# File Locations

**URL:** <https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/file-locations/25994>\
**Category:** Rhino for Mac\
**Created:** [October 23, 2015, 2:16pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/file-locations/25994 "2015-10-23T14:16:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![bigjimslade](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/bigjimslade/32/62775_2.png) [@bigjimslade](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/bigjimslade)\
**Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 2:16pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/file-locations/25994/1 "2015-10-23T14:16:10Z")

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An issue I discovered last night is that it is difficult to tell what file you are working on.

I had copied a directory from my server to my notebook.

Then I found I was not editing the file I thought I was opening. The opening screen only lists the file name. The status bar only lists the file now. However, there is a dropdown that gives the terminal directory name (in my case I had copied a directly tree).

The normal way I ask “what file am I editing” is to do a SAVE AS then CANCEL. Rhino has no Save As.

I raise this as an issue to solve.

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**Author:** ![dan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/dan/32/481637_2.png) [@dan](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/dan)\
**Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 4:00pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/file-locations/25994/2 "2015-10-23T16:00:42Z")

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> [@bigjimslade](#):
>
> The normal way I ask “what file am I editing” is to do a SAVE AS then CANCEL. Rhino has no Save As.

Hold down option when navigating to the File menu. Duplicate will switch to Save As.

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**Author:** ![rhinorudi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/rhinorudi/32/502944_2.png) [@rhinorudi](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/rhinorudi)\
**Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 4:11pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/file-locations/25994/3 "2015-10-23T16:11:02Z")

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You can also do it from the filename at the top of Rhino …

 ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/uploads/default/original/3X/8/b/8bbc3c613336072d90f9bfbcb1f06d494a7ba3cc.png)

It will tell you **WHERE** the document is and as a special bonus, you can also move it to a different location from here.

You don’t have to close a file to duplicate / copy (⌘+Shift+S), rename or move it with OSX.

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**Author:** ![bigjimslade](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/bigjimslade/32/62775_2.png) [@bigjimslade](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/bigjimslade)\
**Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 2:15pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/file-locations/25994/4 "2015-10-27T14:15:29Z")

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Thanks for the OPTION idea.

The problem with the filename dropdown (at my level of knowledge) is that I only see one level of directly; not the path. I usually have a lot of directories with the same name.

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**Author:** ![rhinorudi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/rhinorudi/32/502944_2.png) [@rhinorudi](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/rhinorudi)\
**Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 2:36pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/file-locations/25994/5 "2015-10-27T14:36:38Z")

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> [@bigjimslade](#):
>
> The problem with the filename dropdown (at my level of knowledge) is that I only see one level of directly; not the path.

click Other… at the bottom

> [@bigjimslade](#):
>
> I usually have a lot of directories with the same name.

Bad housekeeping 😄, but I do it sometimes.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![bigjimslade](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/bigjimslade/32/62775_2.png) [@bigjimslade](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/bigjimslade)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 2015, 6:51pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/file-locations/25994/6 "2015-10-28T18:51:04Z")

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Let me ask this because I have screwed this up.

I have a file I am working on. I want to set a benchmark point. I want to save as is, then create a new file with the contents.

What would be the preferred way to do this under the user interface?

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**Author:** ![Helvetosaur](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/helvetosaur/32/635974_2.png) [@Helvetosaur](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/Helvetosaur)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 2015, 7:48pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/file-locations/25994/7 "2015-10-28T19:48:50Z")

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Hit the Alt key and then choose SaveAs from the file menu?

(not sure if Duplicate does the same thing without the Alt key)

–Mitch

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**Author:** ![rhinorudi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/rhinorudi/32/502944_2.png) [@rhinorudi](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/rhinorudi)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 2015, 9:05pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/file-locations/25994/8 "2015-10-28T21:05:39Z")

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Like they say, that depends on your needs.

If you need an extra file then I would duplicate ⌘+Shift+S my open file and name it whatever your convention is.

If I was doing it for me, instead of having umpteen files similar. I would just save a version point by hitting ⌘+S, this saves a point in the file I can go back to with Versions.

I like to keep my working files to one and my finished, cleaned up file and that is it - 2 files and any reference materials in a folder named for that project.

I am actualy clean up a persons rhino computer who just left and he had 6-7 versions of the file in his project folder, some titled 1.3dm, 2.3dm up to 6.3dm sometimes, and at least one untitled.3dm and then a finished file with the item name for a file name. That would drive me nuts, try searching for something using that convention.

> [@Helvetosaur](#):
>
> not sure if Duplicate does the same thing without the Alt key

If you start a new Rhino file, give it a name and save it somewhere. Then the first time you Duplicate either File menu or keyboard ⌘+SHIFT+S it is exactly like Save as. The untitled in file name shows it as a new duplicate /copy of the existing file.

 ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/uploads/default/original/3X/7/b/7b59cf768db4e2e278931cd9e864d9bfb5a93692.png)

If I Save as I get the same thing … albeit with the new Duplicated file name.

 ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/uploads/default/original/3X/5/3/53fea670ee316a09dee0cceebc8a9a3e09c717ad.png)

If you duplicate again, first you get to change the file name …

 ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/uploads/default/original/3X/0/a/0ac4b6881b017542bba53f76c98d4750c9573f85.png)

when you click in the filename you get the mini dropdown, where you also have the opportunity to move the file.

 ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/uploads/default/original/3X/7/a/7ae42478c6cf853a02bb6a7667e3b3d81141b4d3.png)

When you click on the Up-Down arrows to the right in the Move to box, the get the Recently accessed & Favourites Folders dropdown … are you still with me, we are going down the rabbit hole.

 ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/uploads/default/original/3X/9/3/93b807053357e389974765f94bf6b6d35055a89b.png)

If that is not good enough, then you can click the other at the very bottom to access the full fledged Finder Window option.

 ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/uploads/default/original/3X/2/8/28cc741a38e8c741de0fd6bb87d93eaf818a3d43.png)

usually for me the folders i am working in during a job are all in my recent places.

IHTH « Randy