File icons jump around as I'm dragging them

When I'm dragging a bunch of files, say in list view, from one open folder window to another, what is the purpose of their jumping around from one configuration to another as I'm dragging them? Is this supposed to make dragging easier? I've been trying to live with this for five months now since getting my new Mac and the purpose of this is still lost on me. I thought it was somehow supposed to make seeing what you're dragging easier in some way, but I find these constant acrobatics to be simply annoying. This never happened in the pre-Lion OS, and after giving it a lengthy and fair trial, I still can't see the point of it. It is distracting and makes it harder to see what I am dragging and where. Is this just another gratuitous animation, and how can I turn this off?

This should NOT be happening.
Create a new User go to System Preferences > Users & Groups > "+" (make it an admin acct) and test the Finder in this new account, if it works the problem is isolated to your User and not systemwide.
If it's limited to your User account, go to your Finder "Go" menu hold the option key to choose "Library"
Then go to Preferences folder trash these files:
com.apple.finder.plist
com.apple.sidebarlists.plist
Then, restart, or log out and in again.
(You will have to reset a few finder prefs the way you like them.)
EDIT: before you create the account put some files in /Shared or be prepared to create files in the new account to test.

Similar Messages

Iphone 4s screen icons jumping around like you are touching the home button. Acts as if someone is opening apps. Any suggestions?

Iphone 4s screen icons jumping around like you are touching the home button. Acts as if someone is opening apps. Any suggestions?

You didn't, but you are about the 4th person today who has done this. It just wastes my time, and yours, and gets frustrating after awhile.
I do believe you have a screen/logicboard issue and while you can try Restoring it from backup in iTunes, and then as a new iPhone if that doesn't work, I don't believe it will help.

Suddenly I can't move files to trash, whe I try to drag them to it there is a cirle with a diagonal line across. HELP!

Suddenly I can't move files to trash, whe I try to drag them to it there is a cirle with a diagonal line across. HELP!

Back up all data. Don't continue unless you're sure you can restore from a backup, even if you're unable to log in.
This procedure will unlock all your user files (not system files) and reset their ownership and access-control lists to the default. If you've set special values for those attributes on any of your files, they will be reverted. In that case, either stop here, or be prepared to recreate the settings if necessary. Do so only after verifying that those settings didn't cause the problem. If none of this is meaningful to you, you don't need to worry about it.
Step 1
If you have more than one user account, and the one in question is not an administrator account, then temporarily promote it to administrator status in the Users & Groups preference pane. To do that, unlock the preference pane using the credentials of an administrator, check the box marked Allow user to administer this computer, then reboot. You can demote the problem account back to standard status when this step has been completed.
Triple-click the following line on this page to select it. Copy the selected text to the Clipboard (command-C):
{ sudo chflags -R nouchg,nouappnd ~ $TMPDIR.. ; sudo chown -R $UID:staff ~ $_ ; sudo chmod -R u+rwX ~ $_ ; chmod -R -N ~ $_ ; } 2> /dev/null
Launch the Terminal application in any of the following ways:
☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)
☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.
☞ Open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Terminal in the icon grid.
Paste into the Terminal window (command-V). You'll be prompted for your login password. Nothing will be displayed when you type it. You may get a one-time warning to be careful. If you don’t have a login password, you’ll need to set one before you can run the command. If you see a message that your username "is not in the sudoers file," then you're not logged in as an administrator.
The command will take a noticeable amount of time to run. Wait for a new line ending in a dollar sign (“$”) to appear, then quit Terminal.
Step 2 (optional)
Take this step only if you have trouble with Step 1 or if it doesn't solve the problem.
Boot into Recovery. When the OS X Utilities screen appears, select
Utilities ▹ Terminal
from the menu bar. A Terminal window will open.
In the Terminal window, type this:
res
Press the tab key. The partial command you typed will automatically be completed to this:
resetpassword
Press return. A Reset Password window will open. You’re not going to reset a password.
Select your boot volume ("Macintosh HD," unless you gave it a different name) if not already selected.
Select your username from the menu labeled Select the user account if not already selected.
Under Reset Home Directory Permissions and ACLs, click the Reset button.
Select
 ▹ Restart
from the menu bar.

