Accessing the new intended Folder for a File Paste, Windows vs. Mac

I agree that most Mac users drag and drop.

Also, few Mac users have a mouse anymore. There really isn't a left or right click. And when there was, I'm pretty sure the operations you describe were left clicks. But regardless, all of that is configurable. Some people do command + tap, some people do two finger taps, etc. It's better to think in terms of operations - like tap, double-tap, drag, option drag, etc.

While breadcrumbs do exist, they aren't normally used.

It is all too obvious, and too user-configurable, to write down.

etresoft wrote:

If you do use a mouse, you might not even realize what it does. It adds a permanent vertical scroller to just about every window. If you aren't careful, that will make your UI ugly and screw up the layout.

Hmmm. I use vertical scrolling every day, including on iPads and iPhones. Since I'm not designing software, it does not screw up my layouts.

Technically, Apple supports a mouse on iPadOS, but it seems like they gave up after a while. It's not 100% supported.

iPhones & iPads use touch screens. I can't imagine many people use a mouse or a trackpad with them.

I suppose it's a question of trackpad vs. mouse. According to my EtreCheck data, 52% of Macs don't have a built-in trackpad. So unless the vast majority of those desktop models use mice, the trackpad is more common.

That actually defies logic :) No Mac desktop comes with a built-in trackpad. Why wouldn't the "vast majority" of Desktop users use a mouse?

Apple provides a Mac User Guide - Apple Support to help Windows users overcome their old File Explorer indoctrination and use macOS as it is intended.

dialabrain wrote:

Okay. I just connected the original Magic Trackpad to my M3 iMac. All I can say is, ick.

I guess the Magic Trackpad is just not for you.

Then again:

• Is it the feel?
• Is it the lack of some controls?
• Do you have difficulties getting the pointer on the object you want to select?
• Is it dragging to select?
• Is it other...?

Just what is the ick factor?

BetterTouchTool won me over, as I could customize the gestures and use more than the number of fingers Apple has options for.

But really, if you prefer a mouse, and a specific mouse at that, then use your mouse.

Same goes for track balls, and other styles of pointing devices. If it works best for you, then that is what you should use.

And we have TOTALLY HIJACKED this thread 😁

What view are you using in the Finder? Most Mac users would probably use drag and drop

In addition to Yer_Man's question and pertinent observation: the Title of the window indicates the active folder.

For example, here is, in List View, a folder A containing a subfolder B, containing a subsubfolder C.

Notice the title is "A".

If you press Command-V, the item will be pasted in the folder A.

Here are the same folders, but now in Column View. Notice the title of the window says "C".

If you were to Paste now, the item would end up in... C.

Luis Sequeira1 wrote:

I have been following this back and forth with some fascination, even though it seems to be completely orthogonal to the topic - after all, both are pointing devices, and both have primary ("left") and secondary ("right") clicks, even though, unlike pcs, there is no physical left and right buttons (fortunately :-)).

The OP made a comment about the Mac requiring a right double-click to select a paste destination in the Finder. Although I literally only use a mouse for iPad development anymore, I still remember that right clicks are secondary and I don't think right double-clicks are supported anywhere. But I'm sure it can be configured differently.

I am surprised by the notion that 52% macs are desktops. I would have thought that Apple sells a lot more laptops than desktops...

That's just from my EtreCheck data. People who request a computer-generated solution have to submit their report to my server to get the solution. You would be surprised how much effort has gone into pirating EtreCheck. I can at least prevent the pirates from accessing server-side features.

As the description says, I have no idea what the real numbers are. But I have no reason to assume they would be radically different.

Mac trackpads are awesome, and yet I have seen many users who cannot use their macs without a mouse. I could understand it for pc users, as most trackpads are awful.

Mac desktops may come with either a mouse or a trackpad (iMac - although a mouse is the default); or come with nothing at all (Mac Mini).

Sometimes it's useful to have your computer setup with a trackpad, and then connect a mouse too. It's a significant UI change. If a developer tries something fancy and even slightly non-standard, like EtreCheck's sidebar, it can be a royal pain when the system adds all these UI elements at runtime.

etresoft wrote:

Also, few Mac users have a mouse anymore. There really isn't a left or right click.

Really??? Gee, all our Macs use a mouse except for the laptops. And, they all have left and right click. Although to be fair, the right click is now referred to as a secondary click.

