Selecting Files and Directories

Almost all file and directory operations (e.g. copying, moving, and deleting) work with a chosen subset of files and directories from the active (source) panel. We refer to this subset as selected files and directories.

The list of files and directories in the working area of the panel can contain three types of items - focused item, selected items, and normal items (see Working Area of Panel for details). When we talk about selected files and directories, we mean:

all selected items (if any) in the list,
or the focused item, if there are no selected items.

We present here only ways of selecting items in the list (ways of focusing an item are described in Focusing an Item).

Selecting Files and Directories Using the Keyboard

Function	Shortcuts	Note
Select or unselect focused item	Insert or Space	Changes selection of focused item (from unselected to selected and vice versa). The Space key also calculates directory size if it is used to select a directory.
Select all	Edit/Select All (Ctrl+A or Ctrl+Num Plus)
Unselect all	Edit/Unselect All (Ctrl+D or Ctrl+Num Minus)
Select using masks	Edit/Select (Num Plus or Ctrl+=)	Uses Select dialog box. Works with files and optionally also with directories, see check box Include directories to select/unselect operations in Configuration/Panels. For details on masks see File Masks.
Unselect using masks	Edit/Unselect (Num Minus or Ctrl+-)	Uses Unselect dialog box. Works with files and optionally also with directories, see check box Include directories to select/unselect operations in Configuration/Panels. For details on masks see File Masks.
Invert selection	Edit/Invert Selection (Num Multiply) or Ctrl+Num Multiply	The Ctrl+Num Multiply key works with files and directories. The Num Multiply key works with files and optionally also with directories, see check box Include directories to select/unselect operations in Configuration/Panels.
Restore Selection	Edit/Restore Selection (Ctrl+W)	Restores selection used for previous operation (selection is usually canceled when operation starts). It allows you to easily use another operation for the same files and directories.
Incremental selecting and unselecting	Shift+Arrows, Shift+Home, Shift+End, Shift+PageUp, Shift+PageDown	Selects or unselects items as you change (move) focused item - it works with all items between original and new focused items. It selects items if the original focused item is unselected and unselects items otherwise. To understand what the keys do, forget their Shift modifier and see Focusing an Item.
Select all with the same extension	Edit/Advanced/Select Same Extensions (Shift+Num Plus)	Name parts can differ.
Unselect all with the same extension	Edit/Advanced/Unselect Same Extensions (Shift+Num Minus)	Name parts can differ.
Select all with the same name part	Edit/Advanced/Select Same Names (Ctrl+Shift+Num Plus)	Extensions can differ.
Unselect all with the same name part	Edit/Advanced/Unselect Same Names (Ctrl+Shift+Num Minus)	Extensions can differ.

Selecting Files and Directories Using a Mouse

There are two mouse modes in Sally - classic and single-click modes; see the Single-click to open an item check box in Configuration/Appearance. We present three tables of functions - for both modes, for classic mode, and for single-click mode.

Functions available in both mouse modes:

Function	Shortcuts	Note
Select or unselect items in the box	Drag or Right Drag optionally with Shift or Ctrl modifier keys	Selects or unselects items as you drag the box over them. To start this action, you must press (and hold) left or right (no difference) mouse button behind items in the working area of the panel. It defines the first corner of the box (the opposite one is dragged by mouse pointer). If you start dragging without any modifier key, the current selection will be canceled. If you press (and hold) the Shift or Ctrl modifier key, the current selection will be kept. With the Shift modifier key all items in the box will be selected. With the Ctrl modifier key all selected items in the box will be unselected and vice versa.
Incremental selecting and unselecting	Ctrl+Right Drag or Right Drag	Selects or unselects items as you drag mouse pointer over them. To start this action, you must press (and hold) right mouse button (and the Ctrl modifier key) on an item. It selects items if this item is unselected and unselects items otherwise. Use the Ctrl modifier key if you have selected check box Right-click to open shortcut menu in Configuration/Panels. If you place the mouse pointer beyond the border of the working area of the panel, the list of items in the panel will scroll, allowing you to also select/unselect items that are currently not visible.

Functions available in classic mouse mode:

Function	Shortcuts	Note
Select or unselect clicked item	Ctrl+Click	Changes selection of clicked item (from unselected to selected and vice versa).
Select or unselect interval of items	Shift+Click	Selects or unselects items when you click an item that is not focused; it works with all items between original and new focused items. It selects items if the original focused item is unselected and unselects items otherwise.

Functions available in single-click mouse mode:

Function	Shortcuts	Note
Select or unselect item	Ctrl+rest the mouse pointer on an item	Changes selection of the item on which you rest the mouse pointer (from unselected to selected and vice versa). It works only on an item that is not already under the mouse pointer (selecting/unselecting must be preceded by moving mouse pointer to the item).
Select or unselect interval of items	Shift+rest the mouse pointer on an item	Selects or unselects items when you rest the mouse pointer on an item that is not focused - it works with all items between original and new focused items. It selects items if the original focused item is unselected and unselects items otherwise.

Selecting Files and Directories

Selecting Files and Directories Using the Keyboard

Selecting Files and Directories Using a Mouse

See Also