OS X File copy

skater

New member
I've recently noticed that when I grab a large number of files to copy (such as from an SD card to my hard drive), OS X is only copying the first 85 files. I'm running Yosemite and have it updated. I searched around the net some, but I haven't found anyone else reporting this problem, which makes me think there's a setting somewhere causing it. Any suggestions on where to look?

I go into the finder, select all files, then drag them to another finder window. The progress dialog pops up and copies 85 files, then it finishes. The odd thing to me is that there's no warning that it didn't copy all of the files I selected, and the only indication of a problem is that it didn't copy more than the 85 files. I can deselect the 85 files that were copied, hit it again, and it'll copy the next 85 without complaint.

If I copy one directory, no problem, even with hundreds of files inside the directory. I assume copying 86 directories would result in getting only 85, but I haven't tried it.

Kind of a weird quirk... of the type that's starting to drive me nuts with OS X. I'm starting to think Mountain Lion was the high point...
 

wornish

Senior Member
Hmm. I am on Yosemite but to be honest never tried to copy this many files.

85 is not binary threshold so don't know what the issue is. I have copied complete disks without issue. As you say it's weird and not typical for Apple I have feeling it's finger trouble. Can you reproduce it?
 

Pretzel

Senior Member
I just import my SD cards directly into LR, and never have that issue. Haven't ever tried just a drag/drop straight to a folder...
 

Fred Kingston_RIP

Senior Member
I create a folder on my desktop and drag files to the new folder all the time, and never notice any kind of a limit... I always Import to LR from a folder, almost never from the SD card... once LR has finished importing and adding the files to an external HD, I just drag the desktop folder to one of my cloud drives...

I've been on Yosemite since its first release...
 

skater

New member
Hmm. I am on Yosemite but to be honest never tried to copy this many files.

85 is not binary threshold so don't know what the issue is. I have copied complete disks without issue. As you say it's weird and not typical for Apple I have feeling it's finger trouble. Can you reproduce it?

Yep, happens every time for the last few weeks. I select all, then click and drag, and it copies just the first 85 files. I even forgot about it after the first time, only to discover it the hard way again. Different memory cards, even different devices (SD card and a USB reader).

It's very strange. I know how to use the command line so just started doing that, but still...

My MacBook is exhibiting a lot of these stupid little quirks, like how the finder doesn't correctly determine that it's a directory with pictures and display the appropriate preview pane, which worked fine in older versions of OS X. Because of other issues I was having (extreme slowness rendering raw files), I reinstalled Yosemite from scratch, and that didn't help either the slowness or these other quirks I've noticed. I used to love this laptop, but these little quirks are adding up to an annoying user experience.
 
Top