Page 1 of 5
Drag-N-Drop - Not drop target
Posted: 13 Jun 2005 19:12
by nrshapiro
I unzip files using Winzip and ALZip.
When you try to drop files from a zip onto tracker, you get an error. You have to open up an explorer window instead. But tracker is supposed to "replace" explorer, so it should work as a drop target.
Another operational difference between Explorer/Tracker: When dragging from Tracker, the tracker window is tied up until the operation is complete. But when you drag from explorer, after the drop the action seems to be the target's responsibility, and the window is not tied up. In other words, if I am copying a 200MB file, and I drag from Tracker to another window (say explorer), tracker is tied up. But if I had two explorer windows instead, and dragged from the first to the second, the source window would immediately be freed for more operations; only the target is "busy".
Re: Drag-N-Drop - Not drop target
Posted: 13 Jun 2005 21:42
by free
nrshapiro wrote:
When you try to drop files from a zip onto tracker, you get an error. You have to open up an explorer window instead. But tracker is supposed to "replace" explorer, so it should work as a drop target.
Interesting...
I tried to reproduce it and this is what got:
I have a zipped folder. In tracker if double clicked, external explorer windows opens, and if file is dragged out of there within TV3, I get "nothing to drop". --using WinXP 'compressed folder'.
If I right click->extract all, naturally the file will be created in detination and TV3 as well.
However, WinRar acts differntly:
Created rar archive within TV3, by hiliting -> 'add to archive' WinRar's context, Rar was created.
As opposed to 'right clicking' to extract which always works, I double-clicked, external rar window opened, And I was able to drag file(s) succesfully to another destination within TV3.
Last test was most interesting....
By default I only associated winrar with 'rar' archives.
(It'll open all supported archives at will anyway.)
I used 'open with winrar' on zip , external rar opened, but when i dragged the file to TV3, nothing at all was created, neither error msg!
The cursor did change to +, but no results!
Dragging the 'zip' from same Winrar window to another destination in explorer did create the file.
( Same results with 'custom drag drop' option checked)
For my own needs I'm quite satisfied with context support in TV3 and really don't need the extra enhancements, but the odd behavior is interesting...
Posted: 14 Jun 2005 01:51
by free
Nope, it doesn't work (including second step).
It can't. TV3 doesn't have native 'archive' support -- yet...
If it did it would have been able to 'browse' the contents of the archive.
In explorer there is a bult in association to view contents of such files (though they are treated as files+ *special action) So double click/drop will support default action(s) (explorer or associated third party)
TV3 sees them as "normal" files and sends them to the associated program.
( WinZip, rar, explorer etc.)
Same way it "cant" see the 'contents' of the archive when TV3 is selected as destination, so there is "nothing to drop" or no action.
Posted: 14 Jun 2005 03:20
by nrshapiro
free wrote:Nope, it doesn't work (including second step).
It can't. TV3 doesn't have native 'archive' support -- yet...
If it did it would have been able to 'browse' the contents of the archive.
In explorer there is a bult in association to view contents of such files (though they are treated as files+ *special action) So double click/drop will support default action(s) (explorer or associated third party)
TV3 sees them as "normal" files and sends them to the associated program.
( WinZip, rar, explorer etc.)
Same way it "cant" see the 'contents' of the archive when TV3 is selected as destination, so there is "nothing to drop" or no action.
I don't think that's right. If I have WinZIP open, I can drop a file from the opened archive on any application and it opens. It doesn't need to have archive support built in. For example, I can drop a file on a text editor, notepad, or codewright. Or a paint program. But not tracker!
Re: Drag-N-Drop - Not drop target
Posted: 14 Jun 2005 18:49
by admin
nrshapiro wrote:When you try to drop files from a zip onto tracker, you get an error.
Yes, I'm aware of this issue. When dragging from archive contents, the archive should be temporarily unpacked into the TEMP path and the contents copied from there; this is what happens in Explorer. The mystery is what triggers the unpacking...
nrshapiro wrote:When dragging from Tracker, the tracker window is tied up until the operation is complete.
Yes, and it will stay like this, I'm afraid.
