When dragging a file between the Desktop and a Thunar window the file is copied. When dragging a file between two Thunar windows or within the same Thunar window, the file is moved. Holding down shift allows a move to/from the desktop but does nothing for Thunar. I'd like to suggest that the Desktop follow the same convention Thunar does, or at least default to the same behavior. In all cases the mouse cursor correctly indicates the operation that will be performed(arrow for move, plus for copy).
In my tests with xfdesktop 4.10.0-4.fc17 and thunar 1.4.0-1.fc17, dragging from thunar to desktop moves the file (when same owner just like thunar to thunar) but dragging from desktop to thunar copies it. shift-dragging from desktop to thunar correctly moves the file but ctrl-dragging from thunar to desktop fails to copy the file (it's still moved).
*** Bug 8644 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
Some clarification on what's happening. Bug #1 When unmodified dragging a file from the file manager to the desktop, The drag modifier shows the file is being copied (Small '+' symbol) but the file is moved. ie. The drag modifier incorrectly shows copy instead of nothing (move). Bug #2 When copy dragging (ctrl held down) a file from the file manager to the desktop, The drag modifier shows the file is being copied (Small '+' symbol) but the file is moved. ie. The copy operation is not carried out, The file is moved instead. Inconsistancy #1 Unmodified dragging from the desktop to a file manager copies the file. Unmodified dragging from a file manager to the desktop moves the file. ie. What default used (Copy or Move) is irrelevent, The issue here is both the operations should be consistant in their action of either Copy or Move. Long standing issue These problems are a barnacle for the unaware user, The issue may seem innocuous but has a real possiblility of people loosing files because they assume (As indicated) a copy operation has been carried out when infact a move operation has occured.
Created attachment 5950 Before the file dragged from file manager to desktop.
Created attachment 5951 After the file dragged from file manager to desktop.
Comment on attachment 5950 Before the file dragged from file manager to desktop. Notice the drag modifier indicates the file is being copied (Small '+' symbol).
Works fine here. Tested with xfdesktop 4.11.8 git. The remaining oddity is the default drag&drop action when dragging a file from the desktop to a file manager. -> thunar = copy -> pcmanfm = move -> nautilus = copy
Created attachment 5981 patch (thunar) Thunar tries to access cached file information which does not exist when the user drags a file from desktop to thunar. As result, the copy action is determined to be the ideal drag and drop action. The attached patch adds normal file info lookup as fallback for this case.
After patching 1.6.5, I now recieve an error: "The file transfer could not be performed" etc. ---> See attached image. Reverting to an unpatched 1.6.5 works but still has the issues previously mentioned. Note I am using xfdesktop4 v4.10.2-3 (Debian 8 testing [aka Jessie]) I'll try xdesktop4 v4.11.8 and see what sort of results are produced.
Created attachment 5984 Thunar 1.6.5 Patched Error
Comment on attachment 5984 Thunar 1.6.5 Patched Error Disregard this image. Was due to a bad package installation.
Correction: The patch on Thunar 1.6.5 worked and the file moves when dragged from the desktop to the file manager as expected. Dragging from the file manager to the desktop is unaffected by Thunar 1.6.5 + patch and exhibits the previously listed issues. I'll comment on this once I have xfdesktop4 v4.11.8 installed.
I have installed xfdesktop 4.11.8 and the problem is resolved. ie. Drag from file manager now works correctly with copy, move & link. The last inconsistancy is resolved with the Thunar patch by Thaddaeus Tintenfisch (attachment 5981 ). ie. Drag from desktop to file manager is corrected to a move operation. These are two separate bugs from two separate packages, xfdesktop 4.10 and below and Thunar without Thaddaeus's patch. As the xfdesktop issue is resolved in 4.11.8, The only thing remaining is for Thaddaeus Tintenfisch patch (attachment 5981 ) to be submitted & included in Thunar. Just to help anyone (With debian systems) the packages installed were: Remove: libxfce4ui-1-dev Install: xfce-keyboard-shortcuts_4.11.1-2_all.deb libxfce4ui-1-0_4.11.1-2_i386.deb libxfce4ui-common_4.11.1-2_all.deb libxfce4ui-utils_4.11.1-2_i386.deb xfdesktop4-data_4.11.8-1_all.deb xfdesktop4_4.11.8-1_i386.deb Note: libxfce4ui-utils was probably not required, But I included it anyway. Debian package links, Search for required packages: https://packages.debian.org/search?keywords=xfdesktop4
Thanks for the patch. Pushed to master: http://git.xfce.org/xfce/thunar/commit/?id=cdfdb7290abb270f5f98c93089c3b6e3c35859bc
Information: Thunar 1.6.6 was released prior to the patch being pushed to master. So it looks like Thunar 1.6.7 will include this patch. Great work and thanks.