[HOWTO] - fix option-drag problem

velvblade

velvblade

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In all systems earlier than OSX, you could hold the option key down click and drag a file to where you want it and copy it there. It would be the full file. Now in OSX(i'm using jaguar 10.2.4), when I do this same action, the file copies but it becomes a regular document, with no application specific icon. If you double-click on it, it doesn't even know what application it belongs to. This was never a problem in earlier systems, pre-osx. Does anyone else have this problem and/or just know how to fix it? The only way I have found to get around it is to open the actual document and resave it in the desired location. This is tedious and can take a long time if for instance I'm trying to duplicate/copy a large Photoshop file, etc.

Thanks for you answers!
 
Option-dragging copies applications just fine for me, they get their icon and are executable.

(By the way HOW-TO in a subject line is used for telling people how to do something, not asking ;))
 
Never had this problem.

What happens if you right-click (or Control-click) on the document and select "Duplicate" then move it where you want it? Or "Copy" for that matter? Can you select a document icon, copy it and then paste it where you want (can be done via right or Control-clicking and selecting "Copy" and then "Paste" at the destination or via Command + C and Command + V)?
 
cybergoober - yes, I have tried the duplicate command and the copy commands. Each time it will copy and paste or make the copy but it still does the blank doc look(white sheet of paper) and says "There is no default application specified to open the document '[doc name]'", and wants me to choose an app. I've done this with photoshop, pagemaker, illustrator, and other application files, and each result is the same. I don't know why this would be a problem because i've never had problems in OS9 or earlier (granted OSX is written different and they must have changed something).

michaelsanford - sorry bout the "HOWTO". I read a thread that said that in this message posting area that your subject must contain "HOWTO" or "FAQ" and so I put howto because it made a little more sense than faq. LOL.. sorry :D
 
Haha I'm not a mod or anything, don't apologize, sorry I probably should have PM-ed you that instead of posting it...
 
Have you tried to get info on say a jpeg set it to open with Photoshop and click the Change All button?

Have you tried repairing permissions yet?

Another thing you could try is to create another user (if one doesn't already exist) and login as that user to see if it is just a problem with your account, or system-wide.
 
Another thing is when you rename it try to use the correct extension like .jpeg or whatever. If the copy is not propagating the metadata correctly you could be losing the application associations.

-Eric
 
I believe, through research and talking to a Mac specialist, that the problem has been found. I have no problem option-dragging a file to the hard drive or copying or duplicating it on the hard drive. The problem comes when it is within the server. (File option-drag to HD from server or from HD to server works fine) It is when I duplicate or option-drag a file from in the server to in the server. So, it seems to be server related. I am on a mac but the server we use here is windows based. It runs through Novell Netware 6. I believe updates or patches may fix the problem and it is not an osx problem .. its an osx with novell problem. Thanks for all your help and answers. My company is researching updates, fixes and patches for between novell and mac osx.
Much grass(muchos gracias) to you all. :D
 
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