Re: Drag-N-Drop - Not drop target
Posted: 06 Jul 2005 23:01
by JustinF
nrshapiro wrote:When you try to drop files from a zip onto tracker, you get an error.
I'm not trying to be a pest, but have you made any progress with this yet? I didn't think it would affect me too much, but the more I use TrackerV3, the more I realize how this affects me...especially when I unzip all these TrackerV3 betas.
Re: Drag-N-Drop - Not drop target
Posted: 07 Jul 2005 10:06
by admin
No progress yet. It's in the back of my head but I've already tried every trick I know without success. Sooner or later some solution will pop up...
Posted: 25 Sep 2005 21:53
by JustinF
Any solution to this problem come out of thin air yet? I get bit by this bug every day.
Posted: 25 Sep 2005 22:15
by admin
JustinF wrote:Any solution to this problem come out of thin air yet?
Nope. A free prof license for the first who sends me a working piece of source code (drag-drop-extracting files from WinZip or similar onto VB control)!
Posted: 25 Sep 2005 23:54
by jacky
admin wrote:JustinF wrote:Any solution to this problem come out of thin air yet?
Nope. A free prof license for the first who sends me a working piece of source code (drag-drop-extracting files from WinZip or similar onto VB control)!
I have no idea how you do your drag&drop thing; but the unpacking is made by the compression soft (WinRAR, etc) I think, and it sends you the filepath of the temporary extracted file(s)
Just tried this:
Code: Select all
List1.OLEDropMode = 1
Private Sub List1_OLEDragDrop(Data As DataObject, Effect As Long, Button As Integer, Shift As Integer, X As Single, Y As Single)
Dim File As Variant
For Each File In Data.Files
MsgBox File
Next
End Sub
and when i drop a file from WinRAR (I'm sure it should be the same with WinZIP and others) I got the path to the temporary extracted file(s), you just have to move the file then.... :unsure:
Posted: 26 Sep 2005 10:35
by admin
jacky wrote:... when i drop a file from WinRAR (I'm sure it should be the same with WinZIP and others) I got the path to the temporary extracted file(s), you just have to move the file then.... :unsure:
Yes, it is exactly the same with WinZip. The problem is only: the supposed temporary files are not there!! Try your code and look in the temporary location: empty!
Posted: 26 Sep 2005 14:53
by jacky
admin wrote:jacky wrote:... when i drop a file from WinRAR (I'm sure it should be the same with WinZIP and others) I got the path to the temporary extracted file(s), you just have to move the file then.... :unsure:
Yes, it is exactly the same with WinZip. The problem is only: the supposed temporary files are not there!! Try your code and look in the temporary location: empty!
well, I did try it and files were there!! I even made it do an MsgBox with the content and it worked fine
I only tested with WinRAR cause it's the only one I have/use, but it works fine. Weird it doesn't work for you, cause I don't even think WinRAR delete the files once done, it might be up to you I think.
Maybe WinZIP is different though and deletes the files once the d&d operation is done, so there must be something to do to let him know when files can be removed...
Did you try with WinRAR too?
K, I just went to winzip.com & download the latest one, and tried, and it worked too. I drag a file from WinZIP and dropped it into the listbox, and I got the file name & content.
Posted: 26 Sep 2005 15:25
by JustinF
Ok, I just tried it with VB.Net using AlZip and the files were in the directory. I know VB.Net <> VB6, but the compression program still has to extract the file(s) to a temp location no matter what language the drop operation happens in. Very strange that it doesn't work for you.
Posted: 26 Sep 2005 16:55
by admin
JustinF wrote:Very strange that it doesn't work for you.
Indeed!
jacky, can you send me the code or your little test project? if it really works with winzip there must be some tiny difference to my approach...
Posted: 26 Sep 2005 19:33
by jacky
admin wrote:jacky, can you send me the code or your little test project? if it really works with winzip there must be some tiny difference to my approach...
Sent to
[admin EDIT: don't print my email, please... beware of spam!]
Tested again, it works with both WinRAR (3.50) & WinZIP (beta10) for me, hope it can help you.