diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/editor/editor.contribution.ts b/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/editor/editor.contribution.ts
index 37061156a562b4791489b6276c6daeaceae8f4fe..1ac024c3c3f183351d12fbe91669b3b49108c887 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/editor/editor.contribution.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/editor/editor.contribution.ts
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ import { SyncActionDescriptor } from 'vs/platform/actions/common/actions';
 import { SyncDescriptor } from 'vs/platform/instantiation/common/descriptors';
 import { KeyMod, KeyChord, KeyCode } from 'vs/base/common/keyCodes';
 import {
-	CloseEditorsInGroupAction, CloseEditorsInOtherGroupsAction, CloseAllEditorsAction, MoveGroupLeftAction, MoveGroupRightAction, SplitEditorAction, KeepEditorAction, CloseOtherEditorsInGroupAction, OpenToSideAction, RevertAndCloseEditorAction,
+	CloseEditorsInGroupAction, CloseEditorsInOtherGroupsAction, CloseAllEditorsAction, MoveGroupLeftAction, MoveGroupRightAction, SplitEditorAction, JoinTwoGroupsAction, KeepEditorAction, CloseOtherEditorsInGroupAction, OpenToSideAction, RevertAndCloseEditorAction,
 	NavigateBetweenGroupsAction, FocusActiveGroupAction, FocusFirstGroupAction, FocusSecondGroupAction, FocusThirdGroupAction, EvenGroupWidthsAction, MaximizeGroupAction, MinimizeOtherGroupsAction, FocusPreviousGroup, FocusNextGroup, ShowEditorsInGroupOneAction,
 	toEditorQuickOpenEntry, CloseLeftEditorsInGroupAction, CloseRightEditorsInGroupAction, OpenNextEditor, OpenPreviousEditor, NavigateBackwardsAction, NavigateForwardAction, ReopenClosedEditorAction, OpenPreviousRecentlyUsedEditorInGroupAction, NAVIGATE_IN_GROUP_ONE_PREFIX,
 	OpenPreviousEditorFromHistoryAction, ShowAllEditorsAction, NAVIGATE_ALL_EDITORS_GROUP_PREFIX, ClearEditorHistoryAction, ShowEditorsInGroupTwoAction, MoveEditorRightInGroupAction, OpenNextEditorInGroup, OpenPreviousEditorInGroup,
@@ -331,6 +331,7 @@ registry.registerWorkbenchAction(new SyncActionDescriptor(CloseEditorsInGroupAct
 registry.registerWorkbenchAction(new SyncActionDescriptor(CloseOtherEditorsInGroupAction, CloseOtherEditorsInGroupAction.ID, CloseOtherEditorsInGroupAction.LABEL, { primary: null, mac: { primary: KeyMod.CtrlCmd | KeyMod.Alt | KeyCode.KEY_T } }), 'View: Close Other Editors', category);
 registry.registerWorkbenchAction(new SyncActionDescriptor(CloseEditorsInOtherGroupsAction, CloseEditorsInOtherGroupsAction.ID, CloseEditorsInOtherGroupsAction.LABEL), 'View: Close Editors in Other Groups', category);
 registry.registerWorkbenchAction(new SyncActionDescriptor(SplitEditorAction, SplitEditorAction.ID, SplitEditorAction.LABEL, { primary: KeyMod.CtrlCmd | KeyCode.US_BACKSLASH }), 'View: Split Editor', category);
+registry.registerWorkbenchAction(new SyncActionDescriptor(JoinTwoGroupsAction, JoinTwoGroupsAction.ID, JoinTwoGroupsAction.LABEL), 'View: Join Editors of Two Groups', category);
 registry.registerWorkbenchAction(new SyncActionDescriptor(NavigateBetweenGroupsAction, NavigateBetweenGroupsAction.ID, NavigateBetweenGroupsAction.LABEL), 'View: Navigate Between Editor Groups', category);
 registry.registerWorkbenchAction(new SyncActionDescriptor(FocusActiveGroupAction, FocusActiveGroupAction.ID, FocusActiveGroupAction.LABEL), 'View: Focus Active Editor Group', category);
 registry.registerWorkbenchAction(new SyncActionDescriptor(FocusFirstGroupAction, FocusFirstGroupAction.ID, FocusFirstGroupAction.LABEL, { primary: KeyMod.CtrlCmd | KeyCode.KEY_1 }), 'View: Focus First Editor Group', category);
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/editor/editorActions.ts b/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/editor/editorActions.ts
index c36ccc0d608ce3f5b0480babac0e6a49d22430fd..40d0d470dde598c5eda9b8e9c94ebb5fab5de67a 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/editor/editorActions.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/editor/editorActions.ts
@@ -106,6 +106,71 @@ export class SplitEditorAction extends Action {
 	}
 }
 
