stop folders expanding "helpfully"?

Stan Brown <the_stan_brown.DeleteThis@fastmail.fm> wrote in
news:MPG.249ec2de9f90630898bb23@news.individual.net:

> Mon, 8 Jun 2009 22:33:47 +0100 from J. P. Gilliver (John)
> <G6JPG.DeleteThis@soft255.demon.co.uk>:
>>
>> When I click on a folder (or pseudofolder, e. g. a Turnpike
>> mailbox or newsstand), in the left pane, Windows "helpfully"
>> expands it. This also happens if I even just hover over a folder
>> for more than a very short time: this is infuriating if I'm
>> trying to do a move, as it inevitably happens just as I let go,
>> with the result that I don't know where the move went.
>>
>> Can this "helpful" behaviour be stopped?
>
> I'm not 100% sure I understand you, but if I do then here is the
> solution:
>
> In Windows Explorer, Tools | Folder Options | View and remove the
> check mark in "Display simple folder view".
>

This does not solve the problem presented by the OP. When in
explorer with a folder window on the left and files on the right and
you want to move a file from the file side to another folder on the
left ( a folder which ahs sub-folders, but not expanded) and you
click and drag to the folder, if you don't immediately release the
mouse button, Explorer will expand the folder for you (ie do the
equivalent of clicking the "+", causing the sub-folders to expand.
This is very annoying if the folder has many sub-folders, because
explorer moves the display of the target folder to the top of the
folder window, leaving you with a drag operation now set to drop in a
sub-folder instead of the desired folder, and if you are not careful,
the file will be moved to who knows where.

I continually fight this battle and just don't know what to do to
stop the expanding.

Any oter ideas to try?

J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
>>> When I click on a folder (or pseudofolder, e. g. a Turnpike mailbox or
>>> newsstand), in the left pane, Windows "helpfully" expands it. This
>>> also happens if I even just hover over a folder for more than a very
>>> short time: this is infuriating if I'm trying to do a move, as it
>>> inevitably happens just as I let go, with the result that I don't know
>>> where the move went.
>>> Can this "helpful" behaviour be stopped?

....

John Carter wrote:
> ... When in explorer
> with a folder window on the left and files on the right and you want to
> move a file from the file side to another folder on the left ( a folder
> which ahs sub-folders, but not expanded) and you click and drag to the
> folder, if you don't immediately release the mouse button, Explorer will
> expand the folder for you (ie do the equivalent of clicking the "+",
> causing the sub-folders to expand. This is very annoying if the folder
> has many sub-folders, because explorer moves the display of the target
> folder to the top of the folder window, leaving you with a drag
> operation now set to drop in a sub-folder instead of the desired folder,
> and if you are not careful, the file will be moved to who knows where.
>
> I continually fight this battle and just don't know what to do to stop
> the expanding.
>
> Any oter ideas to try?

John,
Instead of drag/drop/miss,
right-click selected folder(s)+files(s) > Cut (or Copy), then
right-click destination folder > Paste.

John Carter wrote in microsoft.public.windowsxp.customize:

> Stan Brown <the_stan_brown.TakeThisOut@fastmail.fm> wrote in
> news:MPG.249ec2de9f90630898bb23@news.individual.net:
>
>> Mon, 8 Jun 2009 22:33:47 +0100 from J. P. Gilliver (John)
>> <G6JPG.TakeThisOut@soft255.demon.co.uk>:
>>>
>>> When I click on a folder (or pseudofolder, e. g. a Turnpike
>>> mailbox or newsstand), in the left pane, Windows "helpfully"
>>> expands it. This also happens if I even just hover over a folder
>>> for more than a very short time: this is infuriating if I'm
>>> trying to do a move, as it inevitably happens just as I let go,
>>> with the result that I don't know where the move went.
>>>
>>> Can this "helpful" behaviour be stopped?
>>
>> I'm not 100% sure I understand you, but if I do then here is the
>> solution:
>>
>> In Windows Explorer, Tools | Folder Options | View and remove the
>> check mark in "Display simple folder view".
>>
>
> This does not solve the problem presented by the OP. When in
> explorer with a folder window on the left and files on the right and
> you want to move a file from the file side to another folder on the
> left ( a folder which ahs sub-folders, but not expanded) and you
> click and drag to the folder, if you don't immediately release the
> mouse button, Explorer will expand the folder for you (ie do the
> equivalent of clicking the "+", causing the sub-folders to expand.
> This is very annoying if the folder has many sub-folders, because
> explorer moves the display of the target folder to the top of the
> folder window, leaving you with a drag operation now set to drop in a
> sub-folder instead of the desired folder, and if you are not careful,
> the file will be moved to who knows where.
>
> I continually fight this battle and just don't know what to do to
> stop the expanding.
>
> Any oter ideas to try?
>

