When I move a file a new copy is created

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satsriakal
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When I move a file a new copy is created

Post by satsriakal »

Hi everybody

1. Linux Mint 20.2 XFCE
I realized that everytime I move a file, it behaves like I'm copying it: the file in the original position is still there and a new copy is in the new position.
Ho could I solve this problem?

Best regards
Beppe
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wallyUSA
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Re: When I move a file a new copy is created

Post by wallyUSA »

Have you tried cut & paste?
Ctrl+X to cut and then Ctrl+V to paste.
Or you can right click mouse to cut, then right click to paste.
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satsriakal
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Re: When I move a file a new copy is created

Post by satsriakal »

Actually with cut and paste it works.
To be more precise it doesn't work with "drag and drop"
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Re: When I move a file a new copy is created

Post by Neil Edmond »

What if you hold down the shift key while you drag and drop?
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Re: When I move a file a new copy is created

Post by t42 »

you are talking about GUI representation which may differ. It doesn't changing the reality: copying ithe file content to the destination, then removing the source.
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Re: When I move a file a new copy is created

Post by Hoser Rob »

Neil Edmond wrote: Tue Jan 25, 2022 9:43 am What if you hold down the shift key while you drag and drop?
Despite having used Xfce for years I just now tried that ( :oops: ).

The default copy or move action depends with Thunar, if you simply drag/drop within the same partition it moves the file. If you do that between partitions like to an external drive, it copies it. This is how it's always worked for me, and if I want to move to a different partition/ext drive I've always just cut/pasted.

With the shift key pressed and within the same partition it copies the file, and I suspect the behavior is inverted similarly with different partitions. Can't test that right now.
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JoeFootball
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Re: When I move a file a new copy is created

Post by JoeFootball »

Just adding that's the default behavior for Nemo too. Drag/drop within a partition will move it. Drag/drop to another partition will copy it, but holding Shift will move it.
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Re: When I move a file a new copy is created

Post by smurphos »

Holding Shift forces a move, holding Ctrl forces a copy, holding Ctrl-Shift forces making a symlink, holding Alt gives you a context menu when you release the mouse button allowing all of the above or to cancel the operation.

This is standard in Windows aswell (at least the behaviour d'n'ding between or within drives and the Shift and Ctrl modifiers)
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satsriakal
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Re: When I move a file a new copy is created

Post by satsriakal »

Holding Shift forces a move, holding Ctrl forces a copy, holding Ctrl-Shift forces making a symlink, holding Alt gives you a context menu when you release the mouse button allowing all of the above or to cancel the operation.
I verified that everything except when holding Alt key works fine for me.

Anyway I verified that drag and drop without holding any key makes a copy even in the same partition.
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Re: When I move a file a new copy is created

Post by ricardogroetaers »

Drag the object with the right mouse button pressed down and a context menu will open.
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satsriakal
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Re: When I move a file a new copy is created

Post by satsriakal »

Yes, during drag and drop with right mouse button down a context menu appears.

So how can I change drag and drop behaviour without any key pressed?
As some of you told, I expect that drag and drop in the same partition moves files without copying them.
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