+export class JoinTwoGroupsAction extends Action {
+
+	public static ID = 'workbench.action.joinTwoGroups';
+	public static LABEL = nls.localize('joinTwoGroups', "Join Editors of Two Groups");
+
+	constructor(
+		id: string,
+		label: string,
+		@IWorkbenchEditorService private editorService: IWorkbenchEditorService,
+		@IEditorGroupService private editorGroupService: IEditorGroupService
+	) {
+		super(id, label);
+	}
+
+	public run(context?: IEditorContext): TPromise<any> {
+
+		const editorStacksModel = this.editorGroupService.getStacksModel();
+
+		// Return if has no other group to join to
+		if (editorStacksModel.groups.length < 2) {
+			return TPromise.as(true);
+		}
+
+		let fromPosition: number;
+		let toPosition: number;
+
+		// Joining group is from context, or the active group
+		if (context) {
+			fromPosition = editorStacksModel.positionOfGroup(context.group);
+		} else {
+			fromPosition = editorStacksModel.positionOfGroup(editorStacksModel.activeGroup);
+		}
+
+		// Target group is next group if joining from position one, otherwise it is the previous group
+		if (fromPosition === Position.ONE) {
+			toPosition = fromPosition + 1;
+		} else {
+			toPosition = fromPosition - 1;
+		}
+
+		const fromGroup = editorStacksModel.groupAt(fromPosition);
+		const toGroup = editorStacksModel.groupAt(toPosition);
+
+		const activeEditor = fromGroup.activeEditor;
+		const fromGroupEditors = fromGroup.getEditors();
+
+		// Insert the editors to the start if moving to the next group, otherwise insert to the end
+		// If an editor exists in both groups, its index is respected as in the joining group
+		const movingToNextGroup = fromPosition < toPosition;
+		let index = movingToNextGroup ? 0 : toGroup.count;
+
+		// Inactive and preserve focus options are used to prevent unnecessary switchings of active editor or group
+		fromGroupEditors.forEach(e => {
+			const inactive = e !== activeEditor;
+			this.editorGroupService.moveEditor(e, fromPosition, toPosition, { index, inactive, preserveFocus: inactive });
+			index = movingToNextGroup ? index + 1 : toGroup.count;
+		});
+
+		// Focus may be lost when the joining group is closed, regain focus on the target group
+		this.editorGroupService.focusGroup(toGroup);
+
+		return TPromise.as(true);
+	}
+}
+
 export class NavigateBetweenGroupsAction extends Action {
 
 	public static ID = 'workbench.action.navigateEditorGroups';
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/editor/editorCommands.ts b/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/editor/editorCommands.ts
index 0e13e3091a6f037487e5ec4c487ca776f5d53469..d538cc7c914ce3489821f13a8103f5edc0ad650d 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/editor/editorCommands.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/editor/editorCommands.ts
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ function moveActiveTab(args: ActiveEditorMoveArguments, activeEditor: IEditor, a
 	}
 
 	index = index < 0 ? 0 : index >= editorGroup.count ? editorGroup.count - 1 : index;
-	editorGroupsService.moveEditor(activeEditor.input, editorGroup, editorGroup, index);
+	editorGroupsService.moveEditor(activeEditor.input, editorGroup, editorGroup, { index });
 }
 
