Drag and Drop

This help page is viewable by pressing F1 while dragging an object. The drag operation is canceled in this event.

Drag Objects

Drag and drop of file objects (both files and directories) is supported between the Files windows, from a Files window to the directory tree(s), between elements of the directoy tree(s), from the directory tree(s) to either Files window and to WPS/PM programs and objects that accept files, such as the shredder, printer, certain program objects and other PM programs, such as file managers, that support drag and drop.

Any directory may be dragged from a directory tree. It does not have to be the current directory. The system will not allow a move drag operation of the current directory. If drag moving the current directory, the current directory is changed to the next directory up the tree before the operation begins.

Unlike WPS drag and drop, only selected file objects in a Files window may be picked up in a drag operation and the entire Files window is an acceptable drop zone. In other words, FS/2 does not recognize file objects in a Files window as an acceptable drop target. The implementation enhances moving and copying files between the Files windows and the directory tree(s), albeit at the some expense of WPS standardization.

Warning: There is a resource limit in the operating system that limits the number of file objects that may be picked up and dragged. The limit appears to be directly associated with the total length of all dragged file object names, longer names meaning fewer objects may be dragged. Typical name lengths of 8-10 characters generally result is a drag limit of 1600-1800 files but this number will vary with the fragmentation of system memory. When dragging a large number of files, FS/2 will automatically truncate the number of files dragged to the maximum possible for the allocated memory. It will announce the truncated drag with a message in the message window. Beware, a drag of a larger number of files with another application that does not have a similar workaround for the limit (or the WPS) will cause memory corruption to the extent that a reboot will be required to fix the corruption.

Drag Actions

The default action is a move operation, unless the Default Drag is Move check box is deselected on the Options page of the Settings notebook, in which case the default action is a copy operstion. Depressing the Ctrl key for a copy, or Shift for a move, overrides the default setting. If the default operation has been changed in the Settings Notebook to copy, holding down the Shift key will override it to a move operation. Also, if the default has been set to copy, dragging outside of FS/2 causes a reversion to the OS/2 default move operation.

• Dragging From a Directories Tree - To perform a copy (Ctrl key down at drop) or move (default) drag and drop operation from the Directories window:

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  • Select a directory to drag using the RMB or a Ctrl+LMB click. Do not LMB click (no Ctrl key down) to select a directory if the operation is to be a move since a LBM single click will make it the current directory from which the move operation is not allowed.
    
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  • Drag to either Files window, another directory in a directory tree, a desktop object/folder, the desktop itself or another application that supports the drop function.
    
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  • Release right mouse button over any permitted drop target, which is indicated by the absence of the no drop symbol.
  
  Dragging From a Files Window - To perform a drag and drop operation from a Files window:

  • Select the file(s) or directories (if showing directories) to drag.
    
  • Pick up on one of the selected file objects using the right mouse button.
    
  • Drag to other Files window, a directory in a directory tree, a desktop object/folder, the desktop itself or another application that supports the drop function.
    
  • Release the right mouse button over any permitted drop target, which is indicated by the absence of the no drop symbol.

  A drag link operation, forced by holding the Ctrl+Shift keys down at time of drop, creates shadow object(s) of the source object(s) and does not copy or move the file object(s).

  Using a Second Instance

  A second instance of FS/2 may be started which then permits drag and drop between any of the four different directory trees and Files window possibilities. To start a second instance, either create a second Desktop object and use it to start the second instance or modify the existing FS/2 Desktop object properties to create another FS/2 window. The latter is accomplished by opening the Desktop object properties and selecting 'Create new window' in lieu of 'Display existing window' on the Window page.

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