GJ FILE MANAGER · FIELD NOTES
A Preflight Checklist for External Drive Deliveries on Mac
Before copying a small project to an external drive, verify the drive, handle same-name conflicts, and build a checked delivery folder so originals stay safe.
Check the drive before you copy
Connect the external drive and inspect its name, format and writable status in GJ File Manager’s external-device area. A drive can be readable but not writable; its filesystem, mount state and permissions matter as much as the file manager. NTFS writing depends on system support and configuration, so not every attached NTFS disk is automatically writable. Open a small destination folder to confirm access. Then copy a sample file, wait for completion and open the destination copy. If that test fails, stop before touching the real project.
Build a delivery folder first
Create a clearly named Delivery folder and open it in its own tab. Keep your working area separate. From sources, copy only the files on your delivery list—for example, Final_Report.pdf, Hero_Image.png and Client_Brief.docx. GJ File Manager is not an automatic delivery package builder; a file group just organizes access. Copy the actual files into the delivery folder, then inspect the resulting collection. Equal file counts do not establish equal content.
Handle same-name conflicts deliberately
If Client_Brief.docx already exists, you may see Replace, Keep Both or Stop. Read the source and destination paths. Choose Keep Both when you need both versions; choose Stop if you cannot assess the batch. Keep Both preserves separate files with distinct names; it does not merge edits inside them. A newer modification date does not prove correctness. Apply a choice to all conflicts only when the same rule genuinely fits them.
Inspect the checked copy
Open each item in the Delivery folder and verify name, content, version and whether it opens. Compare directly with the originals in your working area; leave those originals untouched. If an archive is needed, compress this checked folder, inspect the package and retain a copy of the delivery. A comparison cannot decide client requirements, confidentiality or final approval for you.
Copy to the external drive and eject safely
Copy the checked Delivery folder to the external drive and watch visible progress. If a copy fails, first confirm the task has stopped and check the destination. Do not treat a partial file as a backup. Eject through the system after all tasks finish, then disconnect. Can you unplug after a failed copy? Safely eject rather than pulling the drive.
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Written by the GJ File Manager team. Mac workflows; controls may differ on iPad.
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