Drag and Drop Tips
A Sign is Given
Platform: Windows 95/98/NT
User Level: Beginner
Before you "drop" a drag
and drop operation, look at the lower left corner of the icon you're moving.
This will tell you what the default action will be: a plus means copy, an arrow
means a shortcut will be made.
Aborting a Drag
Platform: Windows 95/98/NT
User Level: Beginner
Pressing Esc in the middle of a drag
aborts it.
Auto Shortcut for Programs
Platform: Windows 95/98/NT
User Level: Beginner
If you're dragging and dropping the
icon of a program, the default action is to make a shortcut. If you drag and
drop a data file, the default action is copy.
Creating Document Shortcuts
Platform: Windows 95/98/NT User Level: Beginner
Right drag a selection from an OLE
document (e.g., Word 95) onto the Desktop or folder, then select the ‘Create
Document Shortcut Here’ item, and a shortcut (bookmark) will be created.
Opening this document shortcut at a later time will open the original document
and return you to the place in the document that the shortcut originated.
Drag & Drop From App to App
Platform: Windows 95/98/NT
User Level: Beginner
If you drag an object, and hold it
over the tray button for the desired window for a moment, that window will be
moved to the top, allowing you to continue without rearranging the open
windows.
Drag and Print
Platform: Windows 95/98/NT
User Level: Beginner
Create a shortcut to your printer by clicking on your Start menu,
then Settings, then Control Panel, then Printers, and dragging a printer icon
to the Desktop. You can then drag documents to the printer icon and print them
instantly.
Drag to the Run Dialog
Platform: Windows 95/98/NT
User Level: Beginner
You can drag and drop an icon to the
Run dialog box. There you can add startup options or modify the launch in any
way.
Dragging Executables
Platform: Windows 95/98/NT
User Level: Beginner
Left dragging an executable to a new
directory results in a shortcut to that executable.
Dragging Files Between Directories
Platform: Windows 95/98/NT
User Level: Beginner
Left dragging objects from one
directory to another on a different drive results in a copy. Ctrl+Left-drag forces
a copy.
Easy Run
Platform: Windows 95/98/NT
User Level: Beginner
Drag a document or folder into the
Run dialog, and Windows will type that path for you automatically. You can then
modify and launch with your changes.
File Move
Platform: Windows CE
User Level: Beginner
To move files between folders make
sure you have both folders open in separate windows. Then drag your file from
its original location down to the button on the taskbar which represents the
destination folder. While holding the file over the taskbar, the destination
folder will open maximized. Release your file into the destination folder.
Group File Selection
Platform: Windows 95/98/NT
User Level: Beginner
To select a group of files or
folder, hold the SHIFT key and click on the files or folders at each end of the
group.
OLE Scraps
Platform: Windows 95/98/NT
User Level: Beginner
Left drag a selection from an OLE
document (e.g., Word 95) onto the Desktop or folder and a scrap will be created
(a scrap is an OLE object that contains the selection). Dropping this scrap
onto another document or back onto the original document will insert or render
the scrap object.
OLE Scraps
Platform: Windows 95/98/NT
User Level: Beginner
Left drag a selection from an OLE document
(e.g., Word 95) onto the Desktop or folder and a scrap will be created (a scrap
is an OLE object that contains the selection). Dropping this scrap onto another
document or back onto the original document will insert or render the scrap
object.
Quick Printing
Platform: Windows 95/98/NT
User Level: Beginner
To print a document quickly, you can
drag its icon onto a printer icon.
Safe Drag and Drop
Platform: Windows 95
User Level: Beginner
Submitted by: John Allison
When dragging and dropping any file,
always use the right mouse button. This will give you a prompt so you can
cancel, or choose an alternate operation other than the Windows default. (copy,
move, etc.)
Shift Key Works Like Left Click
Platform: Windows 95
User Level: Intermed.
Hold down the SHIFT key when you drag and drop something with the
left mouse button. You will get the same context menu as if you had dragged and
dropped with just the right mouse button.
Synchronizing Files
Platform: Windows 95/98/NT
User Level: Beginner
To synchronize files between
portable and desktop machines, drag the documents from your portable to the
Briefcase on your desktop machine.