Windows 8.1 Drag and Not

[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?

[handrawn]

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

[SmartEd]

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.

[handrawn]

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

[gwpriester]

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?

[SmartEd]

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.

[gwpriester]

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.

[SmartEd]

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.

[handrawn]

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....

[SmartEd]

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