GIMP Version: 2.8.4
Operating System: Mac OS
OS Version: 10.8.4
GIMP Experience: Basic Level
URL or Image link: [url]none[/url]

List any relevant plug-ins or scripts:
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List any ERROR messages you received:
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I was happily using the rectangular select tool to copy and paste a selection, then moving the copy to a new location, as I have done thousands of times. Then without any warning it stopped working. When I press command V (mac user) the selection boundary disappears and I am unable to drag the copy anywhere. Instead the entire background image moves. I have spent over an hour trouble shooting, and at a loss to figure this one out.

Any ideas what stupid thing I might have done to cause this?

Let me try that. Thanks.

I think the indications above won't do any good since they move the selection mask and not the pasted layer.

I suspect you don't even get a copy. Have you checked that you get a new "Floating selection" layer after the Ctrl-V?

Have you tried Select>All and then Select>None to clear any very small selections you may have made and do not see? I can't tell you how many times i did this to myself.

i can replicate your problem, when i do the following:

01. create rectangular selection
02. copy
03. paste (a floating selection appears)
04. call up the Move Tool set to 'Pick a layer or guide'
05. click and drag outside the selection = the selection disappears and nothing moves at all

if that is the problem, you have to set the Move Tool to 'Move the active layer' instead of 'Pick a layer or guide'

Uh?
- Ctrl-C: copy to clipboard
- Ctrl-V: creates floating selection exactly above its source
- Move the floating selection (Move tools in usual "move layer" mode)
- Anchor

Yes, because 05 is actually "click outside the floating selection to anchor it" (there is an anchor added to the pointer when you are outside the floating selection), so clicking outside at that point anchors the selection to itself, so there is no change.

I just sat down to try all of your suggestions, and everything is mysteriously back to normal. Of course, I did shut down GIMP completely and re-open it. But for future problems, I will keep all of these suggestions in mind. Thank you all very much. One thing I noticed is that when I had the problem, the rectangular select box never turned into "marching ants" to begin with. Now it does.

I'm still mystified what I did to provoke this change.

Chris

Not really... of course 'paste' is centered in the selection if there is one, so you can move the selection mask to indicate where the paste should go, but moving the selection mask moves an outline, which isn't very practical it if you need an accurate alignment of contents so you'll end up moving the layer anyway.