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Trying to organize documents inside a file folder. Not working I can click and drag a document but it won't let me drop it where I want to move it. Seems simple but it's not working
iMac 21.5", macOS 10.15
That's ok, you're never too young to learn new things.
There's no point to attempting to sort files by chronological order. Viewing them can only be accomplished using one of the Finder's columnar formats (in other words, not "icon view") and clicking a "date" column header, or the icon in the Finder window and choosing "sort by" one of the date options (see the screenshot below) and perhaps other ways I can't think of right now.
If you take lots of time dragging icons around in "icon view" in an attempt to show their chronology it's probably not worth the effort. You can certainly choose the finder's View menu > Sort By > followed by whatever your needs require.
To capture and insert a screenshot read the Appendix in Writing an effective Apple Support Communities question. Briefly, you choose the "picture" icon below where you're composing a reply. It's shown in that User Tip:
If you have the Desktop active (not a window, but the actual Desktop), AND you have NOT activated "Use Stacks", there IS a sort by None. If you have Stacks, then that takes precedence. Documents will be organized into stacks.
There is something probably being misunderstood either on my side or yours, or both.
Please clarify: are you talking about moving the items in the desktop proper, or in a window open to show the contents of the Desktop folder?
Anyway, the answer ought to be the same, since they both work.
You are in Icon view, right? That is the only thing that makes sense, since in other views you can't move stuff around, but can you confirm, please?
The above is an image of my Desktop folder, all arranged (after "Clean Up by Kind").
And now here it is, after I moved stuff around:
As you can see, documents are all over the place; I just moved a few around just to confirm that it works.
On the desktop & selecting View & List it does not offer a "None". Opening the file folder, under Perform Tasks, the Sort By offers options but not a "none" then clicking on Change the Item Grouping there is a "none" which I selected but still I can drag but not drop and sort the documents the way I have always done in my Documents files.
I found it and indeed it is checked to Sort By None. Thanks to you I've learned something new even if my effort to sort the documents by dragging and dropping them inside the file folder the way I used to no longer works.
(FYI, I'm going on 80 so my tech. skills kind of reflect my age.) I took a photo of each but not sure how to attach them here. One via Desktop via Finder, View, Sort By: and there is a "None" while the second accessed via the file folder itself which is parked on my Desktop & it does not offer me a "None" under 'Sort By' and I think that's the problem.) It's not a big deal. Just trying to align tax documents in chronological order. Thanks again. You've been great!
Thank you so much and I appreciate your advice. Will select a date option & let the CPA print them and sort them however works best for him. Thanks also re the "screenshot" instructions.
What is that folder's fully qualified pathname, and where are you attempting to move the files.
It depends on what the settings for the folder are. If it is set to sort by name, kind, or whatever, you can’t rearrange the contents. Go to View and choose Sort by->None.
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Trying to move documents around inside a file folder on my desktop. Mac 10.15.3