Get X-Setup Pro or Power Tools for Xp (Tweak XP) and control all sorts
of Windoze settings in the comfort of a GUI instead of hacking the
registry.

In message <Xns9C6BDD7BEDC31NoFlipSide RemoveThis @199.185.223.74>, 8-Track
<round RemoveThis @round.com> writes:
>John Carter wrote in microsoft.public.windowsxp.customize:
>
>> Stan Brown <the_stan_brown RemoveThis @fastmail.fm> wrote in
>> news:MPG.249ec2de9f90630898bb23@news.individual.net:
>>
>>> Mon, 8 Jun 2009 22:33:47 +0100 from J. P. Gilliver (John)
>>> <G6JPG RemoveThis @soft255.demon.co.uk>:
>>>>
>>>> When I click on a folder (or pseudofolder, e. g. a Turnpike
>>>> mailbox or newsstand), in the left pane, Windows "helpfully"
>>>> expands it. This also happens if I even just hover over a folder
>>>> for more than a very short time: this is infuriating if I'm
>>>> trying to do a move, as it inevitably happens just as I let go,
>>>> with the result that I don't know where the move went.
>>>>
>>>> Can this "helpful" behaviour be stopped?
>>>
>>> I'm not 100% sure I understand you, but if I do then here is the
>>> solution:
>>>
>>> In Windows Explorer, Tools | Folder Options | View and remove the
>>> check mark in "Display simple folder view".
>>>
Thanks for trying, but ...

>>
>> This does not solve the problem presented by the OP. When in
>> explorer with a folder window on the left and files on the right and
>> you want to move a file from the file side to another folder on the
>> left ( a folder which ahs sub-folders, but not expanded) and you
>> click and drag to the folder, if you don't immediately release the
>> mouse button, Explorer will expand the folder for you (ie do the
>> equivalent of clicking the "+", causing the sub-folders to expand.
>> This is very annoying if the folder has many sub-folders, because
>> explorer moves the display of the target folder to the top of the
>> folder window, leaving you with a drag operation now set to drop in a
>> sub-folder instead of the desired folder, and if you are not careful,
>> the file will be moved to who knows where.

.... John has given an excellent description of the problem.
>>
>> I continually fight this battle and just don't know what to do to
>> stop the expanding.
>>
>> Any oter ideas to try?
>>
>
>Get X-Setup Pro or Power Tools for Xp (Tweak XP) and control all sorts
>of Windoze settings in the comfort of a GUI instead of hacking the
>registry.

I probably intend to get all sorts of such utilities, at least the XP
version of TweakUI (I think that's what you mean above) - but is this
_specific_ problem definitely solved by one of those two?
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G.5AL-IS-P--Ch++(p)Ar@T0H+Sh0!:`)DNAf
** http://www.soft255.demon.co.uk/G6JPG-PC/JPGminPC.htm for ludicrously
outdated thoughts on PCs. **

"This situation absolutely requires a really futile and stoopid gesture be done
on somebody's part." "We're just the guys to do it." Eric "Otter" Stratton (Tim
Matheson) and John "Bluto" Blutarsky (John Belushi) - N. L's Animal House
(1978)

In message <uCILvgIIKHA.3444 DeleteThis @TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl>, Al Falfa
<anonymous DeleteThis @discussions.microsoft.com> writes:
[]
>John,
> Instead of drag/drop/miss,
>right-click selected folder(s)+files(s) > Cut (or Copy), then
>right-click destination folder > Paste.

