Selecting Files and Folders

Select Files Your Way

Many of FileBoss's features (e.g. copy, delete, touch, rename, drag and drop, etc.) operate on files and folders you have selected. And since FileBoss can manipulate thousands of files at a time, easy and varied methods of selection are extremely important.

FileBoss provides a number of different methods for selecting files and folders so that you can use the way that suits your needs best. It also expands on the common Windows conventions for selecting files (e.g. Sticky Selection Mode, Locked Selection and Persistent Selections) to make all of your file manipulation tasks faster and more accurate.

Selecting by Menu Commands

Select... and Deselect... (Filename, Times, Attributes or other Criteria)

Displays  dialog where you can specify which files (or folders) should be selected or deselected. The criteria includes pattern matching for file names, file attributes, a range of file sizes, ranges for the accessed, modified and created file times.

All (Ctrl+A)

Selects all files and folders except, as noted above, any entries that have been hidden.

Files

Selects all files. (If clicked while the Ctrl key is held down, any selected  files will be deselected)

Select Folders

Selects all folders. (If clicked while the Ctrl key is held down, any selected folders will be deselected)

None (Ctrl+E)

Deselects all files and folders. If none were selected nothing is changed.

Reverse

Selects items which are not currently selected and deselects all those that are.

Sticky Selections

Specifies that when an entry is clicked with the mouse other selected entries will not be automatically deselected. This allows you to quickly selected multiple entries and ranges of entries without worrying about loosing the selected status of previously selected items.

When Sticky Mode is not active, hold down the Ctrl key while clicking the mouse to make the selections additive just like in many other programs..

When Sticky Mode is active, hold down the B key while clicking the mouse to temporarily cancel Sticky Mode.

Sticky Selections is on by default.

Lock Selections

Prevents any changes to the selection status of files by clicking or clicking and dragging the mouse. Note that this only applies to actions of the mouse. You can still change selections with toolbar buttons, menu commands and keyboard.

Statistics

Displays the properties box showing how many files and folders are selected, their total size in bytes and other information about the types of files selected.

(Please Note: None of these commands, or any other select command, will affect entries that have been hidden. Hidden files are those that can't be seen because they are inactive. )

Using the Mouse with Sticky Mode and Locked Selections

Using the Mouse with Sticky Mode and Lock Selections

Click on any item to select or deselect it. Hold down the left mouse button while dragging across multiple files to select contiguous files, hold down the Shift key while dragging the mouse to deselect contiguous files.

One of the great annoyances of using the Windows Explorer program that comes with Windows (and, indeed with many other programs) is that when you select multiple files by holding down the Ctrl key while clicking on the files you want oft times the all the selected files become deselected unintentionally. And, you cannot manipulate one file (such as rename or delete it) while keeping other files selected.

FileBoss solves this problem with Sticky Selection Mode

Sticky Selections

Specifies that when an entry is clicked with the mouse other selected entries will not be automatically deselected. This allows you to quickly selected multiple entries and ranges of entries without worrying about loosing the selected status of previously selected items.

When Sticky Mode is not active, hold down the Ctrl key while clicking the mouse to make the selections additive just like in many other programs..

When Sticky Mode is active, hold down the Ctrl key while clicking the mouse to temporarily cancel Sticky Mode.

Sticky Selections is on by default.

Lock Selections

Prevents any changes to the selection status of files by clicking or clicking and dragging the mouse. Note that this only applies to actions of the mouse. You can still change selections with toolbar buttons, menu commands and keyboard.

Selecting by Keyboard

You can select and deselect files and folders in the File View using the Space Bar or the Arrow keys along with the Shift and Ctrl keys.

by moving around with the up and down arrow keys (and the Page Up, Page Down keys)

Quickly:

       Space Bar to select or deselect

       Shift + Arrow keys to select as highlight moves

       Shift+Ctrl + Arrow keys to deselect.

How to Do It

(Note: Selecting and deselecting files with the keyboard can be done even with the selection status locked. Locking only prevents the selection state from being changed with the mouse.)

Selecting by Filename Patterns, Date & Times, File Sizes and Attributes

Selecting by Description displays a dialog box where you can describe the files you want to either select or deselect.

Your description can include one or more of the following:

(Note: Selecting and deselecting files with the keyboard can be done even with the selection status locked. Locking only prevents the selection state from being changed with the mouse.)

For more information on this option see the Help for the Select Dialog by clicking here.

Selecting with Toolbar buttons

From left to right the buttons represent the commands:

Select All

Selects all files and folders except, as noted above, any entries that have been hidden.

Select Files

Selects all files. (If clicked while the Ctrl key is held down, any selected  files will be deselected)

Select Folders

Selects all folders. (If clicked while the Ctrl key is held down, any selected folders will be deselected)

Clear all Selections

Deselects all files and folders. If none were selected nothing is changed.

Reverse Selected and Non-Selected Entries

Selects and items which are not currently selected and deselects all those that are.

Select by Filename, Times, Attributes or other Criteria

Displays  dialog where you can specify which files (or folders) should be selected. The criteria includes pattern matching for file names, file attributes, a range of file sizes, ranges for the accessed, modified and created file times.

Sticky Selections

Specifies that when an entry is clicked with the mouse other selected entries will not be automatically deselected. This allows you to quickly selected multiple entries and ranges of entries without worrying about loosing the selected status of previously selected items.

When Sticky Mode is not active, hold down the Ctrl key while clicking the mouse to make the selections additive just like in many other programs..

When Sticky Mode is active, hold down the Ctrl key while clicking the mouse to temporarily cancel Sticky Mode.

Sticky Selections is on by default.

Lock Selections

Prevents any changes to the selection status of files by clicking or clicking and dragging the mouse. Note that this only applies to actions of the mouse. You can still change selections with toolbar buttons, menu commands and keyboard.

(Note 1: None of these commands, or any other select command, will affect entries that have been hidden. Hidden files are those that can't be seen because they are inactive. )

(Note 2: Selecting and deselecting files with the keyboard can be done even with the selection status is locked. Locking only prevents the selection state from being changed with the mouse.)

Ref: HTDE_SELECTING_FILES

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