# Move Files in Mac Version
**URL:** https://community.mp3tag.de/t/move-files-in-mac-version/61076
**Category:** Mac
**Created:** [May 26, 2023, 3:56pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/move-files-in-mac-version/61076 "2023-05-26T15:56:47Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@djquartz](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/djquartz)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2023, 3:56pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/move-files-in-mac-version/61076/1 "2023-05-26T15:56:47Z")
Is it possible to move files to another folder like you can in the Windows version?
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2023, 3:59pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/move-files-in-mac-version/61076/2 "2023-05-26T15:59:35Z")
Did you check out the documentation on how to treat files?
> [@Rename Files and Import Tags from Files](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/rename-files-and-import-tags-from-files/51720#create-folder-structures-based-on-tags-3):
>
> Mp3tag provides a variety of possibilities to get tag information from parts of the filename or to rename files based on the information stored in the tag of a file. The base concept behind all converters in Mp3tag is the format string, which describes a pattern or template of a filename. A format string consists of any characters and predefined placeholders or scripting functions. Every placeholder begins with the percent sign %, followed by a tag field name and ends with the percent sign. …
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### Author:  [@djquartz](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/djquartz)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2023, 4:02pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/move-files-in-mac-version/61076/3 "2023-05-26T16:02:53Z")
I'm not looking to change the filename or tag info based on the imported data.
I want to physically relocate files to other folders like you can in the Windows version using the move function that's built-it.
It's missing from the Mac version it seems.
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [May 26, 2023, 4:51pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/move-files-in-mac-version/61076/4 "2023-05-26T16:51:16Z")
I would think that a moved file is characterized by its new name.
So if you rename the file so that its partial or full filename reflects the new target location, then it has been moved.
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### Author:  [@djquartz](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/djquartz)
#### Post date: [May 27, 2023, 6:21am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/move-files-in-mac-version/61076/5 "2023-05-27T06:21:07Z")
I had a chat with Florian about this and that won't work for me and I wouldn't even chance trying to script it right now.
I can set the filenames, tags and move the files from the Windows system when I'm back at my office.
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### Author:  [@djquartz](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/djquartz)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2023, 8:19pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/move-files-in-mac-version/61076/6 "2023-06-02T20:19:14Z")
Does the scripting functions under Action have the ability to pop up a window?
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2023, 8:26pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/move-files-in-mac-version/61076/7 "2023-06-02T20:26:52Z")
Actions are batch jobs that run without user interaction from start to finish.
Also, see the documentation:
> [@Quick Actions and Action Groups](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/quick-actions-and-action-groups/51882):
>
> Mp3tag for Mac provides a variety of Actions, which can be used on filenames and tags. The actions can be applied individually via Actions → Quick Actions ⌥⌘ 6 or be grouped into named and reusable Action Groups via Actions → Actions ⌘ 6. Action Groups serve as repeatable workflows in Mp3tag for Mac. When using Quick Actions you can select one of the different available action types from the list. This action will be applied to the selected files and the changes are saved immediately. Tip 1…
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### Author:  [@djquartz](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/djquartz)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2023, 9:25pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/move-files-in-mac-version/61076/8 "2023-06-02T21:25:21Z")
Thanks, I did go over the documentation as I started to work with the function.
I was going to build some actions to move tracks but I working out the plan it's going to require too many of them to be fully useful.
It might still experiment with the rename function to move tracks.
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### Author:  [@djquartz](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/djquartz)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2023, 10:05pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/move-files-in-mac-version/61076/9 "2023-06-02T22:05:23Z")
The solution I have in mind is to find an app where I can view files in a split screen that will let me view the genre column.
Then I can sort by genre, drag and move files via the app and close it when I'm all done cleaning up the tags.
If I can call a program from the action function, then I'll just launch said app, close it when done and voila.
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### Author:  [@djquartz](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/djquartz)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2023, 10:43pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/move-files-in-mac-version/61076/10 "2023-06-02T22:43:35Z")
Going to work with an app called fman, just a basic two panel file manager is all I needed.
> **[Dual-pane file manager for Mac, Windows and Linux - fman](https://fman.io/)**
>
> fman is a dual-pane file manager for Mac, Windows and Linux.
