Symptom
When you drag a file over an application icon, the application does not open the file.
Solution
By using Command-Option-Drag, you force the application to attempt to open the file. This feature is not intended for any one situation, but here is one example:
Note: Command-Option-Drag never guarantees a file will open as expected or at all. In this example, Internet Explorer uses QuickTime support to display the PICT file. No application can be forced to correctly handle a file type for which it was not designed. You may achieve varying degrees of success using this technique.
When you drag a file over an application icon, the application does not open the file.
Solution
By using Command-Option-Drag, you force the application to attempt to open the file. This feature is not intended for any one situation, but here is one example:
- 1. Locate a PICT file (such as created by a Shift-Command-3 screen shot in Mac OS 9.x).
2. Drag the PICT file over the Internet Explorer icon in the Finder or Dock.
3. Note that the Internet Explorer icon does not darken, indicating that Internet Explorer does not recognize the PICT as a file that it would normally open.
Figure 1 PICT file not recognized by Internet Explorer
4. Press and hold the Command (Apple) and Option keys.
5. Drag the PICT file over the Internet Explorer again.
6. When the Internet Explorer icon darkens, release the mouse button.
Figure 2 Command-Option-Drag forces recognition
Note: Command-Option-Drag never guarantees a file will open as expected or at all. In this example, Internet Explorer uses QuickTime support to display the PICT file. No application can be forced to correctly handle a file type for which it was not designed. You may achieve varying degrees of success using this technique.