Dock icons will not disappear when I drag them to desktop or trash

On my MacBook Pro, when I drag an icon from the dock to the desktop or to trash, it bounces back to where it was on the dock. I tried to move Applescript Editor, AppleWorks 6, Keychain Access, Activity Monitor, Quick Time Player and several more icons and they all did the same. Each icon that will not disappear, has a blue dot reflection underneath it.
I moved one of the icons without a blue reflection to the desk top and it did go up in smoke, but as soon as i replaced that icon from finder back to the dock, it also had a blue reflection under it and I could not make it disappear again.
If anyone can help me, I would appreciate it. Thank you so much,
Arudi

You're only supposed to drag icons out of the Dock if you want to remove them from it; running applications won't disappear immediately but may do so when quit.
If you're trying to put icons on the desktop, find the items in the Finder and drag them there with the Option and Command keys held down.
(88931)

File icons shrunk - HELP!

For some reason, all of my file icons have shrunk. I have gone into Finder's view preferences and my icon size hasn't changed. It is set to 44x44. For some reasons the file icons are around 20x20. Is there a way to change this back?
Message was edited by: Enderend

I did what you suggested. I am running dual monitors, my laptop's display is set at 1440x900 and the external monitor is set to 1920x1080 (HD). I dragged a file from the HD display to my laptop's display. There is no change to the icon preview.

Can you copy/paste files from the Finder to Mail in Lion, or drag them onto the Mail icon in the Dock to create a new message and attach the files to it?

Message title says it: Can you copy/paste files from the Finder to Mail in Lion, or drag them onto the Mail icon in the Dock to create a new message and attach the files to it?
I can't find anything in the Knowledge Base that says these two options no longer work or still do.
I do not have a system capable of running Lion, but I need to know the answer nonetheless.

Gee, I don't know: "paste attachments mail Lion"? ;-)
One further question, if I may: in Panther (which is where I've aggregated nearly 7 years of mail), if you copy more than one file in the Finder, switch to Mail, and paste the files into a new message, only the file names paste in. If you copy one file and paste it into a Mail message, you get the file, not just the name. Is that still true, or has that (IMHO) bug been fixed since 10.3.9?

Does anyone have an issue with the adobe files jumping around?

I recently purchased a new Mac Pro running Mountain Lion and installed the latest CS6 upgrade. I've been working with with for a few weeks and notice that while I'm in adobe files (mostely InDesign) the pages will jump around or scroll without prompted. If I zoom in to a specific image on a page, it will jump to a different page in the document. I've noticed it with Acrobat also. Not so much with Photoshop, Dreamweaver or Illustrator. Has anyone else experienced the same? Any advice?
I'm not sure if it's truly adobe related, my magic mouse or the new OS?

This seems to be a generic problem not only with InDesign but with many of the Creative Suite/Creative Cloud apps, namely the ones with large pasteboards surrounding the working area. I would very much like Adobe to implement a preference opportunity to disable Magic Mouse finger scrolling locally in these apps. IMHO, moving the pasteboard around is best done with space+click.
It would be great if there were some kind of product enhancement tip link on Adobe's website, but I haven't found any.

Pc is not recognising PDF file ( icon ) in emails and to open these it is loading a 3rd party program on the web. I have installed Adobe several times. To open my files I need to drag them to my Adobe program. any ideas??

Pc is not recognize PDF file ( icon ) in emails and to open these it is loading a 3rd party program on the web. I have installed Adobe several times. To open my files I need to drag them to my Adobe program. any ideas??

Hi aadeshs
This problem is on my laptop running Vista ( Business) on Adobe 10.0 , for many years I did NOT have a problem with this . No forum Pages on this.
Also i would like to know how screen readers can better interact with PDF as my wife has difficultys on some email attachments on her laptop , again there seems no easy avenue for someone in her situation surfing websites and forums for Hours maybe ok ok for sighted people, but not if you are blind & use a screenreader. No Support Help from Adobe is available.
thanks
oliver654837

Unable to Drag & Drop Files/Icons

Suddenly I am unable to drag and drop icons/files. I can right-click/control-click on icons and files, but I cannot drag them anywhere.
How did this happen? I wish I knew. All I can tell you is that I restarted my PowerBook, logged in, and -- bam. No more dragging and dropping.
I've restarted the PBook. I've restarted the Finder numerous times. I've repaired permissions. I've verified the HD. Nothing has worked so far.
Any ideas?
Thanks in advance.

