Cannot Drag and Drop Icons in Program Manager

 Last reviewed: December 1, 1994
Article ID: Q117129
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows operating system versions 3.1, 3.11
  • Microsoft Windows for Workgroups versions 3.1, 3.11

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Windows and Windows for Workgroups, the application icons within Program Manager cannot be moved.

CAUSE

This problem occurs if any of the following conditions exist:

  • The group files are marked with the Hidden, System, and/or Read-Only attribute(s).

    -or-

  • The EditLevel= entry in the PROGMAN.INI file is set to 2 or higher.

    -or-

  • The active field for the icon is larger than the distance being moved.

RESOLUTION

To correct this problem, use the appropriate method below.

  • Remove the Hidden, Read-Only, and/or System attribute(s) from the program group files by typing the command: 

          attrib c:\windows\*.grp -r -h -s

    -or-

  • From the File menu, choose Move. If the Move command is unavailable, open the PROGMAN.INI file in an ASCII text editor and locate the EditLevel= entry in the [Restrictions] section. If the entry is set to 2, 3, or 4, change it to 0 (zero), which is the default value.

    -or-

  • Decrease the active field area by opening the WIN.INI file in an ASCII text editor, locating the entries DoubleClickHeight= and DoubleClickWidth= in the [Windows] section, and reducing the values of either one or both these entries. Then restart Windows.

MORE INFORMATION

The active field of an icon is the area in which Windows accepts a double- click for execution. The WIN.INI file contains entries that determine this active field size: 

   [Windows]
   DoubleClickHeight=
   DoubleClickWidth=
An icon's active field is extended to the Height and Width values listed above in pixels. These values make an icon active (that is, able to be executed when highlighted) for that area. An icon cannot be moved initially within its active field. The default value for these settings is 4. If the active field is larger than the display resolution, Windows gives the appearance that the icons cannot be moved at all. Decreasing the active field area enables the icons to be moved again.

NOTE: If the program group icons cannot be moved from within Program Manager, the EditLevel= value is set to 1 or above, or the active field is larger than the distance being moved.

REFERENCES

"Microsoft Windows Resource Kit" manual for version 3.1, pages 221 and 165

KBCategory: kbdisplay kbenv
KBSubcategory: wfw wfwg win31
Additional reference words: 3.10 3.1 3.11 drag and drop greyed grayed out
dimmed

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Last reviewed: December 1, 1994
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