• In Windows File Explorer, you choose the intended destination folder by selecting it, by right clicking once on that folder, and then you do the paste command.

• In Mac Finder, you choose the destination folder by opening it, by right clicking twice on that folder,and then paste into a blank area, which may or may not have other files already in it. For visual confirmation that you are putting the item into the intended destination folder, you look at the rightmost folder in breadcrumbs.

I couldn't duplicate your issue. I also didn't need to pre-select the target folder.

I right clicked on a document and chose Copy from the contextual menu. I then right clicked on the target folder, which automatically selected it, and chose Paste from the contextual menu.

If I highlighted multiple items and copied them, the paste menu would read Past xxx Items, rather than just Paste.

dialabrain wrote:

Really??? Gee, all our Macs use a mouse except for the laptops. And, they all have left and right click. Although to be fair, the right click is now referred to as a secondary click.

Just to add, Tim Cook uses a Magic Mouse. I would consider him a Mac user. 🤔

Perhaps I should have said, "Only Mac users of a certain age use a mouse." 😄

If you do use a mouse, you might not even realize what it does. It adds a permanent vertical scroller to just about every window. If you aren't careful, that will make your UI ugly and screw up the layout. Technically, Apple supports a mouse on iPadOS, but it seems like they gave up after a while. It's not 100% supported.

I suppose it's a question of trackpad vs. mouse. According to my EtreCheck data, 52% of Macs don't have a built-in trackpad. So unless the vast majority of those desktop models use mice, the trackpad is more common.

I have been following this back and forth with some fascination, even though it seems to be completely orthogonal to the topic - after all, both are pointing devices, and both have primary ("left") and secondary ("right") clicks, even though, unlike pcs, there is no physical left and right buttons (fortunately :-)).

This is no longer about which folder is targeted (which is irrespective of using either input device).

A few thoughts:

I am surprised by the notion that 52% macs are desktops. I would have thought that Apple sells a lot more laptops than desktops...

Mac trackpads are awesome, and yet I have seen many users who cannot use their macs without a mouse. I could understand it for pc users, as most trackpads are awful.

Mac desktops may come with either a mouse or a trackpad (iMac - although a mouse is the default); or come with nothing at all (Mac Mini).

While I am “of a certain age”, I’m a hardcore Magic Trackpad user.

At work I try to push users towards getting the Magic Trackpad, and the company will even pay for it, but most users seem to get a mouse.

And while they have a choice of several mice, the Mac users seem to go for the Magic Mouse.

dialabrain wrote:

I wonder how many trackpads Logitech makes?

No idea how many (though they do make them), and I am pretty sure that they make a lot more mice than trackpads.

I have nothing against using mice, each user is free to prefer one or the other. I am an old trackpad guy, though :-)

dialabrain wrote:

Actually I don't believe they make any.

I use trackpads on my Mac laptops. 😎

According to this, there is both a keyboard with included trackpad, and a separate trackpad:

https://www.logitech.com/en-ca/search?q=touchpad

dialabrain wrote:

Hmmm. I use vertical scrolling every day, including on iPads and iPhones. Since I'm not designing software, it does not screw up my layouts.

It's a trade off. Gestures are what makes the trackpad so different. They normally require special coding. Mouse support is built-in. You just have to remember to test with a mouse because it does add a system scroller that is completely different than the transient, fading scroller that appears with the trackpad.

This is why a MacBook Pro/Air is an ideal developer platform. It has a built-in trackpad and guaranteed Retina display. Make sure all that works and there is a minimum amount of testing required for other devices, such as standard display, mouse, and Touch Bar. I've had some really tricky problems with the mouse. It always works, but it introduces layout problems and strange behaviours and display artifacts.

iPhones & iPads use touch screens. I can't imagine many people use a mouse or a trackpad with them.

It's only iPads, but Apple supports it. Apple even has some custom UI interaction just for iPad mouse support. Unfortunately, they don't work in all situations. So it's really annoying when you have the fancy UI interaction everywhere except for one control. Then it sticks out.

That actually defies logic :) No Mac desktop comes with a built-in trackpad. Why wouldn't the "vast majority" of Desktop users use a mouse?

It turns out that the vast majority of those desktop machines do come with mice. I checked the "in the box" description and the Mac Pro and iMac both include mice. Mac mini and Mac Studio users are on their own, but there aren't many of those.