MacMost Now 657: Merging Folders In Lion

Lion allows you to merge the contents of two folders as long as you choose to copy those files, and not move them. You can also place files of the same name in the same folder as long as you let the Finder automatically rename the new files.

Comments: 11 Responses to “MacMost Now 657: Merging Folders In Lion”

    Rick Johnson
    12 years ago

    something so simple but very very helpful. Thank you

      Darcman
      11 years ago

      Apple needs to fix their copy / merge functionality and build in some intelligence. It is woeful compared to what Windows provides. With such great capability in all others areas, why make users suffer so badly in this important area?

    Tom Abbott
    12 years ago

    Gary, I'm consolidating image files from multiple computers on to my Mac. On many occasions I have image files with the same name (001.jpg). When I try to paste in files to a folder where files with the same name exist I only get the option to "Keep Both Files" when I'm copying 4 or less files at a time. Anything in excess of these 4 files in a single attempt and I don't get the option to "Keep Both Files", but I only get the option to "Skip". This doesn't make any sense to me.

      Tom Abbott
      12 years ago

      Update: I did a little Googling and found that when the window pops up that says "Skip" simply hold down the Option key and it will change to "Keep Both Files".

    alawadaa
    12 years ago

    thank you that was a big help :)
    (the Option Key is between command and control Key )

    Marcio
    12 years ago

    Hi there!

    I try to hold down option key but i don't get the MERGE button .... what am i doing wrong?

    My version is 10.7.3 .. cheers!

      12 years ago

      Not sure. Try it with two simple folders as an experiment.

    jon
    11 years ago

    OS X 10.7.5
    I have tried your approach on 1 folder with 4 files that needs to merge with its twin in a folder on the same device one folder layer above with 4 other types of files in it with NO success.

    Some time back I was reconciling music from external devices (about 80G worth) and I ended up with duplicates and a series of child libraries (folders) under the parent (mymusic/mymusic/folders vs mymusic/folders)

    In trying your approach and I've tried the command line functions as well, I NEVER get the merge option, I ALWAYS get the "stop" or "replace" only options.

    I just can't replicate what you've described on my MacBook Pro running OS X. Suggestion?

      11 years ago

      Not sure. Just drag and drop the files then.

    Eric
    11 years ago

    Not working on my 10.7.5 / mac book pro 13' 2011.
    Can't understand why.

    lawton chiles
    11 years ago

    Thank you!!! You are the man. Finally it will let me copy the same file name.

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