4.7. Copying and Moving Folders and FilesWindows offers two different techniques for moving files and folders from one place to another: dragging them, and using the Copy and Paste commands. Whichever method you choose, you must start by showing Windows which icons you want to copy or moveby highlighting them, as described on the previous pages. Then proceed as follows . 4.7.1. Copying by Dragging IconsYou can drag icons from one folder to another, from one drive to another, from a drive to a folder on another drive, and so on. (When you've selected several icons, drag any one of them and the others will go along for the ride.) Here's what happens when you drag icons in the usual way (using the left mouse button):
Tip: You can move or copy icons by dragging them either into an open window or directly onto a disk or folder icon . 4.7.1.1. The right mouse button trickThink you'll remember all of those possibilities every time you drag an icon? Probably not. Fortunately, you never have to. One of the most important tricks you can learn is to use the right mouse button as you drag. When you release the button, the menu shown in Figure 4-8 appears, letting you either copy or move the selected icons.
Tip: Press the Esc key to cancel a dragging operation at any time. 4.7.1.2. Dragging icons into the Navigation paneYou may find it easier to copy or move icons using the Navigation pane (Section 3.3.4), since the two-pane display format makes it easier to see where your files are and where they're going. Just expand the flippy triangles of the Navigation pane until you can see the destination folder. Then locate the icon you want to move in the right pane and drag it to the appropriate folder in the left pane (Figure 4-9). Windows copies the icon.
4.7.2. Copying with Copy and PasteDragging icons to copy or move them feels good because it's so direct; you actually see your arrow cursor pushing the icons into the new location. But you also pay a price for this satisfying illusion. That is, you may have to spend a moment or two fiddling with your windows, or clicking in the Explorer folder hierarchy, so that you have a clear "line of drag" between the icon to be moved and the destination folder. Fortunately, there's a better way. You can use the Cut, Copy, and Paste commands to move icons from one window into another. The routine goes like this:
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