Dropstack

What is Dropstack?

Dropstack is a virtual container that lets you collect files from different folders without moving them. Think of it as a shopping cart for files—add items as you browse, then check out (copy or move) when you're ready.

This is incredibly useful when you need to gather files from multiple locations before copying them somewhere else.

Opening the Dropstack Panel

Toggle the Dropstack panel with Cmd + Option + K, or go to View → Dropstack → Toggle Dropstack.

The panel appears as a floating window showing all files you've collected.

Adding Files to Dropstack

There are several ways to add files:

Keyboard Shortcut

1. Select one or more files in the file pane
2. Press Cmd + Shift + K (with nothing selected, the file under the cursor is added)

Menu

1. Select files
2. Choose View → Dropstack → Add to Dropstack

Drag and Drop

1. Drag files from the file pane
2. Drop them onto the Dropstack panel

Managing the Stack

In the Dropstack panel, you can:

• View all collected files — See file names, sizes, and source locations
• Remove individual files — Select a file in the stack and press Delete
• Clear all — Click "Clear" (or choose View → Dropstack → Clear Dropstack) to empty the entire stack
• See total count and size — The panel header shows how many files and total size

Performing Operations

Once you've collected files, you can copy or move them all to a destination:

Copy All

1. In the Dropstack panel, click Copy To…
2. Choose the destination folder in the window that opens
3. All files in the stack are copied to the destination

Move All

1. Click Move To…
2. Choose the destination folder
3. All files are moved (removed from original locations)

After the operation completes, the Dropstack is automatically cleared.

Use Cases

Collecting Photos for an Album

Browse through multiple date folders, adding the best photos to Dropstack. When done, click Copy To…, pick your album folder and copy all at once.

Gathering Project Files

Collect configuration files, documents, and assets from different locations before copying to a new project folder.

Organizing Downloads

Go through your Downloads folder, adding files to Dropstack by category, then move each batch to the appropriate destination.

Backup Selection

Pick important files from various folders and copy them all to a backup drive in one operation.

Tips

• Dropstack persists: Files remain in the stack even if you navigate away or close the panel
• Local files only: Dropstack works with files on your Mac and on mounted drives and shares. To upload to a server, use Copy (F5) between panes instead
• Preview before operating: Always review the stack before copying/moving to ensure you have the right files

Keyboard Shortcuts

Next Steps