[SOLVED] file cutting, are they physically moved ?

[bobbee25]

Curiosity question.

What actually happens when you cut a file and paste it somewhere else.

I have a main directory, under which are numerous sub directories.
If I go to the sub-directory and cut all the files, then paste them in one of the other sub directories, the move is almost instantaneous.

So internally what is happening ? It doesn't appear that the files are actually being moved, is it just the pointers to each file ???

 

[USAFRet]

If on the same drive or partition, there is no "moving".
The file allocation tables gets rewritten to point to the new "location". The 'pointers'.

 

[bobbee25]

Thanks.
I would like to:
Have over 2,000 files and 91 folders of video files.
Each folder has 2 -25 files.
If I cut the files in these folders and put them in the top directory.
Would I be asking for trouble ?

 

[USAFRet]

Thanks.
I would like to:
Have over 2,000 files and 91 folders of video files.
Each folder has 2 -25 files.
If I cut the files in these folders and put them in the top directory.
Would I be asking for trouble ?

Yes.
Unless it is only a very very few files, Copy/Paste, not Cut/Paste.

After the copy, THEN you go and manually delete the originals.


Why?
The Cut or Copy is not linear. If the process dies partway through, you can't know what has been transferred. Some files in some subfolders, others not, etc.
If you do a Copy/Paste, you can just start over.

 

[bobbee25]

Good point
Thanks

 

[TerryLaze]

The Cut or Copy is not linear. If the process dies partway through, you can't know what has been transferred. Some files in some subfolders, others not, etc.
If you do a Copy/Paste, you can just start over.

When you cut and this happens then the moved files are already moved so you know very well what has moved, this problem you only have with copy.
And since the move is only changing the pointer there is no possibility of a copy breaking during the process and only copying part of the file...something you would only find out if you would do an active check on the file.

 

[USAFRet]

When you cut and this happens then the moved files are already moved so you know very well what has moved, this problem you only have with copy.
And since the move is only changing the pointer there is no possibility of a copy breaking during the process and only copying part of the file...something you would only find out if you would do an active check on the file.

Yes but....
With multiple foldes/subfolders....discovering what went and what did not is a pain.

Subfolder 2 levels down has 10 files in it.
Only 3 of them actually got "moved".

You have to deep dive through the whole tree to discover what moved.

Within the same drive, it is only the pointers that get changed.
Cut/Paste to a different drive is a copy and autodelete.

I just find it good practice to do it the same way al the time, no matter what drive(s) I'm working with.

 

[The_Prophecy]

Yes but....
With multiple foldes/subfolders....discovering what went and what did not is a pain.

Subfolder 2 levels down has 10 files in it.
Only 3 of them actually got "moved".

You have to deep dive through the whole tree to discover what moved.

Within the same drive, it is only the pointers that get changed.
Cut/Paste to a different drive is a copy and autodelete.

I just find it good practice to do it the same way al the time, no matter what drive(s) I'm working with.

Completely agree here. I've lost count of the number of times I used to cut/paste when a copy/paste would have been the better option. Started saving myself a TON of headaches. Also saves your bacon when working on client machines if you're doing this for someone else.