How can I keep a temporary group of files together while I work on them?
Quick answer
Create a temporary work area and decide whether it should hold working copies or shortcuts to originals. On a Mac, Finder aliases can provide access to originals without moving them; opening an alias opens its original [S1][S3]. Keep a short note of what you added and why. When the work is done, check the items and any changes before deciding what to retain or remove.
The question, the details, the next step.
I have a handful of files to use for a short project. What’s a simple way to keep them together without reorganizing all my folders?
Create a temporary work area for the files you need. First decide whether you need separate files to edit or just a convenient way to reach the originals:
- For separate versions, make working copies and be clear about where you save changes. A copy can differ from its original, so note which version you intend to keep.
- For convenient access, use shortcuts or aliases instead of moving the originals. On Mac, Finder aliases can go in a convenient folder and open the original item [S3]. Finder also documents making an alias by holding Option and Command while dragging an item into another folder [S1].
Don’t use Finder’s “New Folder with Selection” if your goal is to gather access points without moving files: Apple says that action moves the selected items into the new folder [S1]. These Finder instructions are Mac-specific. Choose the approach that fits whether you need separate editable files or simply one place to reach the originals.
I’m on a Mac and mostly want quick access to the originals. How can I set that up without changing their locations?
For a small, hand-picked set, create a temporary folder and put Finder aliases in it. Apple describes aliases as links to original items; opening one opens the original [S3]. To make an alias, hold Option and Command while dragging an item into another folder, as described in Finder’s guide [S1]. Repeat for the files you need, then open a couple of aliases to check that they lead to the intended items.
These steps are for Mac Finder, not every file manager. The cited guidance explains how to create aliases and says that removing one from the sidebar or Dock removes only the alias, not the original [S3]. It doesn’t specify cleanup for aliases in an ordinary temporary folder, so review that folder yourself and remove only links you no longer need.
How should I keep track of what belongs in the temporary folder, especially if I also make working copies?
Keep a brief note in or alongside your temporary work area. For each item, record its name, whether it is an alias or a working copy, and what you need it for. For example, assuming these are placeholder names for a draft project:
“Project review — temporary
- [Brief.docx] — working copy; add comments here
- [Logo.png] — alias to original; reference only
- [Notes.txt] — working copy; update during review”
Before editing, confirm that you have the version you mean to change. Before sharing or finishing, check whether any working copies contain changes you want to transfer or retain. On Mac, opening an alias opens the original, so don’t treat it as a separate editable copy [S3]. The note is a simple tracking aid, not a Finder feature.
When the project is over, how do I decide what to keep and what to remove?
Use your note as a review list. For each item, ask: Is it an original, an alias, or a working copy? Does it contain changes I still need? Is there another place where I intentionally want to retain it? If you’re unsure whether a copy has the final changes, compare it with the version you intend to keep before removing anything.
Keep items whose purpose is still active; remove only temporary items you’ve identified as unnecessary. The cited Mac guidance says removing an alias from the sidebar or Dock leaves the original in place, but doesn’t establish what happens when removing an alias from an ordinary folder [S3]. If you can’t tell which version is authoritative, pause and ask the relevant file owner rather than guessing.
A practical checklist
Create one clearly temporary work area for the task.
Choose working copies for separate edits or aliases for convenient access to originals.
Record each item’s purpose and whether it is a copy or an alias.
Check that aliases open the intended originals before relying on them.
Review changes and intended retention before removing temporary items.
A few more useful answers
Will a Finder alias make a separate copy of a file?
No. Apple describes an alias as a way to access the original; opening it opens that original [S3]. Use a working copy when you need a separate version to edit.
Can I use a Smart Folder as my temporary work set?
On Mac, a Smart Folder lists files matching criteria and updates as matching files change [S2]. It can show files grouped by a rule, but the cited guidance doesn’t establish it as a temporary-copy workflow.
Does making a folder with selected Finder items leave the originals where they are?
No. Apple’s Finder instructions say “New Folder with Selection” moves the selected items into the new folder [S1]. Use aliases when your goal is to gather access points without moving originals.
Sources
References used for this guide.
- [S1] Organize files in folders on Mac support.apple.com · Checked
- [S2] Create or change a Smart Folder on Mac support.apple.com · Checked
- [S3] Create and remove aliases on Mac support.apple.com · Checked