XnView Software

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I.T. challenged.

I am used to Drag an image to a new folder (right click)
and given the option to "move here" "copy here" (with 20 more options)

When I select Move, the image in the original location disappears

with my XnView it remains, thus causing a duplication

Apologies if missing something, but "move" is one of my most important process
I am working with 400,000 + images

I can accomodate using my database, but would like to stay within XnView for fluidity

Thanks
Rod

It's hard to tell what your question actually is. It seems you are confused by how drag and drop works.

When you drag and drop a file with XnViewMP, it behaves in the same way as Windows Explorer has always behaved:
- If you are dragging to another location on the same drive, the default action is to MOVE.
- If you are dragging to a location on a different drive, the default action is to COPY.

No, you're not going to get a pop-up menu asking you what you want to do.

When you are dragging, the app puts a small white box near your cursor, telling you what it's going to do. If the box has an arrow in it, it's MOVING. If the box has a plus symbol in it, it's COPYING.

If you want to override a copy behavior and move instead, hold down the shift key.
If you want to override a move behavior and copy instead, hold down the control key.

These modifiers are the same ones used by Windows Explorer, for decades. It's not new. When you use the modifier key, you will see the symbol in the little white box change to the new action.

So pay attention to the little white box near your pointer, and use the modifier keys to override appropriately to your needs.

If you find that too confusing, then right-click on the image and utilize the "Copy to" or "Move to" options that appear there, which do exactly what they say.

You also have the normal operations of cut, copy, and paste available to you, which are available with shortcut keys or from the right-click menu.

Hopefully this helps...

Thanks JKM for responding, I appreciate that.
Hopefully, I do not sound caustic,
but I have not used explorer for perhaps 20 years

I come from ACDSee 1980's
where "Move" moved the file to the new location
There was no identicle image left in the original location, that doesn't make sense to me

I shall work through your suggestions methodically,
but if it requires multiple actions, I'll just defer to my database moves.

I am fully aware how drag and drop works, just not experienced it leaving the image behind as a duplicate.

That said I do appreciate you spending time to offer advice thank you.

This is my database options, move is "Move" the item moves across to thye new location, singularly
I may move 10 > 120 images in one hit

Hi Jkm
tried all your advice, nothing worked for me
(I had no box near the cursor either)

I'll have to abandon XnView, sadly, it looked so promising
but I ditched ACDsee for the same reason

The 1980's ver did move perfectly, but was 32 bit
and no longer fit for win 10

Apreciate your time
Thank you.
Rod

Update: I did find the + and arrow, and override routine, but just not smooth enough,
for the amount of transfers I do, between folders and drives.

read these recent changes (same as jkm described above):
Browser - filelist - Move should not Copy files
Browser - filelist - Copy should not be default action

What Rod is wrongly calling his “database” is actually the 3rd party file manager program “XYplorer”. He has become accustomed to its idiosyncratic ways and evidently expects other apps to work the same way.

That is unfair,
by the same token, jkm is accustomed to File Explorer
and expects other apps to work in the same way.

I wish my file manager "move" to move, not move and copy
or, move with added keystrokes
so I find xnview wanting in that respect.

No Biggie, no discredit, It just does not serve what I seek
Don't make statements on what I "expect"

Rod222 wrote: Sat Dec 13, 2025 9:47 pm That is unfair,
by the same token, jkm is accustomed to File Explorer
and expects other apps to work in the same way.

I wish my file manager "move" to move, not move and copy
or, move with added keystrokes
so I find xnview wanting in that respect.

No Biggie, no discredit, It just does not serve what I seek
Don't make statements on what I "expect"

It's based on what you yourself said. You have made your expectations very clear. Others are only responsible for responding to what you type; not to what you think and don't type.

I've been trying to help you. I drafted a lengthy reply to this, further trying to explain everything and clarify everything for you and get you on the right track, but I've abandoned it because I don't think it can be effective.

Your misunderstandings and confusions about what you are doing and what the app is doing are so profound, that I do not believe I can help you. Since you evidently believe you have no misunderstandings or confusions, it's impossible to proceed, and you will probably take offense at the suggestion. Oh well.

I wish you the very best of luck as you continue to try programs to find one that works the way that will please you.