{"schemaVersion":1,"record":{"key":"mechanic/mouse--family-drag","type":"mechanic","id":"mouse--family-drag","lang":"en","title":"Dragging and placement","summary":"Pressing grabs an object or connection, movement sets its new position and release completes the move or change.","updatedAt":"2026-10-22","status":"active","url":"https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/mouse--family-drag/","jsonUrl":"https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/mouse--family-drag.json","markdownUrl":"https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/mouse--family-drag.md","aliases":["Grabbing and dragging"],"tags":["Mouse interactions","Applied Mechanics"],"sourceIds":["source-a088527490edebae"],"sources":[{"id":"source-a088527490edebae","title":"Mini Metro","url":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/287980/","verifiedAt":null}],"sections":[{"id":"principle","title":"How it works","body":"The pointer grabs an object or a representation of it, and the position and release location specify the result."},{"id":"variants","title":"Variants","body":"### Variants and applications\n\n<a id=\"family-drag-variants\"></a>\n\n- Free movement. Action: Grab an object, move it and release it. Application: Windows, cards, objects on the table, level elements. Conditions: A start threshold is needed so that small movements do not cancel the click. <a id=\"variant-mouse-07-01\"></a>\n- Transfer to the target area. Action: Drag an object to a valid recipient. Application: Equipment, sorting files, applying an item to an object. Conditions: Highlight the validity and explain the refusal. <a id=\"variant-mouse-07-02\"></a>\n- Drag and drop sorting. Action: Move an element to a new location in the ordered set. Application: Deck, task queue, layer list, production queue. Conditions: Show the insertion position, not just the position of the dragged copy. <a id=\"variant-mouse-07-03\"></a>\n- Transfer between slots. Action: Drag an item from one cell to another. Application: Inventory, equipment, quick access panel. Conditions: Set the rules for exchange, combination and occupied slot. <a id=\"variant-mouse-07-04\"></a>\n- Splitting the stack. Action: Start transferring part of the set with a modifier or selecting quantity. Application: Divide resources, ammo, goods. Conditions: Before completion, show how much will remain in the source. <a id=\"variant-mouse-07-05\"></a>\n- Duplication by transfer. Action: Drag with copy command. Application: Cloning parts, re-positioning objects, copying clips. Conditions: Visually differentiate between drag and copy. <a id=\"variant-mouse-07-06\"></a>\n- Exchange of two objects. Action: Drag one object onto another with the mutual replacement rule. Application: Puzzles, equipment, rearranging slots. Conditions: Pre-show both future positions. <a id=\"variant-mouse-07-07\"></a>\n- Connection by drag and drop. Action: Extend from the output of one object to the input of another. Application: Wires, logic graphs, task connections, energy circuits. Conditions: Mark compatible connectors and direction of connection. <a id=\"variant-mouse-07-08\"></a>\n- Creation by pulling. Action: Press at the beginning, drag the size or direction, release. Application: Rectangle, road, wall, construction area. Conditions: Show size, cost and errors until confirmation. <a id=\"variant-mouse-07-09\"></a>\n- Placement with anchor. Action: Move an object to a grid, socket or guide. Application: Puzzle, modular construction, interface alignment. Conditions: Distinguish between the real position of the pointer and the position of the anchored object. <a id=\"variant-mouse-07-10\"></a>\n- Group transfer. Action: Drag the selected set as a whole. Application: Group of parts, editor objects, stack of cards. Conditions: Maintain relative positions and check for collisions of the entire set. <a id=\"variant-mouse-07-11\"></a>\n- Throwing out of the area. Action: Drag beyond the border of the container or into a special zone. Application: Throw away an item, remove a card, unpin a tab. Conditions: To delete, you need to cancel or an explicitly designated zone. <a id=\"variant-mouse-07-12\"></a>\n- Transfer with autoscroll. Action: While grabbing, move the pointer to the edge of the visible area. Application: Long list, large map, off-screen inventory. Conditions: Scrolling speed should remain manageable. <a id=\"variant-mouse-07-13\"></a>\n- Release throw. Action: Accelerate the captured object and release. Application: Throw a ball, throw an object, swipe a card. Conditions: Assess speed over a short time interval, not over one event. <a id=\"variant-mouse-07-14\"></a>"},{"id":"context","title":"Context and limits","body":"Author's working classification for designing games and interactions. Options can overlap and combine; the list is not a generally accepted standard or proven exhaustive list. Application examples are conditional unless a specific verifiable observation is indicated nearby. Sources support individual techniques and technical limitations."}],"relations":[],"placements":[{"catalogId":"mouse","id":"family-drag","title":"Mouse interactions","url":"https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/mouse/#family-drag","categoryIds":["section-2"]}],"supersededBy":[],"attributes":{"preview":{"updatedAt":"2026-10-22","title":"Grabbing and dragging","description":"Pressing grabs an object or connection, movement sets its new position and release completes the move or change.","image":{"src":"images/mechanics/interface-mini-metro-00.webp","width":1440,"height":810,"game":"Mini Metro","sourceUrl":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/287980/","originalUrl":"https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/287980/ss_c7bc5df7e606504709e9f53ff9c7584ac4c01b18.1920x1080.jpg?t=1724386220","credit":"Dinosaur Polo Club / Dinosaur Polo Club","rights":"© Dinosaur Polo Club / Dinosaur Polo Club. All rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0.","caption":"Mini Metro: colored lines connect differently shaped stations","alt":"Mini Metro: colored lines connect differently shaped stations","markers":[{"x":46,"y":47,"label":"Connections define train routes and transfers"}]},"tips":["Allow dragging to be cancelled and show valid drop locations."],"examples":[{"title":"Mini Metro","url":"https://store.steampowered.com/app/287980/"}]}},"endsAt":null,"provenance":"Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on 2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and editorial review.","license":"CC-BY-4.0","codeLicense":"MIT","attribution":"gamemechanics.pro contributors","catalogKey":"catalog/mouse"}}