Post by drcard on Jan 20, 2024 6:15:40 GMT -5
This tip that was written for Word document use really applies to almost every app and web page that displays text. If you find that it is getting harder to accurately select text to copy, cut, delete, reformat, or any other function to be applied to the selected text; then I suggest you read this tip even if you don’t use Word.
The instructions refer to screenshots “below” where the word “below” is a link to that screenshot. This forum doesn’t allow the links within a document and all the images. If you desire to see the linkable screenshots to better understand the instructions you can download the pdf version of this tip at the following link:
Easy and Accurate Selection of Text or Pages in Word
This is a free hosting site which means that a pop up ad will occur when you click to download the pdf file. Just close the pop up window and download is very quick.
Easy and Accurate Selection of Text or Pages in Word
Special Notice: The Selection of Text, Phrases, or Blocks of Text (not page or pages) section below not only applies to all Word versions but also applies to nearly every app or web page that displays text that you can select.
What
Instructions on how to easily and accurately select text in a Word document which is only a slight modification of the method used by most users. Also included is how to easily and accurately select an entire page or multiple pages in a document.
Why
Most users of Word documents use the Click + Drag method to select characters, text, phrases, sentences, blocks of text, and pages; which is click and hold down the left mouse button as you move the mouse pointer until you highlight all that you wish to select. While this is a quick and easy method, it often lacks the accuracy and speed to select exactly what we need to select in order to perform some function on that selection. By changing this method slightly you can still have quick and easy, but greatly increase the accuracy and speed of your selection. This other method is called the Shift + Click method and the following instructions explain how to perform this method. Using another different method allows for the easy, accurate selection of a page or a group of pages within a Word document. The instructions for these methods also follow.
How
Selection of Text, Phrases, or Blocks of Text
o Place the mouse pointer (which is an I beam when held over text in a Word document) to the left side of the text, character, or space that is the exact place you want the selection to begin. Click the left mouse button once to place the straight beam cursor (|) there flashing as shown in the example below. Notice that you click the button once and NOT click and hold.
o With the straight line cursor flashing where you began the selection, move the I beam mouse pointer to the point just past the last letter, space, or character you want included in the selected text as shown in the example below. This will be the end of the selection from the now flashing straight line cursor to this point.
o Once you have the I beam mouse pointer positioned where you want the end of the selection to be, press and hold down the Shift key while you Click the left mouse button once.
o All text between the two points are selected (as shown below) for you to take whatever action you want on that section of the document.
o Recap: Select with the mouse where to start the selection, but click only once and do not hold the mouse button down. Move the pointer to the end of the selection you want (same as moving the mouse pointer while holding down the mouse button, BUT for many users not having to hold the mouse button down while moving the mouse results in better accuracy in exact placement of the mouse pointer). Press and hold the Shift key while clicking the left mouse button once.
o This provides excellent precision in selecting only part of a word. What’s between the cursors of the mouse pointer is what’s selected accurately. Note: When the starting point is in the middle of a word and the selection area will be more than one word, Word will automatically include all of the letters in that starting word. This is a function of Word and this auto selecting the entire word does not occur in non-Word apps and web pages.
o While you can use the method above to select whole page or pages, there is a much easier and accurate way explained below.
Selection of a Page
o You will need to know the page number of the page you wish to select. If you have the page displaying in the Word window, look at the left side of the bottom border to see Word’s page number for this document as shown below. Word’s page number may be different from page numbering entered by the author of the document.
o Once you know the page number, press Ctrl + G to open the Find and Replace window. It should open with the Go To tab selected as shown below. If not, select it.
o In the box under Go to what: make sure Pages is selected.
o In the box under Enter page number: enter the page number and press the Go To button.
o This will go to that page which is behind the Find and Replace window which has the page number highlighted where you entered it.
o With this page number highlighted enter \page and press the Enter key. This will highlight (select) everything on that page.
o Close the Find and Replace window leaving you with that entire page select for what ever function you desire. Side Tip: While the page is selected, press the Backspace key once and the entire page will be deleted.
Selection of a Group of Pages
o These instructions explain how to select a group of pages that are together in numerical sequence from other pages in a document. Very useful in moving chapters within a large document.
o You will need to know the Word’s page number for the first and last page numbers for the group of pages to be select. For example: In a 297 page document I want to select pages 107, 108, and 109 (or pages 107-109).
o Follow the Selection of a Page instructions above to Go To the first page of the group (page 107 in my example).
o Once that first page is displayed behind the Find and Replace window, close the Find and Replace window to display that page.
o Press the F8 key once.
o Press Ctrl + G to open the Find and Replace window again. In the Enter page number: box enter the page number of the page immediately after the last page you want to select and press the Go To button. In my example page 109 is my last page to select so I enter page 110 which is the next page after page 109.
o Close the Find and Replace window and the pages you selected are highlighted and await your next actions.
