[Macworld]

Post your comments for Spring into spring-loaded folders here

[fds]

Or if you'd rather not wait, just press the space bar while hovering over the folder with the mouse cursor.

[webraider]

This is one of the few reasons I haven't been able to completely abandon volumes appearing on the desktop. I tried the cool nothing on the desktop approach but there is no way to activate spring loaded folders from the desktop DIRECTLY without having a volume up there. I had to open a finder window first which almost defeated the purpose. If apple would add the ability to activate spring loaded folder by dragging the file over the "finder" icon, that would be cool. Then I might be able to move to a volume less desktop except that I still fancy remembering to eject my CD or DVD before I power down. If it's not there, I may forget. Don't get me wrong, I like volumes on the desktop but, but you can access them all via the finder window anyway so it's kinda redundant.

[derkathon]

webraider said:

This is one of the few reasons I haven't been able to completely abandon volumes appearing on the desktop. I tried the cool nothing on the desktop approach but there is no way to activate spring loaded folders from the desktop DIRECTLY without having a volume up there. I had to open a finder window first which almost defeated the purpose. If apple would add the ability to activate spring loaded folder by dragging the file over the "finder" icon, that would be cool. Then I might be able to move to a volume less desktop except that I still fancy remembering to eject my CD or DVD before I power down. If it's not there, I may forget. Don't get me wrong, I like volumes on the desktop but, but you can access them all via the finder window anyway so it's kinda redundant.

I ended up putting the documents and applications folder in the dock. I found spring-loaded folders to be easier to use from there than from the desktop; when there are a bunch of windows in the way, it's easier for me to drag a file to the dock than it is to juggle the windows around with expose. After much deliberation, I just recently decided to keep all volumes off the desktop since I ended up never using them from there anyway.

[Dan Frakes]

Additional tip: If you've set a long delay to avoid accidental pop-ups, you can still opt to open a pop-up folder (in the Finder or the Dock) instantly by pressing the space bar as you drag an item over the folder.

[malloon]

My only complaint is that often hitting the space bar invokes quick look instead of opening the folder.

[hoju]

My issue with spring-loaded folders is this:
If I'm in an application like Safari for example, and have a browser window open, and I try to drag a file into a folder, the folder pops up UNDERNEATH the browser window so that I can't fully see the contents of the folder.
Is this normal? It's as if the fact that I'm in Safari overrides the spring-loaded folder mechanism, which I'm assuming is a function of Finder. Doesn't seem right if you ask me.

[jjhohner]

Just a couple of comments for a couple of posters here... I just found out that if you drag a file over the finder icon in the dock, you won't see the plus sign, but if you hit the space bar it will open a finder window and then you can root down through folders as usual.
One cool thing about this, for people that don't like having finder windows open, is that after you 'deposit' your file(s), the finder window will disappear.
Also remember that as you hold onto a file you can use F9, F10 or F11 to engage exposé, and then hover over any of the windows that show up.
Cheers,
Jeff

[kmdean]

One thing to add to jjhohner's note about "if you drag a file over the finder icon in the dock, you won't see the plus sign, but if you hit the space bar it will open a finder window".
I was just about to post this as well. The spacebar trick actually works over any dock icon and will launch the app if it isn't open already without opening the document in that app.
Another tip is you don't have to have sring-loaded folders turned on to use the spacebar trick. This is my preferred mode.
malloon says:
"My only complaint is that often hitting the space bar invokes quick look instead of opening the folder."
These are functionally mutually exclusive. Spacebar only triggers quick look when you just have a file selected. If you select and drag a file, then spacebar will activate spring-loader folders. You can't trigger quick look if you're dragging a file.

[bortz62]

malloon says:
"My only complaint is that often hitting the space bar invokes quick look instead of opening the folder."

This happens to me also from time to time. I've always kept spring-loaded set to the longest possible delay and I use the space bar to activate, but ever since the 10.5 upgrade I sometimes get quick look (the folder still springs opens, but it is partially obscured by the quick look window). It's inconsistent and it's irritating and it definitely happens with folders, not just files, as kmdean asserts.

[kmdean]

Just make sure you press the spacebar after you're dragging. I can trigger quick look if I very quickly hit the spacebar a fraction of a second before I start dragging. Though I can't think of why anyone would do this as regular spring-load activity since you usually have to drag to a new location before hitting space. I suppose if the mouse is low on battery or glitchy it could cause some odd dragging / not dragging situations.
Also, I'm not asserting anything in particular regarding files. I simply just said files as a generic reference. Of course you can drag folders too and they both act the same.

[Matt1000]

Hate to be the mr. negative this time, but am I the only persone who HATES this feature? Every time I grab something to copy and hover over a folder and look for a second to double-check that I am dropping it in the right place, suddenly "Aaaah! Why are windows pooping up all over my screen!"
So, just an an alternative I wanted to mention that you can turn spring loaded folders off BUT the space bar trick still works so you can use it when you want it.