ResearchDrive - Transferring Data with an Apple Computer

This document explains how to transfer data to ResearchDrive with an Apple computer.

There are several methods to transfer data from an Apple computer:

  1. Transferring data with Finder
  2. Transferring data from the Terminal
  3. Transferring data with rsync
  4. Comparing files or folders with diff

Transferring data with Finder

Note: replace references to [source path] and [destination path] with the folder locations you want to use such as /home or /mnt/researchdrive/myfolder

  1. Connect to ResearchDrive from the Apple Computer
  2. Open a Finder window (the blue smiling face icon in the Dock)

    finder icon

  3. Navigate to the source directory that you want to transfer data from.
  4. Open a second Finder window and navigate to the destination directory that you want to transfer data to.
  5. Select the files and/or folders you want to transfer in the source Finder window.
  6. Drag and drop the selected files and/or folders to copy them to the destination folder or use ⌘C to copy and ⌘V to paste the files and/or folders.
    • To move the files rather than copy them, use ⌘C to copy and ⌘+Option+V.
  7. Refer to See and organize your files in the Finder on Mac for more details.

Transferring data from the Terminal

Note: replace references to [source path] and [destination path] with the folder locations you want to use such as /home or /mnt/researchdrive/myfolder

  1. Connect to ResearchDrive from the Apple Computer
  2. Open Terminal (in Applications -> Utilities)
  3. Navigate to the source directory that you want to transfer data from.
  4. To copy data, use the command syntax:
    cp [source path] [destination path]

    Refer to SS64 - cp for additional details.

  5. To move data, use the command syntax:
    mv [source path] [destination path]

    Refer to SS64 - mv for additional details.

Transferring data with rsync

  1. Connect to ResearchDrive from the Apple Computer
  2. Open Terminal (in Applications -> Utilities)
  3. Navigate to the source directory that you want to transfer data from.
  4. To copy data, use the command syntax:
    rsync [options] [source path] [destination path]

    Refer to SS64 - rsync for additional details.

Comparing files or folders with diff

Note: replace references to [source path] and [destination path] with the folder locations you want to use such as /home or /mnt/researchdrive/myfolder

  1. Connect to ResearchDrive from the Apple Computer
  2. Open Terminal (in Applications -> Utilities)
  3. Navigate to the source directory that you want to compare.
  4. To compare files or folders, use the command syntax:
    diff [options] [source path] [destination path]

    Refer to SS64 - diff for additional details.



Keywords:
research drive storage file folder transfer move copy transfer connect mount terminal finder mac os osx mount 
Doc ID:
96641
Owned by:
Casey S. in UW-Madison Research Data
Created:
2019-12-14
Updated:
2023-10-16
Sites:
UW-Madison Research Data