Thanks for the tip; if solution not found otherwise, I'll try to
remember that one. It's admitting defeat, though! (I wonder: could
either of the Windows 9x file manager interfaces be made to work under
XP?)
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G.5AL-IS-P--Ch++(p)Ar@T0H+Sh0!:`)DNAf
** http://www.soft255.demon.co.uk/G6JPG-PC/JPGminPC.htm for ludicrously
outdated thoughts on PCs. **

"This situation absolutely requires a really futile and stoopid gesture be done
on somebody's part." "We're just the guys to do it." Eric "Otter" Stratton (Tim
Matheson) and John "Bluto" Blutarsky (John Belushi) - N. L's Animal House (1978)

"John Carter" <me.DeleteThis@mymailsvr.org> wrote in message
news:Xns9C6BE69E28461jcartgmailcom@207.46.248.16
> Stan Brown <the_stan_brown.DeleteThis@fastmail.fm> wrote in
> news:MPG.249ec2de9f90630898bb23@news.individual.net:
>
>> Mon, 8 Jun 2009 22:33:47 +0100 from J. P. Gilliver (John)
>> <G6JPG.DeleteThis@soft255.demon.co.uk>:
>>>
>>> When I click on a folder (or pseudofolder, e. g. a Turnpike
>>> mailbox or newsstand), in the left pane, Windows "helpfully"
>>> expands it. This also happens if I even just hover over a folder
>>> for more than a very short time: this is infuriating if I'm
>>> trying to do a move, as it inevitably happens just as I let go,
>>> with the result that I don't know where the move went.
>>>
>>> Can this "helpful" behaviour be stopped?
>>
>> I'm not 100% sure I understand you, but if I do then here is the
>> solution:
>>
>> In Windows Explorer, Tools | Folder Options | View and remove the
>> check mark in "Display simple folder view".
>>
>
> This does not solve the problem presented by the OP. When in
> explorer with a folder window on the left and files on the right and
> you want to move a file from the file side to another folder on the
> left ( a folder which ahs sub-folders, but not expanded) and you
> click and drag to the folder, if you don't immediately release the
> mouse button, Explorer will expand the folder for you (ie do the
> equivalent of clicking the "+", causing the sub-folders to expand.
> This is very annoying if the folder has many sub-folders, because
> explorer moves the display of the target folder to the top of the
> folder window, leaving you with a drag operation now set to drop in a
> sub-folder instead of the desired folder, and if you are not careful,
> the file will be moved to who knows where.
>
> I continually fight this battle and just don't know what to do to
> stop the expanding.
>
> Any oter ideas to try?

Expand the destination first?

> "John Carter" <me.DeleteThis@mymailsvr.org> wrote in message
> news:Xns9C6BE69E28461jcartgmailcom@207.46.248.16...
> Stan Brown <the_stan_brown.DeleteThis@fastmail.fm> wrote in
> news:MPG.249ec2de9f90630898bb23@news.individual.net:
>
>> Mon, 8 Jun 2009 22:33:47 +0100 from J. P. Gilliver (John)
>> <G6JPG.DeleteThis@soft255.demon.co.uk>:
>>>
>>> When I click on a folder (or pseudofolder, e. g. a Turnpike
>>> mailbox or newsstand), in the left pane, Windows "helpfully"
>>> expands it. This also happens if I even just hover over a folder
>>> for more than a very short time: this is infuriating if I'm
>>> trying to do a move, as it inevitably happens just as I let go,
>>> with the result that I don't know where the move went.
>>>
>>> Can this "helpful" behaviour be stopped?
>>
>> I'm not 100% sure I understand you, but if I do then here is the
>> solution:
>>
>> In Windows Explorer, Tools | Folder Options | View and remove the
>> check mark in "Display simple folder view".
>>
>
> This does not solve the problem presented by the OP. When in
> explorer with a folder window on the left and files on the right and
> you want to move a file from the file side to another folder on the
> left ( a folder which ahs sub-folders, but not expanded) and you
> click and drag to the folder, if you don't immediately release the
> mouse button, Explorer will expand the folder for you (ie do the
> equivalent of clicking the "+", causing the sub-folders to expand.
> This is very annoying if the folder has many sub-folders, because
> explorer moves the display of the target folder to the top of the
> folder window, leaving you with a drag operation now set to drop in a
> sub-folder instead of the desired folder, and if you are not careful,
> the file will be moved to who knows where.
>
> I continually fight this battle and just don't know what to do to
> stop the expanding.
>
> Any oter ideas to try?

Hi John, I wish, however there is this:

• You can press ESC key to cancel a drag in progress.
• If you miss-drop, you can press Ctrl+Z to undo the move.

