In composing mail, I previously could highlight text and move it within an email. Mac Help confirms that it should be possible.
Move text or graphics in a document or email: Select the text or pictures you want to move, then drag the selected items to the new location.
I am able to highlight and move text other than in Mail as I just did in this summary, BUT I cannot in Mail. I am using Mac OS Sierra 10.12.4.
iMac (Flat Panel), OS X Mavericks (10.9.4)
Barney-15E's comment finally led me to partial success, weird as it is. When I wait three seconds before clicking the selection again, I sometimes can move it, but not consistently. Sensing the problem may be the mouse tracking speed, I changed the speed to fast, but I was no longer able to highlight and move, even after more than three seconds. Then I changed it to slow and the same thing happened. Now that I've changed it back to the middle setting, I can move a selection, but only after waiting three seconds.
Another oddity, which I had noticed before: if I drag a selection to the right/farther in the text, it copies the selection, leaving the original in place. On the other hand, when I drag the selection back/earlier in the text, it moves as it should.
I believe I have finally figured out the solution, thanks to the help from so many but particularly from SiHancox regarding the "still mouse." When I highlight a word or section, I lift my finger from the mouse, very carefully replacing it so as to not move the wireless mouse, as SiHancox noted above. When I can do this carefully, I'm able to move the selection so long as I am careful to not move the mouse. Also, other than the brief delay lifting and replacing my finger on the mouse, I no longer have to wait three seconds before attempting to drag and drop.
Of possible interest: I reset my NVRAM (to my dismay, requiring a restoration from Time Machine.) Now when I drag and drop in Email, it works correctly in either direction, unlike previously where it duplicated when moving ahead in the text.
Great news, if you are going to stay with the mouse option have you tried using it on a different surface, one that might resist "slipping" a little better when clicking - also try altering the sensitivity but to a lesser degree than you have previously because small changes might make more of a difference in opposing the slight movement on clicking than going from one extreme to the other, due to a possible "weighted" effected on that control (i.e. it might not be linear), yes, it doesn't sound logical but still worth a try.
Surprised about NVRAM, that's certainly worth noting but maybe something else was also in play to cause that, who knows.
Anyhow, happy you are finally getting somewhere with the issue and thanks for the points.
SiHancox said: Great news, if you are going to stay with the mouse option have you tried using it on a different surface, one that might resist "slipping" a little better when clicking - also try altering the sensitivity but to a lesser degree than you have previously because small changes might make more of a difference in opposing the slight movement on clicking than going from one extreme to the other, due to a possible "weighted" effected on that control (i.e. it might not be linear), yes, it doesn't sound logical but still worth a try.
When I moved the mouse from my mousepad to my desk top, it actually worked a bit better for moving a highlighted word or phrase. I tried changing the tracking speed slightly and I could not notice much if any difference.
From my standpoint, I believe my problem has been solved, thanks to you and others. I can highlight a word or phrase, lift my finger from the mouse, and when I place it back onto the mouse with the curser on the selection, perhaps pausing a minute or so, I can drag and drop. Problem solved.
If I compose a new mail save as drafts or even in normal composing I couldn't find out a feature using an IMAP account to drag and drop the words from one spot to another .
Try downloading in the Safe Mode or another admin account.
Safe Mode - About El Capitan also Sierra
Safe Mode Startup – El Capitan. also Sierra
Another thought, are you using a third party mouse, if so try without - sorry that's all I can think of at the moment.
Good luck, don't forget to backup though, just in case! - Apple is quite good in getting there updates to work trouble free, but things can still go wrong, better to be safe than sorry.
Did you checked a setting : close all applications , right click on empty desktop > sort as none .
I have the same issue. Only cut and paste works. I just thought that is the way it is. I'm using Apple mouse. I did a combo update but no change.
Just figured it out. It's all in the wrist as they say. Highlight the word then click on it and wait a second then you can drag it. If you do it too quickly it won't work.
How can I drag and drop text in Mail?
