Error message when copying files over to Mac Server

Question

I keep receiving the following error message when copying files, from my iMac and my Macbook, over to my Mac Mini Server.

The Finder can’t complete the operation because some data in “filename.pdf” can’t be read or written. (Error code -36)

But regardless of the error message, single files will still copy over. Multiple files however, will copy the first file, then kick the error message and stop.

Really a pain when I have a folder with 100's of images and I have to copy each image over individually!

However, when I copy files from a PC Desktop or Laptop to the Mac Server, no error message occurs.

I've been dealing with this issue for months and have not found a solution. I get the same message no matter what type of file it is.....PDF, JPG, DOC, Ai, etc.

Can anybody help??

Answer 1

use dot_clean, the directory which is being copied and throwing the Error Code 36, the basics look like this:

Launch the Terminal (found in /Applications/Utilities/ or with Spotlight) At the command prompt, type:

dot_clean /Path/To/Directory/With/Problem/

When dot_clean is finished, attempt the file copy again and it should succeed with no error code For example, if copying ~/Documents/FileBackups/ is the problematic directory, use:

dot_clean ~/Documents/FileBackups/

For more info see http://osxdaily.com/2015/02/21/fix-error-code-36-finder-mac-os-x/

Answer 2

The Finder can be a problem when you drag huge file & folder structures in the IU.

Try using the cp command in Terminal if you're moving many hundreds of files, as it bypasses all the overhead the Finder imposes when manually dragging:

cp [source_file] [target_destination]

cp -R ~/Desktop/BigFolderOfFiles /Volumes/<server>/<directory>

From man cp:

-R If source_file designates a directory, cp copies the directory and the entire subtree connected at that point. If the source_file ends in a /, the contents of the directory are copied rather than the directory itself.

In Terminal, it is quite easy to do this without a lot of typing. You can drag folder icons into the terminal window and have the paths auto-expand, (and it escapes any spaces for you, too.)

You simply type:

cp -R [space] drag source folder on the Mac into Terminal window [space] drag target folder on the server into Terminal window, check to make sure it looks OK, then hit return. You can use the -v option to have Terminal list every file transferred.

Its worth a look at man cp to see the various options. Experiment first to make sure you understand the concepts!