OOPS, silly me!
At this point I think you should get Applejack...
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/19596
After installing, reboot holding down CMD+s, then when the DOS like prompt shows, type in...
applejack AUTO
Then let it do all 5 of it's things.
At least it'll eliminate some questions if it doesn't fix it.
The 5 things it does are...
Correct any Disk problems.
Repair Permissions.
Clear out Cache Files.
Repair/check several plist files.
Dump the VM files for a fresh start.
First reboot will be slower, sometimes 2 or 3 restarts will be required for full benefit... my guess is files relying upon other files relying upon other files!

Ai and eps will not open in Ai when you double click the file icon or drag onto to app icon

I get the following error messages when I double click the files icon or drag the file to the Ai app icon in the dock. The only way to open the files is via File > Open with in the app.
Photoshop and InDesign files open fine, it's just Illustrator.
The document “xyz.ai” could not be opened. Illustrator cannot open files in the “Adobe Illustrator Document” format.
The document “xyz.eps” could not be opened. Illustrator cannot open files in the “EPS File” format.
Running CS5.5 on Mavericks then Yosemite.

th1nk,
I believe the right order/way is to update the OS, then reinstall the applications. Was that how you did it?

I want to drag and drop a file to a JText area with its file icon

I want to drag and drop a file to a JText area with its file icon , but the problem is I cant show the file icon.
Anyone knows this.
this is my code.
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.image.BufferedImage;
import java.awt.datatransfer.DataFlavor;
import java.awt.datatransfer.Transferable;
import java.awt.dnd.DnDConstants;
import java.awt.dnd.DropTarget;
import java.awt.dnd.DropTargetDragEvent;
import java.awt.dnd.DropTargetDropEvent;
import java.awt.dnd.DropTargetEvent;
import java.awt.dnd.DropTargetListener;
import java.io.File;
import javax.swing.*;
import javax.swing.filechooser.FileSystemView;
public class FileDrag extends JFrame implements DropTargetListener {
DropTarget dt;
File file;
JTextArea ta;
JLabel lbl;
Graphics g;
ImageIcon tmpIcon;
public FileDrag() {
super("Drop Test");
setSize(300, 300);
getContentPane().add(
new JLabel("Drop a list from your file chooser here:"),
BorderLayout.NORTH);
ta = new JTextArea();
ta.setBackground(Color.white);
getContentPane().add(ta);
dt = new DropTarget(ta, this);
setVisible(true);
public void dragEnter(DropTargetDragEvent dtde) {
System.out.println("Drag Enter");
public void dragExit(DropTargetEvent dte) {
System.out.println("Source: " + dte.getSource());
System.out.println("Drag Exit");
public void dragOver(DropTargetDragEvent dtde) {
System.out.println("Drag Over");
public void dropActionChanged(DropTargetDragEvent dtde) {
System.out.println("Drop Action Changed");
public void drop(DropTargetDropEvent dtde) {
FileSystemView view = FileSystemView.getFileSystemView();
JLabel testb;
Icon icon = null;
Toolkit tk;
Dimension dim;
BufferedImage buff = null;
try {
Transferable tr = dtde.getTransferable();
DataFlavor[] flavors = tr.getTransferDataFlavors();
for (int i = 0; i < flavors.length; i++) {
System.out.println("Possible flavor: " + flavors.getMimeType());
if (flavors.isFlavorJavaFileListType()) {
dtde.acceptDrop(DnDConstants.ACTION_COPY);
ta.setText("Successful file list drop.\n\n");
java.util.List list = (java.util.List) tr.getTransferData(flavors);
for (int j = 0; j < list.size(); j++) {
System.out.println(list.get(j));
file = (File) list.get(j);
icon = view.getSystemIcon(file);
ta.append(list.get(j) + "\n");
ta.append("\n");
tk = Toolkit.getDefaultToolkit();
dim = tk.getBestCursorSize(icon.getIconWidth(), icon.getIconHeight());
buff = new BufferedImage(dim.width, dim.height, BufferedImage.TYPE_INT_ARGB);
icon.paintIcon(ta, buff.getGraphics(), 10, 10);
repaint();
dtde.dropComplete(true);
return;
System.out.println("Drop failed: " + dtde);
dtde.rejectDrop();
} catch (Exception e) {
e.printStackTrace();
dtde.rejectDrop();
public static void main(String args[]) {
new FileDrag();
}

This appears to be a long-standing bug:
https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=634720
and the accepted workaround is stated in comment 11.
Oddly, it's possible to do the reverse, i.e. drag multiple eml files from Explorer to a TB folder.

