Neat Trick – Explorer

Topic

New Reply

I just discovered that when I’m dragging a file from one folder to another, and the target folder contains subdirectories, If I leave the mouse pointer over the target folder for about three seconds, the target expands!

e.g. I have c:pers

Within that you’ll find c:persaccounts, c:persletters and so on.

In the Left-hand panel of Windows explorer, the folder c:Pers appears with a Plus sign.

Holding a dragged file over the plus signs for 3 seconds causes the folder to open.

OK, so you all already knew that. Sigh. It’s a new trick for ME!

Reply | Quote

Replies

I didn’t know that…and I tried to learn all the tricks. It only works over the + sign, not over the file. Thanks.

Reply | Quote

>I didn’t know that..

Obviously it’s time for me to retire now, having achieved my lifetime ambition: to know something Phil doesn’t know (grin!).

Amazing. I discovered it only because I was very tired, and paused for a sort of 3-second timeout in the middle of an idea.

Tells us something of MSoft code, doesn’t it? Code that was designed for sleep-deprived developers?

Reply | Quote

I think you’ll find that it works if you hold the cursor over the “+” sign or the file.

Reply | Quote

Impatient me. You’re so right. No wonder I didn’t learn it sooner. Even after someone tells me, I can’t wait that long. I think I’ll reset my menu delay to a negative number–I want it to expand if I even think about it.

Reply | Quote

Point taken. Patience is not always a virtue. This little “feature” from MS can be annoying if it kicks in when you don’t want or aren’t expecting “help” with your decision making processes.

Reply | Quote

This trick will work in any MS program where “explorer” like file finds are available (e.g. Outlook). It is useful there when you are moving messages to nested folders and don’t want to have to “pre-open” the destination folder.

It gets a bit annoying when you have a lot of nested folders as the window keeps scrolling to the right the further down you go. You then have to close them up again to get back to the root.

Also – be careful not to let the file go before you reach the intended folder.

Keith (in CA)

Reply | Quote

> Also – be careful not to let the file go before you reach the intended folder

YessSir! (That’s why they invented -Undo, right?)

I tried it in Eudora – no go. When you say “explorer”like, I suspect that the visual clue will be those Plus signs on the folders.

Reply | Quote

The better clue is “Microsoft” programs..

Reply | Quote

That’s also why they invented the RIGHT mouse button, if your finger slips then you get a nice menu from which you can choose CANCEL.

StuartR

Reply | Quote