GJ FILE MANAGER · FIELD NOTES
Safely Merge Two Contributors' Review Folders on Mac
When two people supply files for the same review folder, combining them with Finder alone can overwrite a newer version or create duplicates with no clear origin. This workflow uses GJ File Manager's compare, file group, and same-name conflict tools to build a single reviewable folder while keeping the original sources intact.
The review folder problem: two sources, one destination
A client and a colleague both send material for the same review folder. Each source may contain files the other lacks, and some files may share a name without sharing the same work. A folder hierarchy in Finder simply shows what is on disk; it does not tell you which incoming items are missing, different, or identical. Names such as final and final-revised do not explain what changed, and overwriting first can lose newer work on the other side. The goal is not to merge blindly, but to build a destination that a reviewer can inspect item by item.
First compare, do not copy over
Start with GJ File Manager's compare for files and folders. Select the two sample text files, then use the configured Compare shortcut (default ⌥⌘D). Inspect missing, different and matching items, checking both paths. For supported text files, inspect the text differences. This is a read-only inspection step: viewing differences and executing synchronization are separate steps, and comparison does not automatically overwrite files. If synchronization is later needed, back up first and confirm its direction and mode, because mirroring can remove destination-only content; not every sync mode simply adds missing files.
Resolve same-name conflicts without guessing
When copying from either source into the review folder, GJ File Manager offers Replace, Keep Both and Stop if a copy conflicts. Read the source and destination paths in the conflict prompt. Choose Keep Both when both versions may matter; choose Stop if you cannot assess the batch. Keep Both preserves separate files with distinct names; it does not interpret or merge edits inside them. A newer modification date does not prove correctness, and replacement is not an unconditional backup. After completion, locate the original and the newly named copy and preview each before deciding which file belongs in the delivery. Apply a choice to all conflicts only when the same rule genuinely fits them.
Use a file group as the review point of access
Related documents and images may need to stay in different folders, and copying them merely for convenient access creates version confusion. GJ File Manager's file groups organize related items around a task; they are an access aid, not an independent backup. Select related files or folders and open the group action, create a clearly named group such as Project review, add relevant items from other locations, and inspect the group. When you need a delivery copy, copy it separately and verify it. Remember that changed paths, offline disks or lost authorization can affect access; a group does not turn files into cloud copies.
Keep the originals safe and hand off a reviewable folder
The review folder should be assembled from compared items, not from an overwrite of the sources. Keep both source folders untouched. Use the group to see scattered project material in one place, use conflict choices to preserve uncertain versions, and use comparison to understand what actually differs. A folder is a disk hierarchy; a group organizes access around a task, and both can be used together. Before delivery, preview the final items in the review folder, confirm that no original was replaced, and copy any needed delivery set separately.
Related product guides
Written by the GJ File Manager team. Mac workflows; controls may differ on iPad.
Explore GJ File Manager →