Drag and drop to organize FX and folders

[djdanlib]

It's not an everyday scenario where I install new effects plugins, but when I do, or when I have to delete all of my preferences because some vendor is absolutely convinced it's Reaper's fault that their plugin doesn't work... most of them don't support Reaper, so it's always a hassle.

I would like to drag and drop FX plugins, in the browser, from the list, to the folders on the left.

I would also like to be able to reorder the FX folders by drag and drop.

This would be really convenient. I've thought about making a program to manipulate the INI files for me, but it would be much better to have native functionality in Reaper instead.

[foxAsteria]

you can just right click and create custom folders. they cannot be reordered via drag n drop (must use context), but you can drag the plugins in from the browser. just be aware that these will have to be recreated on any new machine.

still, they are quite nice and convenient once set up since you don't have to worry about deleting old dll's you don't use anymore but might need for some old project.

[Quest The Wordsmith]

While I would LOVE this to be a native feature of Reaper as well, there's a pretty common workaround that most of the power users here use: FX Chains. The idea is to create an FX chain for each individual plugin you have, and you can customize your folder hierarchy to your delight.

Here's the definitive how-to thread on FX Chains.

[Quest The Wordsmith]

For the record, I didn't use the provided file in that thread, rather, I learned the how to use the idea and set up my own folder structure. Here's a video:

[djdanlib]

That's all nice, and I appreciate the link, but it doesn't address a basic GUI convention that I'd like to use which would improve my personal workflow.

[karbomusic]

Not related to the original post but create empty folders named ----------------- etc. and you can make your own catgory dividers and so on.

[Sound asleep]

Originally Posted by foxAsteria

you can just right click and create custom folders. they cannot be reordered via drag n drop (must use context), but you can drag the plugins in from the browser. just be aware that these will have to be recreated on any new machine.

still, they are quite nice and convenient once set up since you don't have to worry about deleting old dll's you don't use anymore but might need for some old project.

What do you mean by "must use context"? I was under the impression it was impossible to reorder FX folders.

EDIT: nevermind, this is amazing. Drag and drop would be much better, but if I can do this, I'm good.

Originally Posted by Quest The Wordsmith

For the record, I didn't use the provided file in that thread, rather, I learned the how to use the idea and set up my own folder structure. Here's a video:

How did you get folders within folders like that? That's amazing.

EDIT: I think I figured it out. Reaper stores FX Chains in an FX Chains folder in the REAPER folder. This means you can add folders there in windows. I guess there's no way to do something similar for the normal Quick FX?

Is there an easier way to add FX to the FX chain, other than building an FX chain, and selecting each one and adding it one at a time?

[Sound asleep]

Originally Posted by DVDouglas

For me I like to be able to reorder the FX folders by drag and drop. I was under the impression it was impossible to reorder FX folders.

Same lol. But context menu reordering is still a lot better than nothing!

[Daodan]

Originally Posted by DVDouglas

For me I like to be able to reorder the FX folders by drag and drop. I was under the impression it was impossible to reorder FX folders.

Originally Posted by Sound asleep

Same lol. But context menu reordering is still a lot better than nothing!

You mean this?

Reaper 6.66 Win11

[Sound asleep]

Oh nice. I didn't know it was like that now.

[foxAsteria]

Originally Posted by djdanlib

I would like to drag and drop FX plugins, in the browser, from the list, to the folders on the left.

I would also like to be able to reorder the FX folders by drag and drop.

you can do the first one already. make a formal FR for the second one. we should have drag and drop ordering there and everywhere else. i'm sure we'd all find it useful. in fact it should be standard by now.

but while on the subject, i do find it very frustrating that dragging plugins from the browser into folders immediately opens the folder. makes it a pain in the ass to cherry pick from big vst collections since you have to find the original folder and scroll through from the start of the list for every one. why would this be the default behavior? if i'm organizing my collection, doesn't it make more sense to view the collection most of the time, and not the plugins i've already added?

[Lawrence]

Suggestion:

You'd filter like below, "Comp" (EQ, whatever), select some plugs and fire a right click context menu, "To Favorites", and all of the selected plugs would be placed in a new favorites folder named after the search filter...

[Buy One]

Originally Posted by djdanlib

I would also like to be able to reorder the FX folders by drag and drop.

BUMP...

or at least to have the context menu stay on while i keep clicking those move up/down menu items or have these items embedded into the FX browser UI so they're exposed or an option to make them exposed.