sodapop Loc: Bel Air, MD

This probably has been covered before but I can't find. I am very afraid of managing files as I have screwed up badly in the past. That is why I am asking this question which is probably painfully obvious to all.
I want to send a copy of my current photos from one external drive to another external drive. I don't want to move them, just send a copy. Does the send to command send a copy or move the files? I have Lightroom CC and Win 8.1. on a PC.
Pretty sure of the answer but reassure me and don't laugh to loud er.. laugh all you want.
Many thanks

soda

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Copy to.
If you "Cut" then the file is removed from where it originally was.

sodapop Loc: Bel Air, MD

There is send to and copy. (and then Paste) but no copy to. Is copy and paste the only way to make a copy to another drive? And send to moves the files?

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

"Send to" is a shortcut so you dont have to click COPY and then find your way to the other drive and click paste.

Kuzano

SEND TO is ALWAYS a copy..... unless you hold down the shift key as you are using SEND TO until after you drop it (drag and drop)

Without any constrain key functions, presume it is always a copy.

The constrain key that always forces a copy is to hold control while releasing.

But the simplest answer to your question is that unassisted SEND TO will always copy.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Just hover your mouse over the Send to command and a pop-up window will appear with a selection of locations to send the files to. You can easily select one file or a whole range of files to send at once to the same location.

jim quist Loc: Missouri

Copy and paste will do this. and you will still have your originals where you found them.

You can also copy the folder, which will copy all of the image in the folder, and then paste it where you want it.

When you export your pictures from Lightroom you can save them in two separate locations if you want to.

blackest Loc: Ireland

Send to is very bad terminology, it implies starting in one place and ending in another. It would be much clearer to use "copy to" or "move to" as actions. Thankfully it seems to be a windows only term.

You can create a service in OSX to provide similar functionality
http://www.cnet.com/uk/how-to/add-a-windows-send-to-file-handling-option-to-os-x/

but you will note that the custom service is called "move to" ...
much clearer. Handy too especially for cleaning up the downloads folder.

hitdog Loc: Pennsylvania

send to moves the file ,copy to copies the file

sodapop Loc: Bel Air, MD

Well what is it? Some say "send to" sends a copy now you no, it moves. There is no "copy to" command on my PC. I tend to think that send to sends a copy similar to export in LR. Just when I think I got it right or did I..

Gitchigumi Loc: Wake Forest, NC

You could experiment with those commands using a dummy file. When you are satisfied with your understanding of the commands and the resulting actions, apply them to the files you want to copy or move.

sodapop Loc: Bel Air, MD

I could, just thought it was such a simple question that it would be quickly answered, which it was but with some varying answers. I would have thought that there were plenty of people versed in the management of PC files with a ready answer. Now confusion and testing to see what would work. If they were more accessible I would give Microsoft a call

Bert524 Loc: Pennsylvania

I just experimented with the "send to" command using Windows 7. It definitely COPIED the file. I tested "sending" the file to the same drive and then used the "send to" to "send" the file to a different drive (this used to make a difference as to what would happen when "copying" files).

Windows 7 - definitely COPIES the file. I would also suggest trying a test with a file or two. Note what happens. That would be the best way for you to know exactly what is happening on your computer.

sodapop Loc: Bel Air, MD

Thank you Bert, will do so and am sure that is the case. Just wanted to hear it from someone knowledgeable before I inadvertently moved thousands of files. Like checking the parachute that you were sure of one more time from another's viewpoint. Send to to me means leaving one place and arriving to another..like sending a package. Misleading in the case of windows 8.

Thanks to all for your responses

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

Hi soda,

It is not necessary to apologize or feel embarrassed when you seek knowledge. It is how most of us learn. I appreciate your honesty.

As others have previously mentioned, "send to" is a copying technique. It will not "move" the files from one source to another.

I'm sensing you are not completely comfortable with some Win 8.1 operations, so I've been very specific about how to accomplish the transferring of files from one external to another. I hope I'm not providing more detail than necessary.

Here are two ways to accomplish copying from one folder/drive, ... to another.
1) Highlight the folder(s) you want to copy. Multiple files or folders can be highlighted by holding the ctrl key down and mouse clicking each of the files (or folders) you wish to copy. Providing the files or folders are a consecutive series, you can highlight all of them by ctrl/click on the first and ctrl/shift on the last of the series). After highlighting, right click anyone that is highlighted and select "copy". Now go to the receiving external, if necessary highlight the folder, ... and right click on it and select, "paste".

2) Open both externals. Click on the folder, ... you want to copy and drag it to the other external (folder, ...) Dragging is accomplished by sliding the mouse until the pointer is at the location of the receiving external.

Hope you succeed. Feel free to private message me for more info.
Good luck,
Mark