Moving vs. Copying
That works fine when you want to duplicate a file in the same folder as the original, but what if you want to copy the file to another folder on the same drive? If you select the file or folder and drag it to another location on the same drive, the item is moved, not copied. When you need a copy in another location, make use of the Finder’s copy and paste capabilities.
Use Copy and Paste to Duplicate a File or Folder
As is the case with most things involving the Mac, there’s more than one way to duplicate a file or folder. You can use the familiar copy and paste process to create a duplicate.
Use a Version Number When Duplicating a File
You can also force the Finder to append a version number instead of the word Copy to a file or folder. There are various ways to append a version number to a file you duplicate. Many applications, such as word processors and image manipulation programs, can be set up to do that automatically. There are also a number of third-party utility apps for the Mac that can add and manage file versions, but you can use the Finder to append a version number to a duplicate.
Duplicate a File and Append a Version Number in Finder
Working directly in the Finder may cause you to pause and wonder how a version number can be added, short of duplicating a file and then manually renaming it. Fortunately, there’s an option in the Finder that performs this task. Try this simple tip to duplicate a file and append a version number all in one step. The Finder keeps track of the next version number for each file or folder. The Finder also decrements the next version number should you delete or rename a versioned file.
