Author Topic: DONE: Drop target to move files to predefined folders (Read 110,103 times)

timns · « **on:** January 25, 2011, 10:21 PM »

I once tried out a little program (probably an old Yahoo widget) that created several target icons on my desktop. When a file was drag-dropped onto one of them, it was automatically moved to some designated folder.

Unfortunately it never worked properly on my PC for some reason, and I didn't really like the whole Yahoo widget thing after a short time.

Does anyone fancy having a go at this?

More info if it piques anyone's interest, since I know how I'd like it to work.

JavaJones · « **Reply #1 on:** January 25, 2011, 10:45 PM »

Couldn't you just make shortcuts to each folder and drag and drop onto them? (yes I tested this, just now

)

- Oshyan

joiwind · « **Reply #2 on:** January 25, 2011, 10:52 PM »

timns - have you tried DropIt! ?

timns · « **Reply #3 on:** January 25, 2011, 11:03 PM »

Quote from: JavaJones on January 25, 2011, 10:45 PM

Couldn't you just make shortcuts to each folder and drag and drop onto them? (yes I tested this, just now )

- Oshyan

Well I guess that would for a start...

timns · « **Reply #4 on:** January 25, 2011, 11:03 PM »

Quote from: joiwind on January 25, 2011, 10:52 PM

timns - have you tried DropIt! ?

I'm just about to.

Good find! Thanks.

Ok, DropIt is "almost but not quite" -

* I don't want to rely just on an icon to remind me what each profile does. I'll need to be able to label it.
* I'd like to be able to have a choice of destinations pop up when I drop a file.

Like this, only not so damn twee

http://widgets.yahoo.com/widgets/dropmover

PhilB66 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 26, 2011, 12:31 AM »

1. I Like To Move It

2. DragTargets (Review + Download links at http:/ /www.freewaregenius.com/2009/10/24/dragtargets-easily-copy-or-move-files-to-frequently-used-folders/)

timns · « **Reply #6 on:** January 26, 2011, 12:37 AM »

Phil, that is excellent. A thread I never would have found otherwise.

wraith808 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 26, 2011, 02:14 AM »

Also robobasket.

sword · « **Reply #8 on:** January 26, 2011, 08:39 PM »

Re. "...choice of destinations..." by timns on Jan 25, 2011, 05:03:21 PM :
An early version of the Firefox add-on "Shelve" prompted for a list
of folders in a default directory to save highlighted material while online and it also worked for *some* file material, in other windows, outside the browser.

skwire · « **Reply #9 on:** January 26, 2011, 08:48 PM »

Tim, did you just want one "drop zone" area that would pop up a menu of destination choices? If so, this would be a piece of cake to write in AHK.

timns · « **Reply #10 on:** January 26, 2011, 09:32 PM »

Quote from: skwire on January 26, 2011, 08:48 PM

Tim, did you just want one "drop zone" area that would pop up a menu of destination choices? If so, this would be a piece of cake to write in AHK.

That would be a big step in the right direction!

Presumably I could have several of those, each with different destination selections?

timns · « **Reply #11 on:** January 27, 2011, 05:25 PM »

Skwire, we lost some messages on here - what were you saying? I've already forgotten, but I seem to recall it was very exciting.

skwire · « **Reply #12 on:** January 27, 2011, 06:44 PM »

Hmmm...we did lose some messages didn't we?

timns · « **Reply #13 on:** January 27, 2011, 07:32 PM »

It was something like:

skwire: <some marvellous idea that sounds just what I wanted>
timns: yes! yes! yeees!

mouser · « **Reply #14 on:** January 27, 2011, 08:41 PM »

looks like we did lose 7 posts on the entire forum, between the time we sent the forum into administrative mode and the time we ran the backup. im still not sure exactly how that could have happened, BUT thanks to new email low tech backup solution, but i have the contents of them and will send the losts posts to the authors.

timns · « **Reply #15 on:** January 27, 2011, 08:42 PM »

Quote from: mouser on January 27, 2011, 08:41 PM

looks like we did lose 7 posts on the entire forum, between the time we sent the forum into administrative mode and the time we ran the backup. im still not sure exactly how that could have happened, BUT thanks to new email low tech backup solution, but i have the contents of them and will send the losts posts to the authors.

