5 Replies Latest reply: Sep 29, 2010 9:43 AM by Noel Carboni RSS

    Can't drag windows around using the title bar-CS4

    Kid Red Community Member

      I just upgraded to CS4 at work last week and I'm already regretting it. Firstly, using two monitors, CS4 must like my graphics card becasue as soon as I open a document and it begins to render the window, the main monitor loses it's signal and cuts off. So I have to hard shut down and make my 2nd monitor the main one, open CS4 and a file on that monitor, then make it the 2nd monitor and pass it over to my real first monitor with a file open and make that monitor the main one again. Added to that, randomly, files will open as tabs even though I have the option unchecked in prefs. I hate tabs, I want my windows floating. But I digress.

       

      My current issue is the file windows are not movable using the title bar. I can expand/contract every side grabbing the edge, but clicking, holding and dragging any of the title bar is ineffective. I can drag to tab to undock it, but once floating, the title bar is non-funtional for grabbing. I can also double click on it to tab, just not to drag.

       

      I use a mac at home and thankfully Adobe hasn't forced the edge to edge palette background on that platform. On the mac we get a 'classic view' or something that does away with the desktop blocking grey window background. Seriously, I can't stand the full screen look. Why can't windows have that option to have just the menu bar, palettes and file windows allowing the desktop to be visible? /rant

        • 1. Re: Can't drag windows around using the title bar-CS4
          Noel Carboni Community Member

          You've got Photoshop in it's default Tabbed View.  You can get the multiple document (windowed view) interface back.

           

          Uncheck the preference titled Open Documents as Tabs in the Edit - Preferences - Interface panel.  You'll want to shut Photoshop down and restart it afterward.

           

          -Noel

          • 2. Re: Can't drag windows around using the title bar-CS4
            Kid Red Community Member

            I apologize, I said in my post "I have the tabbed option unchecked in prefs' but I didn't convey that clear enough in the mist of my ranting. So to confirm, I have the option unchecked (and restarted).

             

            However, I just dragged to files on the the grey background and they opened as tabs. I went and unchecked the allow floating windows to dock, but will have to restart (mess with the dual monitors) later before I can comment on if that helped. If I choose Open and browse for my file, it opens floating. So this might be a drag and drop issue circumnavigating the do not open in tabs preference.

             

            Regardless, the windows are floating, they are not tabbed, and still will not allow the title bar to function as a grab and move feature. This is my real issue, the title bar of a floating window will not function as a grab bar. Once the window is floating, I can not move it.

             

            ----

             

            Another issue, I guess a separate thread is appropriate, when I drop a file and it becomes a tab (which is incorrect behavior) and I select 'Float All Windows" it pops into a floating window (yay), but at 0% zoom level (boo). So I have to then hit "View Actual Pixels" or keyboard shortcut 5-6 times.

            • 3. Re: Can't drag windows around using the title bar-CS4
              Noel Carboni Community Member

              Sorry, I missed that you had unchecked that already.  Sounds like several different things are happening...

               

              1.  It's a known shortcoming with CS4 (fixed in CS5) that dragging a file into the workspace causes it to open as a tab, no matter how the prefs are set.  Drag the file to the title bar (or any non-workspace area) of Photoshop as a workaround; then it will open it in a window.

               

              2.  You should be able to move your windows as you have described.  If you cannot, something basic is wrong, and it is very likely rooted in your video drivers.  You can try unchecking the Use OpenGL Drawing setting in Edit - Preferences - Performance to see if it's the OpenGL subsystem.  Even if it isn't, a driver update from the web site of the manufacturer of your video card may very well correct the problems.

               

              Best of luck.

               

              -Noel

              • 4. Re: Can't drag windows around using the title bar-CS4
                Kid Red Community Member

                Thanks for explaining #1, I'll try the toolbar drop tip next time.

                 

                As for #2, PS prefs do not have the GL option active, it's inactive light grey. So I expect my graphics card isn't up to the task and yes, I upgraded to the latest driver once I had the monitor issue. Is there a minimum requirement for video cards to play nice with CS4? I'm losing (monitor) signal when opening a file on a DVI monitor (VGA dual monitor is fine). So my theory is the graphics card is choking and cutting the signal, for some reason, which also may be hiccupping randomly and failing on the window frame drag action.

                • 5. Re: Can't drag windows around using the title bar-CS4
                  Noel Carboni Community Member

                  A new video card is often a good idea if yours is over 2 years old.  Even the modern "budget" (e.g., ~$100) cards are hugely powerful nowadays.

                   

                  This page, I believe, could be a good starting point for everything you want to know:

                  http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/404/kb404898.html

                   

                  This page, specifically, talks about tested video cards with Photoshop CS4:

                  http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/405/kb405711.html

                   

                  A similar page for Photoshop CS5:

                  http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/831/cpsid_83117.html

                   

                  -Noel