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### Author:  [@djquartz](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/djquartz)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2023, 12:34am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/move-files-in-mac-version/61076/11 "2023-06-03T00:34:18Z")
This is the concept....
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2023, 5:17am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/move-files-in-mac-version/61076/12 "2023-06-03T05:17:19Z")
> [@djquartz](#):
>
> Then I can sort by genre, drag and move files via the app
You can already sort files by genre in MP3tag.
You can set a new genre in MP3tag.
You can then rename the file to be moved to a specified folder (structure).
I do not see any difficulties to set a genre and then use the contents from the field genre to rename the file.
Could you show us a single action out of the possible row of which
> [@djquartz](#):
>
> it's going to require too many of them
how you wanted to use genre to get the files into a genre based folder structure?
You do not say a lot of what you tried and what you want to achieve. So any ideas on my side are just poking in the mirk.
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### Author:  [@djquartz](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/djquartz)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2023, 12:03pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/move-files-in-mac-version/61076/13 "2023-06-03T12:03:19Z")
Hello Ohrenkino
I am aware the app can sort by genre, that's not the problem. The actual problem is I have many genres of music I work with and I have a folder structure based on genre for use with Serato DJ and the tool I use to update my database in Serato DJ.
Hence the fMan app solution. It works beautifully because I have my tree view and drag and drop capabilities between both folder views.
Once I get the answer to display the genre column inside fMan, the problem is solved.
Like I was saying previous, for me to accomplish this same task I would have to create multiple actions for each folder which isn't efficient.
This is why I like the move function in the Windows version so much. It's super fast.
Using fMan emulates the same functionality only via drag 'n drop.
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2023, 1:10pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/move-files-in-mac-version/61076/14 "2023-06-03T13:10:35Z")
If you say so.
As you do not give any concrete details about the workflow, it is difficult for anyone who cannot look over your shoulder to find a way that does not require the external programs that you found.
Doesn't your DJ program sort by genre internally and the folder structure does not really matter?
Good that you have found a way to do it.
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### Author:  [@djquartz](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/djquartz)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2023, 1:50pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/move-files-in-mac-version/61076/15 "2023-06-03T13:50:07Z")
I'll break it down....
Think of the DJ application as record crates, so that not part of this process, it's just the end result.
These are the steps.
1. Download all music to a folder called 'Singles' on the Macbook Pro. This can be over the local network or directly on the Macbook when I'm away from the studio.
2. When I'm in the studio I used everything over the network via RDP into my Studio PC. This is where I make use of the Windows version of mp3tag. Since Mp3Tag for Windows has the move function, nothing more is needed here. Between using my custom action functions and the move function, I can cleanup the filenames and tags then move track to their respective folders based on Genre.
Note: The windows version also has the recursive folder option which allows me to isolate the Singles folder so I don't see any other files in any other folders. This is also a great feature.
That concludes the network / Windows functionality and works awesome. No problems here.
Now on the MacOS side....
1. The lack of the recursive folder option posed a problem because it was displaying files from other folders within the singles folder which I did not want. This has been fixed by the filter code sorted out in the other thread. This is solved and now I can see files that are only in the singles root folder. Perfect!
2. I made custom actions so I can quickly correct filenames and tag info. So I was able to emulate the Find/Replace function from Dr. Tag via this method. This helped me switch over quickly to mp3tag.
3. When working on my Studio PC via RDP, I select all the new tracks from mp3tag in the file list over to Serato DJ and Mixed in Key for analysis and processing. I'm also going to be replicating this process on my Macbook for when I'm away from the studio. When I'm in the studio it works very well because I can work across multiple monitors and makes the process very fast since I have all the applications open on different screens.
4. Florian advised you can hit spacebar to listen to tracks. This works very well and allows me to quickly add the genre info to new tracks I download if I'm working on my Macbook. On the windows side I use F4 to listen to tracks in the new Media Player (Win10) because it's light and very fast.
5. Then I sort the file list by genre and use the move function to quickly move files to their respective folders. This is only possible on the Windows version currently. This step is important because it emulates the drag and drop functionality of Dr. Tag that I have been using for the last 20yrs.
However, not possible on MacOS so I started researching a solution yesterday which lead me to the fMan app. With fMan I can emulate the move function in the windows version and drag 'n drop function of Dr. Tag.