 function moveActiveEditorToGroup(args: ActiveEditorMoveArguments, activeEditor: IEditor, accessor: ServicesAccessor): void {
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/editor/editorPart.ts b/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/editor/editorPart.ts
index c342286bb7601c1bdb12a998a99a17c0bd0831aa..dab8cc6574295ecaa82fa417f033ce75f5e3be32 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/editor/editorPart.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/editor/editorPart.ts
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ import { BaseEditor, EditorDescriptor } from 'vs/workbench/browser/parts/editor/
 import { IEditorRegistry, Extensions as EditorExtensions, EditorInput, EditorOptions, ConfirmResult, IWorkbenchEditorConfiguration, IEditorDescriptor, TextEditorOptions, SideBySideEditorInput, TextCompareEditorVisible, TEXT_DIFF_EDITOR_ID } from 'vs/workbench/common/editor';
 import { EditorGroupsControl, Rochade, IEditorGroupsControl, ProgressState } from 'vs/workbench/browser/parts/editor/editorGroupsControl';
 import { WorkbenchProgressService } from 'vs/workbench/services/progress/browser/progressService';
-import { IEditorGroupService, GroupOrientation, GroupArrangement, ITabOptions } from 'vs/workbench/services/group/common/groupService';
+import { IEditorGroupService, GroupOrientation, GroupArrangement, ITabOptions, IMoveOptions } from 'vs/workbench/services/group/common/groupService';
 import { IConfigurationService } from 'vs/platform/configuration/common/configuration';
 import { IEditorPart } from 'vs/workbench/services/editor/browser/editorService';
 import { IPartService } from 'vs/workbench/services/part/common/partService';
@@ -808,9 +808,9 @@ export class EditorPart extends Part implements IEditorPart, IEditorGroupService
 		this._onEditorsMoved.fire();
 	}
 
-	public moveEditor(input: EditorInput, from: EditorGroup, to: EditorGroup, index?: number): void;
-	public moveEditor(input: EditorInput, from: Position, to: Position, index?: number): void;
-	public moveEditor(input: EditorInput, arg2: any, arg3: any, index?: number): void {
+	public moveEditor(input: EditorInput, from: EditorGroup, to: EditorGroup, moveOptions?: IMoveOptions): void;
+	public moveEditor(input: EditorInput, from: Position, to: Position, moveOptions?: IMoveOptions): void;
+	public moveEditor(input: EditorInput, arg2: any, arg3: any, moveOptions?: IMoveOptions): void {
 		const fromGroup = (typeof arg2 === 'number') ? this.stacks.groupAt(arg2) : arg2;
 		if (!fromGroup) {
 			return;
@@ -818,18 +818,20 @@ export class EditorPart extends Part implements IEditorPart, IEditorGroupService
 
 		// Move within group
 		if (arg2 === arg3) {
-			this.doMoveEditorInsideGroups(input, fromGroup, index);
+			this.doMoveEditorInsideGroups(input, fromGroup, moveOptions);
 		}
 
 		// Move across groups
 		else {
 			const toPosition = (typeof arg3 === 'number') ? arg3 : this.stacks.positionOfGroup(arg3);
 
-			this.doMoveEditorAcrossGroups(input, fromGroup, toPosition, index);
+			this.doMoveEditorAcrossGroups(input, fromGroup, toPosition, moveOptions);
 		}
 	}
 
-	private doMoveEditorInsideGroups(input: EditorInput, group: EditorGroup, toIndex: number): void {
+	private doMoveEditorInsideGroups(input: EditorInput, group: EditorGroup, moveOptions?: IMoveOptions): void {
+		let toIndex = moveOptions && moveOptions.index;
+
 		if (typeof toIndex !== 'number') {
 			return; // do nothing if we move into same group without index
 		}
@@ -844,7 +846,7 @@ export class EditorPart extends Part implements IEditorPart, IEditorGroupService
 		group.pin(input);
 	}
 