Comments
o Most non-Word apps and web pages will not display the straight line cursor (|) or any cursor mark for your point to start the selection, but the app/web page will recognize your click and will use that as the starting point of the selection.
The instructions refer to screenshots “below” where the word “below” is a link to that screenshot. This forum doesn’t allow the links within a document and all the images. If you desire to see the linkable screenshots to better understand the instructions you can download the pdf version of this tip at the following link:
Easy and Accurate Selection of Text or Pages in Word
This is a free hosting site which means that a pop up ad will occur when you click to download the pdf file. Just close the pop up window and download is very quick.
Easy and Accurate Selection of Text or Pages in Word
Special Notice: The Selection of Text, Phrases, or Blocks of Text (not page or pages) section below not only applies to all Word versions but also applies to nearly every app or web page that displays text that you can select.
What
Instructions on how to easily and accurately select text in a Word document which is only a slight modification of the method used by most users. Also included is how to easily and accurately select an entire page or multiple pages in a document.
Why
Most users of Word documents use the Click + Drag method to select characters, text, phrases, sentences, blocks of text, and pages; which is click and hold down the left mouse button as you move the mouse pointer until you highlight all that you wish to select. While this is a quick and easy method, it often lacks the accuracy and speed to select exactly what we need to select in order to perform some function on that selection. By changing this method slightly you can still have quick and easy, but greatly increase the accuracy and speed of your selection. This other method is called the Shift + Click method and the following instructions explain how to perform this method. Using another different method allows for the easy, accurate selection of a page or a group of pages within a Word document. The instructions for these methods also follow.
How
Selection of Text, Phrases, or Blocks of Text
o Place the mouse pointer (which is an I beam when held over text in a Word document) to the left side of the text, character, or space that is the exact place you want the selection to begin. Click the left mouse button once to place the straight beam cursor (|) there flashing as shown in the example below. Notice that you click the button once and NOT click and hold.
o With the straight line cursor flashing where you began the selection, move the I beam mouse pointer to the point just past the last letter, space, or character you want included in the selected text as shown in the example below. This will be the end of the selection from the now flashing straight line cursor to this point.
o Once you have the I beam mouse pointer positioned where you want the end of the selection to be, press and hold down the Shift key while you Click the left mouse button once.
o All text between the two points are selected (as shown below) for you to take whatever action you want on that section of the document.
o Recap: Select with the mouse where to start the selection, but click only once and do not hold the mouse button down. Move the pointer to the end of the selection you want (same as moving the mouse pointer while holding down the mouse button, BUT for many users not having to hold the mouse button down while moving the mouse results in better accuracy in exact placement of the mouse pointer). Press and hold the Shift key while clicking the left mouse button once.
o This provides excellent precision in selecting only part of a word. What’s between the cursors of the mouse pointer is what’s selected accurately. Note: When the starting point is in the middle of a word and the selection area will be more than one word, Word will automatically include all of the letters in that starting word. This is a function of Word and this auto selecting the entire word does not occur in non-Word apps and web pages.
o While you can use the method above to select whole page or pages, there is a much easier and accurate way explained below.
Selection of a Page
o You will need to know the page number of the page you wish to select. If you have the page displaying in the Word window, look at the left side of the bottom border to see Word’s page number for this document as shown below. Word’s page number may be different from page numbering entered by the author of the document.
o Once you know the page number, press Ctrl + G to open the Find and Replace window. It should open with the Go To tab selected as shown below. If not, select it.
o In the box under Go to what: make sure Pages is selected.
o In the box under Enter page number: enter the page number and press the Go To button.
o This will go to that page which is behind the Find and Replace window which has the page number highlighted where you entered it.
o With this page number highlighted enter \page and press the Enter key. This will highlight (select) everything on that page.
o Close the Find and Replace window leaving you with that entire page select for what ever function you desire. Side Tip: While the page is selected, press the Backspace key once and the entire page will be deleted.
Selection of a Group of Pages
o These instructions explain how to select a group of pages that are together in numerical sequence from other pages in a document. Very useful in moving chapters within a large document.
o You will need to know the Word’s page number for the first and last page numbers for the group of pages to be select. For example: In a 297 page document I want to select pages 107, 108, and 109 (or pages 107-109).
o Follow the Selection of a Page instructions above to Go To the first page of the group (page 107 in my example).
o Once that first page is displayed behind the Find and Replace window, close the Find and Replace window to display that page.
o Press the F8 key once.
o Press Ctrl + G to open the Find and Replace window again. In the Enter page number: box enter the page number of the page immediately after the last page you want to select and press the Go To button. In my example page 109 is my last page to select so I enter page 110 which is the next page after page 109.
o Close the Find and Replace window and the pages you selected are highlighted and await your next actions.
Comments
o Most non-Word apps and web pages will not display the straight line cursor (|) or any cursor mark for your point to start the selection, but the app/web page will recognize your click and will use that as the starting point of the selection.