Unable to drag and drop items using App Inventor 2 App on my HP Laptop

[Lizzie Gonzales]

Hi guys,
I just started using MIT AI2. I have installed the ai Starte but I can not drag and drop items using App Inventor 2 App on my HP Laptop. Any ideas? I am using OS windows 10.

[SteveJG]

You did not say but I suspect you want to use the touch screen to drag and drop.  The does not work Lizzie.

Are you attempting to drag and drop using:

1) a touch display screen

2) the built in pointing pad (mouse pad)

3) an external mouse?

Are you trying to drag components or blocks as shown in this video  https://www.youtube.com/embed/w0yxJSlC00w?autoplay=1  ?  This shows how to drag and drop.using a mouse.

1) Developers cannot presently use a touch display screen with App Inventor to drag and drop.  MIT is aware of this.  Touch screen drag and drop does not work with AI2 on my Dell laptop.  The AI2 environment was based on the premise a mouse is used to drag and drop.  Many users attempt to use a phone or a tablet to develop...this cannot work either.

2) A mouse pad works fine.   Have you tried this with your HP laptop?

3) Connect a mouse thru a USB port and you create the perfect AI2 developing environment. A real mouse is much easier to use for developing than a mouse pad.

Also be aware that the touch screen will work to move blocks around on the Blocks screen.  However you cannot drag objects onto the Designer or Blocks screens.

Does this help and solve your dilema?

Regards,

Steve

[Lizzie Gonzales]

Hi Steve, thanks for your response. I am attempting to use a mousen I even went to try it on a desktop a d still can't drag any of the items. Can it be because of Windows 10?

[SteveJG]

Windows 10 is perfectly compatible with AI2.  I have it on my desktop and laptop.  Make sure you are not using Microsoft Edge as your browser. Edge will NOT work properly in conjunction with AI2.  Firefox, Chrome, Safari etc. browsers should work fine.

You said you tried to use a real mouse on a desktop and drag and drop does not work either on the desktop.   Just to be certain, after connecting the mouse, do you see the pointer move when you move the mouse and are mouse clicks recognized when used on Windows programs...just checking but one never knows...the mouse you use might have an issue.

 Do you have Firefox plug-ins on both the laptop and desktop?  Temporarily turn them off or try using Chrome as your browser.  

[Lizzie Gonzales]

Thank you for your suggestions Steve,
I can see the cursor when I move the mouse. I can even add backgrou d to the ap screen and change the font etc. The only thing is that I cannot drag the items. I will try the suggestions you gave me with the web browsers and let you know.

[Lizzie Gonzales]

Kudos To you Steve,
The drag and drop worked. I disabled the Firefox ad dons and restarted Firefox to find it all worked great. I really, really appreciate your help.
Blessings friend,
Lizzie