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Question

Folder moved but SUBFOLDERS LEFT BEHIND???

Oct 30, 2012 3:51AM PDT

On XP, if I drag and drop (or cut and paste) a folder with multiple subfolders, I end up having 2 copies of the parent folder in two locations with different combinations of subfolders. This only happens if a file within one of those subfolders is in use by another program.

Example:
"Parent Folder" contains subfolders "1", "2", & "3". I have a PDF open that is located in subfolder "3". I try to drag and drop "Parent Folder" from location alpha to location beta. I end up having a copy of "Parent Folder" in location beta with subfolders "1" & "2" inside. Location alpha also has a copy of "Parent Folder" with only subfolder "3" inside.

This is causing critical data control issues in my office. I run Windows 7. 7 does not move anything without the entire "Parent Folder" going at once. How can I change the settings on XP to not move ANYTHING until the entire content of a folder can move at once?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Yes it's true.
Oct 30, 2012 3:59AM PDT

I have yet to see any change to XP to make Explorer (that's the name of the app you are using it seems) to do this move/copy/etc.

-> Maybe you need to have your IT staffer create a better app for this and stop using Explorer? (I'm not kidding!)

Bob

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PS. Second thought.
Oct 30, 2012 4:08AM PDT

I have to guess why this is being done without a Document Management System (DMS). Sometimes you encounter a business that is trying to make do without DMS yet they really need one. Other times they never heard of DMS and just need the tip there are such systems.
Bob

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Unique Situation
Oct 30, 2012 5:34AM PDT

We are in an odd situation in that we use SAP (already has DMS built in). However, we are in a highly audited business that requires us to maintain documentation outside of that system.

A unique DMS system would be great, but there is NO way that investment would be cleared.

They obviously made this fix in Explorer for Windows 7. Is there no fix for XP?

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Who said it was broken?
Oct 30, 2012 5:56AM PDT

I've seen this for years and didn't find any tweak or setting in Explorer in the MSDN. From what you write you now have a fine case to mandate you move off XP.

Or a fine case to have a replacement app made to do what you want.

--> I forgot to mention UNLOCKER. It's possible that a command line tool or script be crafted to unlock all files/folders before the move is done but that's for your IT staffer to figure out.
Bob