Using Clipboard to Perform File and Directory Operations

You can use the Copy, Cut, and Paste commands on the Edit menu to copy or move selected files and directories to any directory. The copied or cut items remain on the clipboard until you cut or copy something else to the clipboard (which overwrites the current clipboard contents). Cut items are removed from the clipboard when you paste them, because the files and directories are moved. Files and directories are not stored in the clipboard directly; only references to them are stored.

Packing to and unpacking from archives, as well as copying and moving between disk and a plugin file system by using the Cut, Copy, and Paste commands, are also supported.

You can use the Copy, Cut, and Paste commands in different applications. For example, you can copy files to the clipboard in Windows Explorer and paste them into an archive opened in an Sally panel (and vice versa).

Once you have copied items to the clipboard, you will see no change because the Paste operation does not affect the selected files and directories. When you use the Cut command, the icons of the selected items become ghosted. The move is delayed until you invoke the Paste command. If you use a different Copy or Cut command instead of the Paste command, the ghosted items return to their normal state.

To copy files and directories

1. Select the files and directories you want to copy.
2. Choose the Copy command from the Edit menu.
3. Open the directory where you want to place the copy.
4. Choose the Paste command from the Edit menu.

To move files and directories

1. Select the files and directories you want to move.
2. Choose the Cut command from the Edit menu.
3. Open the directory where you want to place the selected items.
4. Choose the Paste command from the Edit menu.

To duplicate files and directories

1. Select the files and directories you want to duplicate.
2. Choose the Copy command from the Edit menu.
3. Choose the Paste command from the Edit menu.

To create shortcuts to files and directories

1. Select the files and directories you want to create shortcuts to.
2. Choose the Copy command from the Edit menu.
3. Open the directory where you want to put the shortcuts.
4. Choose the Paste Shortcut command from the Edit menu.

Location

Copy to the Clipboard:

Cut to the Clipboard:

Paste from the Clipboard:

Paste Shortcut from the Clipboard:

See Also

Copying File or Directory Name to Clipboard