Selecting - Word Processing - Articles about Computing

We need to select text or objects in order to change the font size, color, or other attributes, as well as copying or moving a selection.

However, in most applications, such as Word, it�s difficult to select a large area. This is especially the case if we use the page preview view in Word. We were taught to use the mouse to select an area. However, we often lose control over the mouse as it passes over the page break, and we watch the pages fly by. It�s practically impossible to select just what we want.

Is there an accurate and convenient way to select text? Can we do it in a way that we will not lose control over the mouse?

Yes there is - and there are several ways to do it.

Don't do that selecting in Page Preview view. Switch to Normal view, by clicking on an icon on the bottom of the screen or by clicking Edit, View, Normal. You will then improve your abilities with the mouse, even though your work may not be perfect.
Don't use the mouse at all. Click where you want the selection to start. Hold down on your Shift key, press the down arrow. You will then be able to select the text without having the cursor or the pointer jump around. When you get to the line that you want, use the right or left arrow to get the exact position required. Let go of the arrow key first and then the Shift key.
Use the Extend function in some programs including Word. This might be the simplest of all. Click the beginning of the area to be blocked off. Double click on �EXT� on the bottom of the screen, or press F8, and then locate the point where you want the blocked area to end and click at the end of the blocked area. The entire area in between will be blocked off.
Another way is especially good for those who want to have a cute way of blocking off a specific area in Word. You know how to block off a horizontal how to select a horizontal block of text. Those are the methods that we just showed. But how about selecting a vertical area of text as in some flags? You want the left vertical strip to remain as it is, the right vertical strip to remain as it is and you want a middle area to be blocked off so that you can change the color or other attributes.

You can do that rather simply. Click on the top of the column where you want the vertical strip to appear. Hold down on the Alt key. Drag your mouse down and diagonally over to the right or left. You will have selected a vertical strip precisely covering the letters in that column. Let go of the mouse and then of the Alt key and that area has been selected. Now, click on the color that you would like for that area or the typeface or any other change that you would like to make.

Caution: When you use this last method it is advisable not to change the size of the typeface. If you do, then the entire document will be then you will lose the column and the document will have a checkerboard look at best. This method can also be used for moving objects using the drag and drop method.

Where do you want to go now?