-	private doMoveEditorAcrossGroups(input: EditorInput, fromGroup: EditorGroup, to: Position, index?: number): void {
+	private doMoveEditorAcrossGroups(input: EditorInput, fromGroup: EditorGroup, to: Position, moveOptions?: IMoveOptions): void {
 		if (fromGroup.count === 1) {
 			const toGroup = this.stacks.groupAt(to);
 			if (!toGroup && this.stacks.positionOfGroup(fromGroup) < to) {
@@ -852,13 +854,17 @@ export class EditorPart extends Part implements IEditorPart, IEditorGroupService
 			}
 		}
 
+		const index = moveOptions && moveOptions.index;
+		const inactive = moveOptions && moveOptions.inactive;
+		const preserveFocus = moveOptions && moveOptions.preserveFocus;
+
 		// When moving an editor, try to preserve as much view state as possible by checking
-		// for th editor to be a text editor and creating the options accordingly if so
-		let options = EditorOptions.create({ pinned: true, index });
+		// for the editor to be a text editor and creating the options accordingly if so
+		let options = EditorOptions.create({ pinned: true, index, inactive, preserveFocus });
 		const activeEditor = this.getActiveEditor();
 		const codeEditor = getCodeEditor(activeEditor);
 		if (codeEditor && activeEditor.position === this.stacks.positionOfGroup(fromGroup) && input.matches(activeEditor.input)) {
-			options = TextEditorOptions.create({ pinned: true, index });
+			options = TextEditorOptions.create({ pinned: true, index, inactive, preserveFocus });
 			(<TextEditorOptions>options).fromEditor(codeEditor);
 		}
 
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/editor/tabsTitleControl.ts b/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/editor/tabsTitleControl.ts
index 93709e62046a53061966916580c58774ec5d0024..babd86bda0963631fe2b5290f60c85024561e7c1 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/editor/tabsTitleControl.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/browser/parts/editor/tabsTitleControl.ts
@@ -627,7 +627,7 @@ export class TabsTitleControl extends TitleControl {
 
 			// Move editor to target position and index
 			if (this.isMoveOperation(e, draggedEditor.group, group)) {
-				this.editorGroupService.moveEditor(draggedEditor.editor, draggedEditor.group, group, targetIndex);
+				this.editorGroupService.moveEditor(draggedEditor.editor, draggedEditor.group, group, { index: targetIndex });
 			}
 
 			// Copy: just open editor at target index
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/common/editor.ts b/src/vs/workbench/common/editor.ts
index 70e2d93d3262c2285c5f9c1e35b9fd16e2c42779..d895d26942f0d1c63edfb93df8919e2a60fc38d2 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/common/editor.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/common/editor.ts
@@ -642,6 +642,7 @@ export class TextEditorOptions extends EditorOptions {
 		options.revealIfVisible = settings.revealIfVisible;
 		options.pinned = settings.pinned;
 		options.index = settings.index;
+		options.inactive = settings.inactive;
 
 		if (settings.selection) {
 			options.startLineNumber = settings.selection.startLineNumber;
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/parts/files/browser/views/openEditorsViewer.ts b/src/vs/workbench/parts/files/browser/views/openEditorsViewer.ts
index d93106babdcd12447f47161237a5fceb6e65f14a..c8e80348bcda1f2e50c3f0a32bbb910a812a528d 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/parts/files/browser/views/openEditorsViewer.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/parts/files/browser/views/openEditorsViewer.ts
@@ -491,7 +491,7 @@ export class DragAndDrop extends DefaultDragAndDrop {
 
