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TMO Quick Tip - Finder: Copying File Name Lists

by , 7:30 AM EDT, August 25th, 2008

Copying a list of file names from a folder in Mac OS X should be easy, and it is -- but it isn't obvious how to paste that list of names in Apple's own TextEdit application.

To copy a list of file names for use in TextEdit, do this:

  • Select the files you want to include in your list.

  • Select the files to include in your list.
  • Choose Edit > Copy to copy the highlighted items.
  • Open TextEdit. It's hiding in your Applications folder.
  • Choose Edit > Paste and Match Style.

  • Paste your list in TextEdit.

That's it. TextEdit builds a plain text list of all of the file names from the items you selected. Now you can use the list in TextEdit, or copy it and use it in a different application.


File name lists, TextEdit style.

Other applications, like TextWrangler and BBEdit, from Bare Bones Software will create a text list of file names with the standard Paste command (Command-V or Edit > Paste), which seems to be a little more straight forward. TextEdit, however, will create a list of application and file icons when you use the standard Paste command.


Jeff Gamet is TMO's Morning Editor and Reviews Editor. He lectures, teaches and speaks on Mac OS X and design-related topics, and is the author of The Designer's Guide to Mac OS X from Peachpit Press.

if you have tips or tricks to share, or Mac-related questions you want answered.

Jeff Gamet is TMO's Managing Editor and Reviews Editor. He lectures, teaches and speaks on Mac OS X and design-related topics, and is the author of The Designer's Guide to Mac OS X from Peachpit Press.

Observer Comments

Show: Subjects Only | Full Comments
Close Name:Guest
Subject: Hate to be picky . . .

but wouldn't it be a good idea to actually COPY what you've selected?

diabolus est in retineo

Close Name:Jeff Gamet -   TMO Staff Posts: 102 Joined: 15 Mar 2006
Subject: Re: Hate to be picky . . .

Quote
Anonymous wrote:
but wouldn't it be a good idea to actually COPY what you've selected?


Yes, the copy step is kind of important, and thanks for catching my missing line.

Jeff

Close Name:Guest
Subject: Copy command

There is no File > Copy command in my Finder. There is Edit > Copy n Items which is what I used to get the file names that I then pasted into a TextEdit document.[/i]

Close Name:Guest
Subject: Nice

I had always opened a terminal window and done ls > list.txt

This is much better.

Close Name:iJack Posts: 313 Joined: 13 Jun 2001
Subject: The Order

I tried this in both Text Edit and in my favorite text editor, Bean, and found the following. If you drag-select the list of files from the top-down, it will Paste & Match Style from the top down. If however, you drag the cursor from the bottom to the top, it will Paste & Match Style the files in that reverse order. Further, if you Command-click a selection in a specific order from the list (say, 1st, 2nd, 10th, then 6th), it will paste in the exact order you clicked in the Finder.

Oh, and using just Paste (Command-V) produces copies of the folder icons only - no text at all.

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