Level 1

14 points

Why isn't drag n' drop working like it used to?

I have spent hours on the phone with Apple Support and we have determined that this issue started with OS X Sierra. The only Apple app that appears to consistently allow drag n' drop is TextEdit (contrary to some other comments on related threads). This is a real deal-breaker for me, and I'm getting ready to return my brand new MacBook Pro because I can't "retrograde" to El Capitan and reclaim this capability. I'll just have to take the performance hit and downgrade to a 2016 or 2017 MBP, in spite of the keyboard issues.

Apple is shooting itself in the foot, again. This is a four-thousand dollar machine, and it's worthless without consistent drag n' drop, to me. I need it EVERY SINGLE DAY, MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY.

If I wanted PC functionality, I'd have bought a PC!

Apple Support suggested a workaround involving the Services contextual menu—>Open in TextEdit—>drag n' drop from there. That's kind of like translating text from German to Spanish before you translate it to English! A LOT of the meaning (in this case, ease of use) is lost in the translation!

I iterate: IF I WANTED PC FUNCTIONALITY, I'D HAVE BOUGHT A PC!!!

MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018), macOS High Sierra (10.13.6)

Posted on Nov 5, 2018 6:25 PM

31 replies

jeffrke Author

Level 1

14 points

Nov 30, 2018 11:48 AM in response to jeffrke

Momalice,

Just so you know, I tried posting an edited version of my original post, and Apple again must have deleted it.

I'm through trying here, but there are other forums …

Thank you for being a part of this conversation, even censored as it is.

jeffrke Author

Level 1

14 points

Nov 30, 2018 11:57 AM in response to dialabrain

Oh, and ditto on the video, except my reason is that I am employed and my lunch break is over. Maybe later, but from what you keep insisting, I guess I got a lemon. I'll be calling Apple Support again soon, but this time to get a refund. Thanks for providing such ample support for my case to do so.

Cheers!

dialabrain

Level 10

136,169 points

Nov 30, 2018 12:09 PM in response to jeffrke

jeffrke wrote:

Oh, and ditto on the video, except my reason is that I am employed and my lunch break is over. Maybe later, but from what you keep insisting, I guess I got a lemon. I'll be calling Apple Support again soon, but this time to get a refund. Thanks for providing such ample support for my case to do so.

Cheers!

Good luck with the refund.

dialabrain

Level 10

136,169 points

Nov 5, 2018 10:45 PM in response to jeffrke

Okay, I can drag and drop text from PDFs in Adobe Reader, Skim, LibreOffice but not from Preview or Foxit Reader.

I'm done testing. 😎

dialabrain

Level 10

136,169 points

Nov 6, 2018 12:08 AM in response to léonie

I don't have any MS software installed so no I can't. 😎

dialabrain

Level 10

136,169 points

Nov 6, 2018 2:38 AM in response to Lexiepex

Drag and drop works fine for me between a Mac and Windows guests and back. I have no Mac guests on a Windows machine to check.

dialabrain

Level 10

136,169 points

Nov 6, 2018 2:41 AM in response to léonie

I can drag and drop photos from iPhoto 9.6.1 and Photos 4.0.

dialabrain

Level 10

136,169 points

Nov 6, 2018 3:34 AM in response to Barney-15E

Indeed. Exactly what I found.

jeffrke Author

Level 1

14 points

Nov 30, 2018 11:30 AM in response to jeffrke

Momalice,

Apple removed my original reply because it laid out facts they don't want you to know.

I doubt they will even allow this to be posted, but I'm trying anyway.

dialabrain

Level 10

136,169 points

Nov 30, 2018 11:35 AM in response to jeffrke

I have no problem dragging text between any number of programs including from this post to Pages for example on multiple Macs running Mojave.

dialabrain

Level 10

136,169 points

Nov 30, 2018 11:40 AM in response to dialabrain

Just to add, just tested High Sierra and have no problem dragging text between apps or the Desktop either.

dialabrain

Level 10

136,169 points

Nov 30, 2018 11:50 AM in response to jeffrke

A. I'm retired

B. Never worked for Apple.

C. I would create a video for you but it's too much trouble.

FWIW, the only app I found I cannot drag text from is Preview.

jeffrke Author

Level 1

14 points

Nov 30, 2018 11:52 AM in response to dialabrain

Okay, thanks for your input.

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Jan 3, 2019 10:37 AM in response to brianimator

Thanks, good work.

léonie

Level 10

200,675 points

Nov 6, 2018 12:05 AM in response to dialabrain

But can you drag and drop selected text directly between open application Windows, without a detour to the Desktop? There is a similar problem with dragging and dropping photos from the Photos library directly into application Windows. We cannot drag photos directly from Photos into open application Windows, if the application has not been updated to support the drag-and-drop from Photos. I can drag from Photos into a mail window or a Keynote window, but not into any older office 2011 version

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Why isn't drag n' drop working like it used to?