Drop Keys

About Drop Keys

    When a file or folder is dropped onto File Buddy's icon, File Buddy looks to see if any keys are down. These keys are called drop keys. Drop keys need not contain a modifier such as the Command or Option keys. Any combination of one to three keys is permitted.
    File Buddy can use these keys to determine if it should take one of the following actions with the items dropped on it:

The Drop Key Cursor

Since holding keys down after a window opens can result in unexpected text being entered into a field, File Buddy displays this cursor as soon as it sees what keys are held down. Once you see the drop key cursor, you can release the keys.

Actions available with Drop Keys

    Select Action Dialog
    Display a dialog from which you can choose an action. This option gives you the ability to select an action when you drop the item without having to remember all of the other drop keys.
    Finder's Get Info
    Open the Finder's info window for the item. Mostly used when you want the info window for the original of an alias you just dropped, since the Finder resolves alias dropped. This means that by the time File Buddy is informed that a file was dropped on it's icon, File Buddy gets the original, not an alias.
    Owner's Info
    Open and info window for the application used to open the file.
    Move to Desktop
    Move (or copy in Mac OS X) the dropped item to the desktop. Mostly used when you want to move the original of an alias you just dropped.
    Find Original
    Show the original item pointed to by an alias.
    View in List
    Open a new file list window and populate it with the dropped items.
    Move/Copy
    Move or copy the dropped items.
    Make Alias
    Open the dropped items in the alias creation window.
    Get Info
    Open the dropped items in the File Buddy info window.
    Group Info
    Display a total file size and count of the files and folders dropped.
    Find Owner App
    Find the application used to open a dropped file.
    Find Similar
    Open the find window and set the attributes in it to match those of the dropped item.

Setting Drop Keys

    To edit the drop keys for an action:
    1 Open the Edit menu and choose Drop Keys.
    2 Click the button for the desired action.
    3 Hold down the combination of keys you wish to invoke the action and click the mouse.
    4 Click OK.

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