WD6X: Drag-and-Drop Extends Selection Instead of Moving It

ID: Q104690

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Word for Windows, version 6.0
• Microsoft Word for the Macintosh, version 6.0

SYMPTOMS

If you select text or a graphic and then try to drag it, Word may extend the selection instead of dragging it.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs if you do not wait for the mouse pointer to change to a drag-and-drop pointer before dragging. The drag-and-drop pointer appears after a short pause (approximately one-half second). If you attempt to drag your selection before the drag-and-drop pointer appears, Word extends the selection instead.

STATUS

The feature is by design of Microsoft Word. It was implemented in response to Word usability studies in which Word users inadvertently dragged and dropped text when they wanted to extend the selection.

Additional query words: highlight highlighting paragraph interface drag & drop dragging dropping

Keywords          : kbui winword macword word6 
Version           : WINDOWS:6.0;MACINTOSH:6.0
Platform          : MACINTOSH WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: May 20, 1999