(I don't mess with Explorer, I just open both folders separately.

FWIW. --Richard

"Richard" <richard RemoveThis @avbtab.org> wrote in message
news:O0QJE2TMKHA.5192@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl
>> "John Carter" <me RemoveThis @mymailsvr.org> wrote in message
>> news:Xns9C6BE69E28461jcartgmailcom@207.46.248.16...
>> Stan Brown <the_stan_brown RemoveThis @fastmail.fm> wrote in
>> news:MPG.249ec2de9f90630898bb23@news.individual.net:
>>
>>> Mon, 8 Jun 2009 22:33:47 +0100 from J. P. Gilliver (John)
>>> <G6JPG RemoveThis @soft255.demon.co.uk>:
>>>>
>>>> When I click on a folder (or pseudofolder, e. g. a Turnpike
>>>> mailbox or newsstand), in the left pane, Windows "helpfully"
>>>> expands it. This also happens if I even just hover over a folder
>>>> for more than a very short time: this is infuriating if I'm
>>>> trying to do a move, as it inevitably happens just as I let go,
>>>> with the result that I don't know where the move went.
>>>>
>>>> Can this "helpful" behaviour be stopped?
>>>
>>> I'm not 100% sure I understand you, but if I do then here is the
>>> solution:
>>>
>>> In Windows Explorer, Tools | Folder Options | View and remove the
>>> check mark in "Display simple folder view".
>>>
>>
>> This does not solve the problem presented by the OP. When in
>> explorer with a folder window on the left and files on the right and
>> you want to move a file from the file side to another folder on the
>> left ( a folder which ahs sub-folders, but not expanded) and you
>> click and drag to the folder, if you don't immediately release the
>> mouse button, Explorer will expand the folder for you (ie do the
>> equivalent of clicking the "+", causing the sub-folders to expand.
>> This is very annoying if the folder has many sub-folders, because
>> explorer moves the display of the target folder to the top of the
>> folder window, leaving you with a drag operation now set to drop in a
>> sub-folder instead of the desired folder, and if you are not careful,
>> the file will be moved to who knows where.
>>
>> I continually fight this battle and just don't know what to do to
>> stop the expanding.
>>
>> Any oter ideas to try?
>
> Hi John, I wish, however there is this:
>
> • You can press ESC key to cancel a drag in progress.
> • If you miss-drop, you can press Ctrl+Z to undo the move.
>
> (I don't mess with Explorer, I just open both folders separately.
>
> FWIW. --Richard

You could open two insances of Explorer and then use CTRL to determine
whether you're moving or copying the file. With two instances you can
put one so you can easily see where you want to copy to and go right to
it; then if it expands, it's OK; that's where you wanted anyway.

OR, highlight the file, right click & use Copy
Go the folder you want, highlight the folder, and right click, Paste.

Of, if you have 'Move to Folder' and 'Copy to Folder' in your right
click context menu, use those instead. This's an easy way.

Here's how to install it:

http://windowsitpro.com/article/articleid/15243/how-can-i-add-a-move-t...older-o
There's also a downloadable .reg there that will do it for you if you
wish.

You don't HAVE to use drag & drop.

HTH,

Twayne`

In message <eG#ZFRKNKHA.3412@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl>, Twayne
<nobody.DeleteThis@devnull.spamcop.net> writes:
[]
>You could open two insances of Explorer and then use CTRL to determine
>whether you're moving or copying the file. With two instances you can
>put one so you can easily see where you want to copy to and go right to
>it; then if it expands, it's OK; that's where you wanted anyway.
[]
If it decides to expand just at the moment I let go, and the target has
numerous subdirectories, then the target will rise to the top of (or
off) the screen, even if I have two explorer instances open.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G.5AL-IS-P--Ch++(p)Ar@T0H+Sh0!:`)DNAf
** http://www.soft255.demon.co.uk/G6JPG-PC/JPGminPC.htm for ludicrously
outdated thoughts on PCs. **

"We've all heard that a million monkeys banging on a million typewriters will
eventually reproduce the entire Works of Shakespeare. Now, thanks to the
Internet, we know this is not true." Robert Wilensky, computer science
division,
University of California Digital Library Project, 1996 (Computing 1999-12-16)