 		if (draggedElement) {
 			if (draggedElement instanceof OpenEditor) {
-				this.editorGroupService.moveEditor(draggedElement.editorInput, model.positionOfGroup(draggedElement.editorGroup), positionOfTargetGroup, index);
+				this.editorGroupService.moveEditor(draggedElement.editorInput, model.positionOfGroup(draggedElement.editorGroup), positionOfTargetGroup, { index });
 			} else {
 				this.editorGroupService.moveGroup(model.positionOfGroup(draggedElement), positionOfTargetGroup);
 			}
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/services/group/common/groupService.ts b/src/vs/workbench/services/group/common/groupService.ts
index e9a3151930729aa2e51fb4eeff0609ace4a907b8..e0cee99277eb91f3ce46a6bf68482aed2232ef33 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/services/group/common/groupService.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/services/group/common/groupService.ts
@@ -24,7 +24,13 @@ export interface ITabOptions {
 	tabCloseButton?: 'left' | 'right' | 'off';
 	showIcons?: boolean;
 	previewEditors?: boolean;
-};
+}
+
+export interface IMoveOptions {
+	index?: number;
+	inactive?: boolean;
+	preserveFocus?: boolean;
+}
 
 /**
  * The editor service allows to open editors and work on the active
@@ -106,9 +112,10 @@ export interface IEditorGroupService {
 
 	/**
 	 * Moves an editor from one group to another. The index in the group is optional.
+	 * The inactive option is applied when moving across groups.
 	 */
-	moveEditor(input: IEditorInput, from: IEditorGroup, to: IEditorGroup, index?: number): void;
-	moveEditor(input: IEditorInput, from: Position, to: Position, index?: number): void;
+	moveEditor(input: IEditorInput, from: IEditorGroup, to: IEditorGroup, moveOptions?: IMoveOptions): void;
+	moveEditor(input: IEditorInput, from: Position, to: Position, moveOptions?: IMoveOptions): void;
 
 	/**
 	 * Provides access to the editor stacks model
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/test/workbenchTestServices.ts b/src/vs/workbench/test/workbenchTestServices.ts
index 3035d7f7ec238d1d1c56f8df3e04042a23be7442..2b125ca8e1b84b24ccca03e8e33a6f5098721d4b 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/test/workbenchTestServices.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/test/workbenchTestServices.ts
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ import { ILifecycleService, ShutdownEvent, ShutdownReason } from 'vs/platform/li
 import { EditorStacksModel } from 'vs/workbench/common/editor/editorStacksModel';
 import { ServiceCollection } from 'vs/platform/instantiation/common/serviceCollection';
 import { InstantiationService } from 'vs/platform/instantiation/common/instantiationService';
-import { IEditorGroupService, GroupArrangement, GroupOrientation, ITabOptions } from 'vs/workbench/services/group/common/groupService';
+import { IEditorGroupService, GroupArrangement, GroupOrientation, ITabOptions, IMoveOptions } from 'vs/workbench/services/group/common/groupService';
 import { TextFileService } from 'vs/workbench/services/textfile/common/textFileService';
 import { FileOperationEvent, IFileService, IResolveContentOptions, IFileOperationResult, IFileStat, IImportResult, FileChangesEvent, IResolveFileOptions, IContent, IUpdateContentOptions, IStreamContent } from 'vs/platform/files/common/files';
 import { IModelService } from 'vs/editor/common/services/modelService';
@@ -449,9 +449,9 @@ export class TestEditorGroupService implements IEditorGroupService {
 	public unpinEditor(arg1: any, input: IEditorInput): void {
 	}
 
-	public moveEditor(input: IEditorInput, from: IEditorGroup, to: IEditorGroup, index?: number): void;
-	public moveEditor(input: IEditorInput, from: Position, to: Position, index?: number): void;
-	public moveEditor(input: IEditorInput, from: any, to: any, index?: number): void {
+	public moveEditor(input: IEditorInput, from: IEditorGroup, to: IEditorGroup, moveOptions?: IMoveOptions): void;
+	public moveEditor(input: IEditorInput, from: Position, to: Position, moveOptions?: IMoveOptions): void;
+	public moveEditor(input: IEditorInput, from: any, to: any, moveOptions?: IMoveOptions): void {
 	}
 
 	public getStacksModel(): EditorStacksModel {