How does one copy a bunch of folders and files across to another folder with the same folders in it, but which had different files, without overwriting the contents of the directory? On Windows I'd just drag it all across and only if there were identical files would it complain, but OS X either wants to overwrite the directory, or just do nothing

You can't though, can you? If the Folders have ... exactly the same names... they'll replace the current ones. Yes? No? An object can not inherit the position of another identical object, whilst the original object is there...

The only way it would work - as far as I know - is if you were using a good backup app and backing up to some other drive, where the app is looking for identical names and identical file content, and re-writing only that which has changed since the last backup.

This is a longstanding difference between Mac and Windows. The Mac way is more intuitive, even if it's sometimes less convenient.

The folder names are the same, but it's content is different
I want the folders to be merged with the content from both folders co-existing in the new single folder, not the new stuff overwriting the old stuff.

You could... always... open each Folder and transfer the new files to the contents of those Folders - however - I do not think this is the answer you want to hear...

use transmit, i think that offers a merge option?

Is this for backup purposes or reorganising your files ? If it's for backup and you have lots of files ,I am sure something in Automator or Retrospect could be done. If it is only a couple of folders just manually call the folders by different names and put them inside another folder much as what CW is alluding to.
It just means you would have to dig down another layer to find it though.
Stewie

I just fired up Parallels and did it in Windows - easy. But I shouldn't have to!

With cp -R

[c-71-204-186-30:~/desktop] macdave% cp -R test ~/Desktop/parent
[c-71-204-186-30:~/desktop] macdave% cp -R test ~/Desktop/parent

The contents of test were different in each command. The end result is one folder called "test" wtihin the folder Parent that contains all files from both test folders without overwriting.

Dave

lmao, the trash can do it.

ever seen something like:

random folder
random folder 10-32-42


in your trash??

Open the folder, select-all (command-a) and drag the files into the new folder. It will prompt you about existing files.

I don't know if it's that much more intuitive, but I would've thought it would be easy enough to have a dialog come up that says:

"Do you want to merge the two directories with name "xxxyyy", or do you want to replace the original with the one you are dragging?"

Merge - Replace - Cancel



Now that wouldn't be that hard, would it? Would it?

What about nested sub-directories?

I agree, this no-merge action of Finder is just another reason why Finder is so bad -- if I have to do file management on my Mac, I'll do it from the PC (aye, because I like the Explorer method of navigation, and bee, because it can do smart merging of nested directories and only nag me if it strikes an identical file-name in the same path).

Back in the System 7 days, there was an expension called SpeedyFinder (written by an Australian) that gave Finder the ability to merge, as well as creating a copy/move queue ... but then it got bought by Alladin (the Stuffit people), and in the rewrite, the merge function was removed. Since then, I have awaited a replacement but I've been waiting a loooooooong time with nothing appearing.

Merge had better be in 10.5


B.