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Microsoft has developed several standard ways to select bits of text, objects, or files in most of their products. The methods below are specific to text but apply to other objects as well. After getting used to them in MS Office, try using them out to rearrange your desktop, or move multiple files from one folder to another.
- Drag: Drag by clicking on the first part, then holding the mouse button down as you drag to the end of your selection.
- Double-click: Double-click a word to select the word. Sometimes a double-clicking an item, such as tab on the ruler or a menu icon, will open a new window with more formatting choices. In Windows Explorer, double-clicking opens a folder or file.
- Triple-click: Triple-clicking a word will select the entire line of text or paragraph, whatever words fall between pressing "Enter" and pressing it again.
- Shift Click: Hold down your shift button. Start at the top of your range and click. Click again at the bottom of your range. This also works bottom to top - it is simply telling the computer select everything between my two clicks.
- Shift Click with Cursor: This is variation, if you don't want to use your mouse to drag. It's especially handy in MS Excel. Hold down Shift. Click at the top. Use the cursors or arrows on the right of your keyboard to move through your document. Release shift when you have selected your range.
- Ctrl Click: Select multiple items one at a time, with Ctrl click. If you get one item by mistake, Ctrl click again to deselect.
- Select All: Select everything in your document in most MS Office products from the Home tab>Select section>click the drop-down arrow next to Select. On the Select menu, click Select All. You may also Ctrl A for “All.”
