Select files using the mouse

[JazzySOB]

TC would be perfect if it was possible to use the mouse for selecting files like the way you select files in Windows with a sort of "elastic" rectangle which you can drag over the files to select them.

Yes, I can select files with the mouse, but only by clicking on the files, but using the mouse to drag over a bunch of files and select them like in Windows explorer would make it a lot easier and for some people like me also a lot faster and more accurate than using the keyboard (or mouse click) only.

Other file managers like Altap Salamander have this functionality for years, so why not TC? This is why I do not use Total Commander regularly and use Altap Salamander instead, but this file manager has other inconveniences like not showing my network drives using it as administrator, while TC does. I regularly switch between the two file managers.

Hopefully TC is willing to implement this small but handy feature in a next version. I would buy TC in a instant. Still using the shareware/demo version from time to time.

[Dalai]

TC already has a very similar feature: Just use the right mouse button (holding it down) while moving the mouse over the files you want to select. This way you can select a bunch of files in a single click-and-move operation.

Regards
Dalai

[JazzySOB]

That doesn't work. I get a prohibitory sign when I'm clicking right (or left) and try to move over the files of folders I want to select and there is no rectangle visible who confirm that I'm selecting something.
I'm only able to klick on a single file of a group of already selected files and folders. The feature simply isn't there.

Thanks anyway.

[Dalai]

The method I described above only works in TC's default selection mode which is Norton Commander style (right mouse).

Regards
Dalai

[JazzySOB]

I've tried the NC setting for the mouse and indeed now I'm able to select files bij moving over them, but not the way it should be. When using the NC mode you'll have to give up other right click options and menu features so it's really a compromise, not the right way it supposed to be.

Thanks for thinking along.

[Dalai]

When using the NC mode you'll have to give up other right click options and menu features so it's really a compromise, not the right way it supposed to be.

That's not correct. Just hold the right mouse button down for one second to get the context menu.

Regards
Dalai

[JazzySOB]

Allright!
So it's almost perfect, but still a compromise.
But I rather have the rectangle anyway.

Thanks again.

[MVV]

TC selection mode is much more usable than Explorer one, it just needs some time to get accustomed to it (those who used old two-panel DOS file managers already familiar with it).
In case of full view mode (with only one column) both act in the same way, but in brief view mode IMO it is more logical to make contiguous selection when you move mouse between two columns.

[Hacker]

Hello JazzySOB,

But I rather have the rectangle anyway.

Do you have any specific reason for wanting a rectangle? Have the files that you wanted to be selected ever been arranged in a rectangle formation?

TIA
Roman

[Lefteous]

2Hacker

Do you have any specific reason for wanting a rectangle? Have the files that you wanted to be selected ever been arranged in a rectangle formation?

I guess the idea is to minimize the number of selection operations in thumbnail view. So you visually build the largest rectangles of the files to be selected and later add the missing files which didn't fit into one of the rectangles.

[Vochomurka]

TWinKey has the described feature. I don't like Explorer's method to select, I prefer Norton's, but I use the rectangular selection sometimes. For example, in brief mode.
By the way, in the TWinkey manual the advantages of its selection method over the Explorer's are described

[ghisler(Author)]

TC9 will support rubberband selection when using left mouse button selection mode. I have already implemented it in January 2015. Unfortunately releases are currently delayed.

[Hacker]

Vochomurka,

in the TWinkey manual the advantages of its selection method over the Explorer's are described

Rectangular selection
This option allows to make rectangular retractable selection in file panels by middle mouse click. Selection state of files in the selected area is inverted. If selection was made using Ctrl+middle click all files in the selected area are added to selection.

Roman

[Vochomurka]

2Hacker
Sorry, the English manual is drastically shorter then the Russian one (guess why ). I'll translate here the part of Russian description for this function:

In comparison with the Explorer the TWinKey selection has some advantages:

• Different mode to select and unselect can be chosen. Without the modifier key the selection is inverted: new selection is set, previous one is disabled. When Ctrl key is hold, the previous selection within the frame is added to the new selection. When Shift is hold, the previous selection is removed with no new selection;
• Selecting movement can be started from an arbitrary point of file panel, including file/folder name;
• Frame selection does not involve either left or right mouse buttons, therefore accidental copying/moving of objects is impossible;
• Selection is finished only when releasing the middle mouse button;
• Selection is cancelled when the right button is clicked while the middle one is kept hold;
• Selection of objects outside the rectangular frame is not changed