Mac opens files by itself, cursor jumps around

I have a MacBook Pro with the latest OS, updated just last week. The cursor will jump around the screen, scrool to different desktop screens, open files by itself, and when I am typing the text will get erased. I have tryied reseting the NVRAM, clearing the system cache and reparing disk permissons...

What mouse are you using, if it's an old Mighty Mouse it needs to cleaned. If you aren't using a Mighty Mouse then reset the SMC and PRAM.
SMC RESET
Shut down the computer.
Unplug the computer's power cord and all peripherals.
Wait 15 seconds.
Attach the computers power cable.
Wait another 5 seconds and press the power button to turn on the computer.
PRAM RESET
Shut down the computer.
Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Command, Option, P, and R. You will need to hold these keys down simultaneously in step 4.
Turn on the computer.
Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys. You must press this key combination before the gray screen appears.
Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for the second time.
Release the keys.

The Finder Icon "jumped" off my dock..how do i get it back?

Hi. I just got my new MacBook earlier today and I was moving some of the dock icons around and somehow the Finder icon "jumped" off the dock and is now no longer selectable. It just sits on the desktop and hovers above all other programs but behind the dock. I can't click on it or move it or even select it using the lassoo, so any ideas what I could try? Or anybody have a clue what happened/has this happened to anyone before?
here's a picture:
It's not like it's something I could've manually removed. I've tried moving the finder before and you can't do it. (this isn't my first OS X mac)
I'm just as baffled as you are.
MacBook 2.0 GHz 13.3" Mac OS X (10.4.7)
iMac G4 17" Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Try trashing this preference file and reboot.
HD > User > Library > Preferences > com.apple.dock.plist
-Bmer
Mac Owners Support Group
Join Us @ MacOSG.com
ITMS: MacOSG Podcast
 An Apple User Group 

Photoshop Elements 10 Help with image jumping around the screen

I'm using a trial version of Elements 10 that I'm interested in buying it but 50% of the time when I click on an image so that I can click and drag it around the screen, it jumps off the screen. I have been using Elements 6 and never had this problem and it is super frustrating. I'm using a laptop and thought maybe it was my touchpad so i got a mouse and it is still doing the same thing. Is there a way to fix this problem? I will stick with Elements 6 if this can't be fixed as it takes me twice as long to edit images since the layers are jumping around and I keep have to kit the "undo" button.

The editor saved prefs often get corrupted. If resetting all tools doesn’t work you may need to rebuild the editor preferences to resolve any conflicts.
Hold down the Ctrl+Shift+Alt keys and simultaneously click on the Edit button on the welcome screen. Release the three keys and look behind the welcome screen by closing it. Or hold down the keys whilst double clicking on PhotoshopElementsEditor.exe
You should see a pop up box with the words: Delete Adobe Photoshop Elements Settings File?
Click on Yes
Close down Elements and re-open it in the normal way - then wait whilst it rebuilds the preferences.

Mouse pointer jumping around the screen

My mouse pointer has just started jumping around the screen. It vibrates and slowly moves down the screen even if I am not touching it. I have cleaned the sensor but that has not helped. I unplugged it and the pointer still jumped around.
Any ideas what might be causing this as I have not seen quite this problem on other discussions.

HI,
That's interesting... restart your iMac. See if that makes a difference.
Also, do you have anything nearby that might cause interference, like a cell phone or graphics tablet?
May sound crazy, but dust and lint build up on a mouse pad can cause erratic cursor behavior.
You could try deleting this file.
com.apple.driver.AppleHIDMouse.plist
/Users/YourName/Library/Preferences. Drag that file to the Trash, empty the Trash and restart your iMac.

File icons jump around as I'm dragging them

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for