NotchStar shelf compared with Finder drag and drop
Finder drag and drop is free, built in and needs no extra app. It works best when the source and the destination are both on screen. The NotchStar shelf helps when they are not: park the file, switch windows, drag it out.
Side by side
| Finder drag and drop | NotchStar shelf | |
|---|---|---|
| Needs both places visible | Yes, or hold over a window to spring open | No, park first |
| Can hold several files from different folders | No | Yes |
| Leaves a copy | No | No, locations only |
| Survives a quit | Not applicable | No, empties on quit |
| Costs | Included in macOS | Part of NotchStar |
When Finder is enough
- The destination folder is already open beside the source.
- You are moving the file once.
- You want nothing running in the background.
When the shelf helps
- The destination is in another app that is not open yet.
- The files come from three folders and go to one message.
- You want an AirDrop zone on the same drop, see how it works.
The honest cost
The shelf needs NotchStar running and loses its contents when you quit. It is for the next few minutes, not a filing system. Read the limits.
Workflow background is in the file shelf guide and on the File Shelf page.
