Windows 8.1 Drag and Not

I work with around 12,000 product images and build digital and paper flyers and booklets. When I was using windows 7 I would search for the images I required and would drag and drop them into Xara. With the changes in windows 8 I am no longer able to do this, I have to navigate to the image location and open it in Xara then move it into my current document, and this is driving me nuts! I would like to run an app that's docked on the right side of the screen (as the search panel does) that will allow me to search for the image I need and drag and drop it into Xara, I have tried a number of explore apps and none of them allow you to drag and drop. This may seem rather minor but I have a large workload and productivity is very important to me.

Anyone got a solution?

I have no problems dragging from windows explorer into designer x [ver 8] on win 8.1, or dragging from agent ransack either which I prefer for searching

Thanks handrawn, I can drag from explorer but this means I have to browse for the file rather than type in a part code and search for it. Also explorer wont dock on the side of the screen and allow me to search. This is what I'm looking for. Attachment 102254

ok well I can drag from explorer search results [or agent ransack] on the desktop - can't help you with an app that slides out from the side though [if thats what you mean] I don't use that feature, I just split the desktop

If I am in the correct folder I get a drop down list of suggestions after I key in a few characters.

I wonder if this is controlled by a setting?

That will work well if you are only looking in one folder at a time, we use images that are split into different categories and are split over a few locations, some local and some online. Using search allows me to find all versions of the images and choose the most appropriate version.

Well, in Windows 8, you can search in the Metro screen, then go to the file location (one additional step) and drag and drop into Xara. I just tried this and it works.

It's that "go to the file location" that drives me crazy, in windows 7 I could just type in the search box and drag and drop the result without switching between windows, but not in windows 8. A small issue I know, but you haven't seen my work load!

On a slightly different issue, I don't understand why MS removed e-mails from search results, to search for e-mail content in windows 8 you have to open Outlook and search inside. I like Windows 8, I think now they addressed some of the big gripes with the 8.1 update and large a step forward, but I think the search capabilities are a step backward.

It seems you cannot drag and drop from the win8.1 charm bar search, period - you can only open the file location.... views are mixed here as to whether that would apply to any 'metro' app or not - you may need to go back to the desktop....

Thanks all, I guess I'll have get out of my old habits and get some new ones. Not necessary a bad thing...

Change is good. Just ask any baby. :)

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Originally Posted by SmartEd

I work with around 12,000 product images and build digital and paper flyers and booklets. When I was using windows 7 I would search for the images I required and would drag and drop them into Xara. With the changes in windows 8 I am no longer able to do this, I have to navigate to the image location and open it in Xara then move it into my current document, and this is driving me nuts! I would like to run an app that's docked on the right side of the screen (as the search panel does) that will allow me to search for the image I need and drag and drop it into Xara, I have tried a number of explore apps and none of them allow you to drag and drop. This may seem rather minor but I have a large workload and productivity is very important to me.

Anyone got a solution?

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Windows 8.1...Yep, cannot drag and drop.

You can, however, snap the search results to one side and adjust its width. Starting XDP, it "thinks" full screen is to the edge of the desktop to the edge of the search results, see the screen shots. A single-click will open successive XAR files in XDP.

Mike

You can set your preferences in Windoz to open specific files then use the "charm" search area and then double click to open in Xara. Sorry it's nearly the same as Mikes reply.

Looks like I'm going to have to live with it. I believe MS will shortly be tweaking the way apps run within the Windows 8 environment, maybe they will add some extra functionality.

Sledger gave me a link to a great little utility called Everything search engine which was far superior to Windows Vista search functions. I know Windows 7 & 8 search's have been greatly improved but I never use them and rely on Everything now on my Windows 7 machine. It's drag and drop and Windows8 compatible.

Give it a try. LINK

Thanks, I will definitely check it out.