MacMost Now 344: Making Selections

On the Mac you can select single multiple items in the Finder or in applications in many different ways. Take a look at how selections work in a variety of situations using modifiers like the Command and Shift keys.

You can also watch this video at YouTube (but with ads).

Video Transcript: Hi this is Gary with MacMost Now.
On todays episode lets look at all the different ways that you can select items. Now, selecting items, say in the finder, itunes, or in a text document, may seem like a very basic skill, but do you know all the different ways that you can make selections? For example, you can select multiple areas in a text document, or you can select a range of items in the finder. lets go and take a look at all the different things you can do with the mouse and all the keys on the keyboard to select items.
Now, it doesn't stop there. For instance, in most applications you can select all the items in the window using Command+A. Look in the Edit Menu, and some applications even have a Select menu, for more ways to select items in the application. Play around with different things, the command, the option and the shift key work in different ways for selections in different programs. Sometimes they perform really useful functions. If you use an application often, its useful to find out all the different ways that you can select items in that application. Hope you found this useful. Til next time, this is Gary Rosenzweig, with MacMost Now.

Comments: 6 Responses to “MacMost Now 344: Making Selections”

Ken Smith

15 years ago

Hi Gary,

Love your podcasts but found this one difficult to follow. I was preoccupied with the text at the bottom which was needed to explain the screen since only music was playing. The text would be fine as a supplement as long you are talking along to the actions on the screen. A little transitional music between sections would be fine but again found this one difficult to follow and thus not as enjoyable. Also, the music was a bit too loud as well. However, keep trying new things, its always good. Love your site!

Bob Keenan

Hi Gary,
As usual, another great episode.But please tell me what was that song ?
Loved it.

Gary Rosenzweig

The music is just something I put together in GarageBand.

forkboy1965

Nice music you added..a bit funky.

But now on to the question...I have noticed that click+shift+click to select a continuous range of files/folders doesn't always work on my iMac.

I cannot swear to it, but it seems to work sometimes and in some apps, but not in others.

Is this normal for OS X (I'm using Snow Leopard) or is there possibly something wrong and if so, what could I possibly do about it?

Thank you.

Thanks. How selections work vary from app to app and from situation to situation, sometimes. I doubt there is anything wrong.

Thanks Gary. I'm a bit surprised though as using the shift key to select a continuous group of files/folders always works on Windows machines.

It seems strange that this wouldn't be a default sort of thing in the world of Apple. Then again, I'm slowly learning that Apple has a host of things that are different and not always to my liking.

Maybe I'm still too close to my Windows XP Pro desktop ;-)

Comments Closed.

MacMost Now 344: Making Selections

Comments: 6 Responses to “MacMost Now 344: Making Selections”

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