Well that ain't so bad, eh? Thanks for sorting that out.

timns · « **Reply #16 on:** January 27, 2011, 08:56 PM »

And this was our conversation, skwire:

Quote

Quote
That would be a big step in the right direction!
Presumably I could have several of those, each with different destination selections?
I suppose that depends on how complete/complex/open-ended this application needs to be.? I could write it such a way that it runs out of its own folder, looks for its menu config file and shows a small GUI drop zone.? You could rename the script and run as many as you like.? This way, I don't have to spend time writing a full-fledged app with all sorts of GUI configuration, etc.? Or, I could write a GUI-based app with, say, nine drop zones (basic groupboxes or whatever) on one GUI form (3x3, etc) and a simple configuration dialog for each.

Per-folder would be perfectly acceptable? Thmbsup

skwire · « **Reply #17 on:** January 28, 2011, 07:23 AM »

Here is the first release of Drop Zone. Download

Random notes:

Very basic look and feel at this point.
Minimal testing so you run it at your own risk. Test it out on copies of files first.
The executable will create an INI file of the same name as the executable e.g. DropZone.exe will make a DropZone.ini. This way, you can just make copies of the DropZone.exe file, rename them, and run multiple instances from the same folder.
When it first runs, you will see a small square GUI with a single groupbox. This is your drop zone. Right-click it to get a small menu offering edit and reload options. Choose edit to bring up the INI file for that instance. The options are pretty self-explanatory. Change options to suit, enter destination paths, save file and choose the reload option from DropZone's menu.
Once you're happy with the options, drag and drop some files and/or folders onto Drop Zone. A menu will pop up with your configured destination paths. Choose a destination and witness your files and folders being dealt with accordingly.
It uses the ShellFileOperation API so larger file operations will automatically pop up the standard Windows progress window. File collisions are automatically renamed via this API as well.
It is Unicode capable.

Again...this is very early, and only represents about an hour of work, but I wanted to see if this was along the lines of what you had in mind. Let me know what you think.

PhilB66 · « **Reply #18 on:** January 28, 2011, 09:17 AM »

@skwire

The download link (and your Website) not accessible.

skwire · « **Reply #19 on:** January 28, 2011, 01:29 PM »

Should be fixed now. Thanks.

timns · « **Reply #20 on:** January 28, 2011, 03:14 PM »

You're a wonder! This sounds perfect already. I will be able to try it out later today: feedback coming up asap.

timns · « **Reply #21 on:** January 28, 2011, 03:15 PM »

Also forgot to say: donation coming your way right now

skwire · « **Reply #22 on:** January 28, 2011, 03:25 PM »

Hehehe...I'll make sure not to spend it right away in case you come asking for a refund.

timns · « **Reply #23 on:** January 29, 2011, 10:46 PM »

Quote from: skwire on January 28, 2011, 03:25 PM

Hehehe...I'll make sure not to spend it right away in case you come asking for a refund.

No, you go ahead and burn it all on wild living - I am perfectly happy with this thing. I have deliberately NOT set about coming up with 101 suggestions to "take it to the next level" in case it Hindenbergs on us.

It's sitting here right now, tucked away on my monitor in a dead part of the Dopus menu bar, ready for droppings.

As it were.

skwire · « **Reply #24 on:** January 29, 2011, 10:48 PM »

Quote from: timns on January 29, 2011, 10:46 PM

have deliberately NOT set about coming up with 101 suggestions to "take it to the next level" in case it Hindenbergs on us.

You know you can't help yourself...

At any rate, have you tested it out on some files/folders?