntax is used incorrectly, the Xcopy command mayrefuse to work, even worse, you may lose files. Therefore, you must be very careful whenusing the Xcopy command.

In fact, most users are not familiar with the use of the command line, and you may beconfused with a large number of syntaxes. Therefore, you can copy folders and files in aneasier way using a third-party migration tool like AOMEI Backupper Standard.

Easier way to copy files or folders in Windows 7/8/10

Command On Mac For Copy And Paste

AOMEI Backupper Standard is a free and reliable backup software forWindows Vista/XP/7/8/10. It allows you to backup folders/files to different places likeinternal hard drive, external hard drive, USB drive, network and so on. This software has aclear interface and user-friendly design, so, you can figure it out quickly even for thefirst time.

In addition, this software has many useful features. For example, it supports scheduledbackup, which can help you automatically backup folders/files in Daily, Weekly, Monthly, andEvent-trigger mode. Furthermore, Full backup andIncremental backup are also supported. You can set incremental backup to save both yourstorage disk space and backup time.

Step by Step guide to copy folders files or folders via AOMEI Backupper

Clipboard Copy History

1. Download AOMEI Backupper Standard, install and launch it.

Download Freeware

Win 10/8.1/8/7/XP

Secure Download

2. Click Backup and File Backup subsequently.

3. Click Add File or Add Folder to choosethe files or folders you want to backup and then click OK.

Note: Afterclicking Add Folder, you can open Filter Settings to set fileinclusion/exclusion mask. This function can help you backup files with specific fileextension, you can upgrade to paid versions to enjoy it.

4. Select the destination path you want to copy files to. Internal harddrive, connected external hard drive, Cloud drive, shared folder, and NAS are available.

5. (Optional) Click Schedule to set a Daily/Weekly/Monthlyunder General tab, or select Full and Incremental backup under Advancedtab. Then, click Start Backup.

Verdict

You can copy folders and subfolders using Xcopy command by the steps shown above. However,many users say that copying failed due to Xcopy not working sometimes, or Xcopy does not copy allfiles. And in some cases, Xcopy halts because of “Insufficient Memory” error orinvalid number of parameters.

Therefore, using AOMEI Backupper to copy folders or files is a more reliable and convenientmethod. With only a few clicks, you can copy folders or files to your destination, and itsuseful features like incremental backup, USB plug in, etc. bring you muchconvenience.

Moreover, AOMEI Backupper Standard designs for Windows XP/Vista/7/8/10 only, if you are aWindows Server user, you can try another version–AOMEI Backupper Server.

Hello Friends and Fans. Hope you all would be fine and having good time. Welcome to Steve Mac Solutions. A complete solution provider of Mac and IOS. Before any further intro, lets focus on our topic that is, how to Copy and Paste on Mac. If you are familiar to the window, and you are asked about how to copy and paste in windows. You will reply in a micro sec ctrl C (for copy) + ctrl V (for paste).

But this is not the case with Mac when you try to copy and paste on mac, you need the command key. Just look at the keyboard of the mac in the pic.

You will see that on the keyboard of mac you don’t see the windows button rather, there is a command button instead of windows. Yes this is it. This will work for you guy.

Watch Youtube Video How to Copy & Paste on Mac

Contents

By Using the command button in combination with the keys, you can copy and paste on Mac.

Copy and Paste Files and folders on Mac

Step By Step – Easy for understanding

  1. You want to copy your file on mac from one place to another location. That’s very simple to do. You have to select the file or folder that you want to copy on mac.
  2. After selecting the file. You just need to press the 2 buttons Command + C. The command + C copies the file in the memory of the mac.
  3. Now go to the place where you want to paste it or where you want to keep the copy of the original file. On that location press Command + V

See how simple is this. By using this simple process you can save / copy your file from one location to another.

Wait!

There is another method by which you can copy and paste on mac.

Follow me. This method is more QUICK AND EASY. You must have heard many time about Drag and Drop options. Do you know what is drag and drop option? By using the drag and drop option you can easily copy and past on mac. You can do it by using simple key and mouse movement. You can also move a file from one place to another by simply dragging that file with your mouse to the location where you want to keep it.

Keyboard Command For Copy And Paste On Mac

But there is an issue with that, the mac default settings don’t allow it to keep the copy of that. Mac will cut the file from the original location and paste it into the new location. If you want to copy and paste the file to the new location (i.e. your original file should remain at the location where you kept it and you make a new copy you just need to use 1 key with the mouse movement).

Paste

PRESS AND HOLD THE OPTION KEY AFTER SELECTING THE FILE. DRAG THE FILE BY THE MOUSE WHERE YOU WANT TO KEEP/ PLACE IT.

In this way you can easily copy and paste the file on mac by using the drag and drop method.

Drag And Drop in Combination with Command Key

Command For Copy And Paste On Mac

Did you know that? In certain situations the drag and drop default behavior of the mac gets reversed. It has came to my notice in case of Operating System X. So i thought of sharing this with you people as well.

Before this – Caution by Steve Sadiq

What STEVE ALWAYS RECOMMEND

I would like to repeat that, i have already mentioned this in almost all my articles and saying this again to always make a backup of your data either on mac or iPhone. These are very sophisticated machines. Though there are multiple ways of recovery, but i don’t want to see you in trouble any time. So i will again say to keep you data safe before performing any learning activity.

Stay Safe – This makes Steve happy.

Now coming back to the point.

I was saying that in certain situations the normal behavior of the mac gets reversed specially in case of OS X. The normal system behavior is that when you drag and drop the file without pressing any key on the keyboard. It cuts the file from the original location and paste that to the new location. But when this gets reversed what happens. It acts like the copy paste function. The file will not get cut from the place where you don’t want to have that.

If this situation happens I would recommend you to use the command key in dragging and dropping the files. The method is very simple. You just need to hold down the Command key and drag the file to the new location. In the process you will see that “plus icon” will disappear. This is the indication that it’s not copying rather cutting the file. In this way you can cut and paste the file to the new location.

What is the advantage of it?

The file will be moved from one drive of the Hard Disk to the other drive, without leaving a copy of itself on both drives. This is the only option that is available for you because the [Command + X] which is the cut command of mac don’t work for files.

Concluding Thoughts

Today you have learnt that, how can you copy and paste on mac. Also you have learnt that how can you cut and paste on mac. I have told you 2 methods.

  1. Keyboard Method
  2. Drag drop method

Keyboard Method – Named by Steve Saddiq

In the keyboard method you just need to use 2 keys. Command + C and Command +V. Copy the file that you want to move from once partition of your hard drive to another one by using Command + C key. To paste the file to the new location use the Command + V keys and the file will be pasted to the new location.

Command On Mac For Copy And Paste

Drag and Drop Mac Method – Named by Steve Saddiq

In the drag and drop method. Select the file and move it with the mouse to the new location. This will cut paste the file. If you want to copy and paste the file, you will need to press and hold the option key and drag and drop the file. Sometimes the default behavior gets reversed. In that case use the Command key in the drag and drop process.

Mac Copy Paste Not Working

Hope this would have helped you and now you have learnt how to copy and paste on mac. If you don’t understand any thing kindly comment below and i’ll make it clear once again. Do tell me, how useful this article was for you.

Mac Cut And Paste Commands

Keep posting. Keep on sharing the knowledge. Always remember to keep your data on safe place or take a backup of the data before performing any operation.

This is Steve Saddiq signing off from TheMacSmack.

Stay Blessed.

Peace 🙂