When parts of a file are large, it can take a long time to modify them. This is not necessary! You can make small changes quickly with the right command.
Many operating systems include the ctrl+alt+delete (cld) command in their menus to change parts of files. cld adds a new column to the existing row, making it easier to modify parts of files quickly.
You can also use the ctrl+alt+ delete (cld) command in the Windows File Explorer application. Just click on the down-arrow icon next to the file you want to change and then click on Change Type: New or Add New!
This article will talk about other commands that can be used to re-arrange files so they are contiguous.
Use tr to rearrange file fragments
Using the tr command, you can put together small pieces of files that are stored as fragments in different locations on your drive.
The tr command works by dividing a file into smaller parts and then combining those parts.
For example, let’s say you have a picture file named pictures.jpg that is 562 bytes in size. You could put all of the pictures in this one file (562 bytes) and then combine that with another picture (692 bytes) to get pictures.jpgx. This would create a single, larger picture file that holds all of your pictures.
You might want to organize your pictures using an easy-to-remember name format so you do not have to think about the tr command. Use numbers instead of letters to identify your files, such as pictures.jpg or 05225_12345_1819042_1_.
Create a script using tr
Using the tr command, you can arrange files and files inside a file so they are contiguous. This command is used when you want to put a new file next to an existing one, or a new one next to a group of ones.
The tr command works by moving the cursor left or right until it reaches the appropriate place on the line, and then presses Return or Return followed by Return at the same time. This causes the program to move the text along with the line, putting both new and old files on the same level.
This is useful when creating directories or subdirectories within your drive, as those will be contiguous levels of files.
Use cat to create a single large file
Using the cat command, you can create a large file that is contiguous. The cat command works like a singleminded truck driver who can move parts of a vehicle in just one motion.
The cat command lets you copy whole files or part of a file, called subfolders and files. You can then add and delete files as well as move them around on the drive.
To use the cat command, locate and select the file or folder you want to add or delete material from, then type:
cat filename
You will get an error message if you try to use it with a non-existent file or folder. The last step is to move the material around on the drive so it is contiguous. This means that all of the files are filed next to each other on the hard drive.
Combine small files into one large file
If you’re constantly having files smaller than a hundred bytes long, you should consider converting some of your files to a bulk file format. This can save you considerable time in Windows 10, as well as other operating systems.
File bulk formats are not new, however. They were created so that more than one file can be contained in one large file. This makes it easier to move files or access them with a program with fewer files required.
The most common bulk file format is Microsoft® Excel® worksheets. These can be imported into Microsoft Excel®, and then re-arranged into separate cells and merged into a single worksheet. This way, the data is still contained in the original sheets, but it is made more convenient to manage.
If you find that some of your personal documents are small enough to be contained in only one cell or on only one workbook, then try converting some of your personal documents to an excel workbook or enter a new workbook number 1305 in the number field at top to add new ones.
Use cp to copy files and replace empty space with the copied file
You can use the cp command to copy files or replace the spaces in files with the contents of another file. Both methods can be useful when working with a large file collection.
Using cp, you can copy files or directories that are separated by a space. For example, let’s say you have several organizational units named group1, group2, and group3. You would create a new folder named group1_organization_units and place all of these groups in this new folder.
You can then use cp to move a file or two to make them contiguous within this new folder. If you have other organizational units attached to this group1 unit, you can repeat this process for those units as well.
Using the cp command, you can also replace empty space with the contents of another file.
Use mv to move files and replace empty space with the moved file
If you’re running out of space on your drive, you can use the disk mv command to re-arrange files and parts of files on the drive.
With the disk mv command, you can move large files with subfolders intact, or replace empty space with the moved file.
This is a great way to reorganize your files when space is a premium feature. It works by looking at the file’s attributes such as size, type, and path and using that information to determine where to place the new file.
To use the disk mv command, simply type disk mv followed by an existing file or part of a file you want to replace an entire folder with and give it a name. You can also attach a Descriptive Name (DNS) to identify each piece of data.
Run diskutil repair disk to repair your disk
If you don’t want to run diskutil repair disk, then can you remap the drive locations so that parts of the files are placed on the same disk? This would allow you to rearrange parts of the files in your documents and downloads.
You can do this by running diskutil move [drive] NewLocation | [new location]. For example, if your new file location is Documents and Downloads, you would type diskutil move d: Documents and d: Downloads.
This would also allow you to use more than one operating system on your computer at the same time. For example, you could have your Windows PC with Windows 10 on it, followed by your Mac with macOS High Sierra on it.
If you wanted to switch between them, just reformat and re-install each OS.
Run Apple Diagnostics > Disk Utility > First Aid > Repair Disk
If your drive is showing signs of poor quality or failure, Run Apple Diagnostics > Disk Utility > First Aid > Repair Disk. This will unlock the drive for you and allow you to replace any damaged or missing parts.
Using the included tool, repair broken data and create new hard drives for your Mac.