The last piece is to add the Genre column to fMan so I can sort by Genre and perform step 5 when I'm on the Macbook away from the studio. Also, being able to use scripting to call fMan from mp3tag via a custom action.
This is the overall workflow to give you an idea of what it I was trying to do.
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2023, 2:09pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/move-files-in-mac-version/61076/16 "2023-06-03T14:09:02Z")
> [@djquartz](#):
>
> Then I sort the file list by genre and use the move function to quickly move files to their respective folders.
If you have filled the field GENRE, the file name has been set in step 2, then I wonder if an action of the type "Format tag value" for \_FILENAME with a format string like
`music/%genre%/%_filename%`
(in which you replace "music" with the string that leads to the root folder of which all the genre folders are the sub folders).
This moves the current file to that location of a genre folder.
Isn't this what you would have done with the Windows version and "move":
select the files of the same genre (as they are sorted by genre),
Navigate to the "Move" function
Select the target folder
Start the "Move".
I still have not grasped why the "move" function - which has been disputed for the windows version to be ignorant of the source folder structure:
> [@Feature request: Copy Directory Structure](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/feature-request-copy-directory-structure/60873):
>
> Current Functionality Currently, when a user right-clicks a selection in the file list and uses the "Copy..." function, all selected files are copied to one destination folder. Desired Functionality A very useful feature would be "Copy Directory Structure...", which copies all selected files and duplicates their existing directory structure. (Ex: Selected songs currently in folders "Artist A", "Artist B", and "Band C" are copied to the destination directory inside same-named folders.) Ratio…
But in your case, I take it, all the files are already in one folder and need to be distributed to several folders.
For this task, the function to rename the filename with a path component is the fastest way.
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### Author:  [@djquartz](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/djquartz)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2023, 2:49pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/move-files-in-mac-version/61076/17 "2023-06-03T14:49:24Z")
> [@ohrenkino](#):
>
> But in your case, I take it, all the files are already in one folder and need to be distributed to several folders.
> For this task, the function to rename the filename with a path component is the fastest way.
Exactly, Singles is the repository folder for everything and then they are moved.
I use a tool called Alchemie Zinc to synchronize the folders to the Serato DJ db which updates the crates with the new files automatically.
My crates in Serato DJ mirror the folder structure which makes this possible.
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2023, 3:03pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/move-files-in-mac-version/61076/18 "2023-06-03T15:03:40Z")
> [@djquartz](#):
>
> Exactly, Singles is the repository folder for everything and then they are moved.
And? Have you tried to move them with an action of the type "Format tag field" for \_FILENAME or Converter\>Tag-Filename and a format string like:
> [@ohrenkino](#):
>
> `music/%genre%/%_filename%`
> (in which you replace "music" with the string that leads to the root folder of which all the genre folders are the sub folders).
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### Author:  [@djquartz](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/djquartz)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2023, 3:25pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/move-files-in-mac-version/61076/19 "2023-06-03T15:25:17Z")
I haven't tried because the problem isn't that it wouldn't work. The problem lies in having to create an action for each genre.
However, yes I could group them together which could automate the process, so I understand where you're going with it.
I might still investigate this method. However, the reason I like a bit of manual control is because I'm meticulous with my music library.
Things need to go where they should and it has to be fast but also, there is a lot of genres and sub-folders in some due to categorization by year for instance.
So it's much faster for me to work from the root folder, sort by genre and move the blocks of tracks to their respective folders.
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### Author:  [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)
#### Post date: [June 3, 2023, 3:33pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/move-files-in-mac-version/61076/20 "2023-06-03T15:33:54Z")
> [@djquartz](#):
>
> having to create an action for each genre.
If you have set the data correct in the field GENRE then you can use that contents to create a folder with the same name.
> [@djquartz](#):
>
> I like a bit of manual control is because I'm meticulous with my music library.
I understand that perfectly - but especially in that case I would apply a folder structure that can be automated and maintained with the tag data.
Can't you take a couple of test files and rename them with a format string as suggested?
That should show you how easy it would be - and that you would not need to create an action for each GENRE as that data is taken from the tag field.
If you feel uncertain about the syntax, then please supply a full target path for a source file plus what is stored in GENRE.
[Next page](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/move-files-in-mac-version/61076.md?page=2)