drag and drop
(Computers) method of moving something on a computer screen (i.e. file, icon, text, etc.) by clicking on the item and repositioning it while holding down the mouse button and then releasing the button in order to "drop" the item into place | ||||
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Drag and drop definition was found in categories: Computer & Internet(2) Language, Idioms & Slang(1) Encyclopedia(1)
Drag and drop Definition from Computer & Internet Dictionaries & Glossaries
| FOLDOC |
drag and drop
A common method for manipulating files (and sometimes text) under a graphical user interface or WIMP environment. The user moves the pointer over an icon representing a file and presses a mouse button. He holds the button down while moving the pointer (dragging the file) to another place, usually a directory viewer or an icon for some application program, and then releases the button (dropping the file). The meaning of this action can often be modified by holding certain keys on the keyboard at the same time.
Some systems also use this technique for objects other than files, e.g. portions of text in a word processor.
The biggest problem with drag and drop is does it mean "copy" or "move"? The answer to this question is not intuitively evident, and there is no consensus for which is the right answer. The same vendor even makes it move in some cases and copy in others. Not being sure whether an operation is copy or move will cause you to check very often, perhaps every time if you need to be certain. Mistakes can be costly. People make mistakes all the time with drag and drop. Human computer interaction studies show a higher failure rate for such operations, but also a higher "forgiveness rate" (users think "silly me") than failures with commands (users think "stupid machine"). Overall, drag and drop took some 40 times longer to do than single-key commands.
[Erik Naggum erik@naggum.no]
A common method for manipulating files (and sometimes text) under a graphical user interface or WIMP environment. The user moves the pointer over an icon representing a file and presses a mouse button. He holds the button down while moving the pointer (dragging the file) to another place, usually a directory viewer or an icon for some application program, and then releases the button (dropping the file). The meaning of this action can often be modified by holding certain keys on the keyboard at the same time.
Some systems also use this technique for objects other than files, e.g. portions of text in a word processor.
The biggest problem with drag and drop is does it mean "copy" or "move"? The answer to this question is not intuitively evident, and there is no consensus for which is the right answer. The same vendor even makes it move in some cases and copy in others. Not being sure whether an operation is copy or move will cause you to check very often, perhaps every time if you need to be certain. Mistakes can be costly. People make mistakes all the time with drag and drop. Human computer interaction studies show a higher failure rate for such operations, but also a higher "forgiveness rate" (users think "silly me") than failures with commands (users think "stupid machine"). Overall, drag and drop took some 40 times longer to do than single-key commands.
[Erik Naggum erik@naggum.no]
| A Glossary of Internet & PC Terminology |
Drag and Drop
This term relates to a GUI (Graphical User Interface). You can drag a file by clicking its icon with the left-hand mouse button depressed & moving the mouse pointer - the file is dragged along. When you let go of the file pointer the icon is released or dropped. You can use this technique to move a file between directories.
This term relates to a GUI (Graphical User Interface). You can drag a file by clicking its icon with the left-hand mouse button depressed & moving the mouse pointer - the file is dragged along. When you let go of the file pointer the icon is released or dropped. You can use this technique to move a file between directories.
Drag and drop Definition from Language, Idioms & Slang Dictionaries & Glossaries
| hEnglish - advanced version |
drag and drop
drag and drop
a common method for manipulating files (and sometimes text) under a graphical user interface or wimp environment. the user moves the pointer over an icon representing a file and presses a mouse button. he holds the button down while moving the pointer (dragging the file) to another place, usually a directory viewer or an icon for some application program, and then releases the button (dropping the file). the meaning of this action can often be modified by holding certain keys on the keyboard at the same time.
drag and drop
a common method for manipulating files (and sometimes text) under a graphical user interface or wimp environment. the user moves the pointer over an icon representing a file and presses a mouse button. he holds the button down while moving the pointer (dragging the file) to another place, usually a directory viewer or an icon for some application program, and then releases the button (dropping the file). the meaning of this action can often be modified by holding certain keys on the keyboard at the same time.
Drag and drop Definition from Encyclopedia Dictionaries & Glossaries
| Wikipedia English - The Free Encyclopedia |
Drag-and-drop
In computer graphical user interfaces, drag-and-drop is the action of (or support for the action of) clicking on a virtual object and dragging it to a different location or onto another virtual object. In general, it can be used to invoke many kinds of actions, or create various types of associations between two abstract objects.
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