File Selection Frustrations in Window Explorer

Got a huge annoyance in Windows Explorer. (Win7 64 bit)

I use the "check box" to select multiple files as I am scrolling through a folder. Sometimes the folder has a thousand or more files and I am selecting hundreds of them to copy.

What happens is that if you don't click EXACTLY in check box of the next file to be added to the selection you will accidentally click in the empty space of a folder. Do that and you DESELECT all the previously selected files.

Does anyone know of a method of keeping the files selected until you specifically deselect them by re-clicking in that box? In other words, get it act as though I am holding down the CTRL button without actually holding it.

If anyone knows of a 3dr party Explorer replacement that does this, I will be happy with that as well.

Thanks,

Rad

In which explorer view do you get a check box???

And why are you manually selecting hundreds of files out of thousands?

I've never seen a checkbox either.

I use Xplorer2 file manager, there's a free lite version but I paid for the pro version for the search capabilities. I basically just want the XP file manager back, Windows 7 file manager is hugely dumbed down, Xplorer2 fixes it.

Moppie wrote in post #14513796
In which explorer view do you get a check box???

And why are you manually selecting hundreds of files out of thousands?

1) Control Panel -> Folder Options -> View -> Use Check Boxes to select item. (It would be a great feature if it wasn't so easy to accedentally unselect.)

2) 8 gigs of music, 2 gig MP3 player. I was deciding which songs to import.

Why don't you just use Ctrl click to select them?

Its much harder to miss each file and if you click outside of a file while holding down the ctrl key nothing happens.

Otherwise do it in batches of 10, or get a music management program like Winamp and progressively add them to a playlist

Moppie wrote in post #14514169
Why don't you just use Ctrl click to select them?

Its much harder to miss each file and if you click outside of a file while holding down the ctrl key nothing happens.

Otherwise do it in batches of 10, or get a music management program like Winamp and progressively add them to a playlist

Sitting here holding the CRTL key is a PITA when I am rummageing through 4000 songs, to find the 800 I want to listen to this month. Winamp is an idea. Never thought of going that route.

Actually though, I did find a work around - Sticky Keys

I turned on Sticky Keys in the accessablity options. (Control Panel -> Ease of Access Center -> Make the Keyboard Easier To Use -> Turn on Sticy Keys.

Once I did that, I press shift 5 times rapidly to activate, then CTRL (or whatever) twice. This keeps the CTRL key "turned on" without having to keep pressing it. 5 more whacks on the shift key and it is back to it's normal function.

Seems cumbersome, but in reality is works easier than it is to describe.

Rad

With a long list of files, I find it easier to use the arrow keys.

Just down-arrow to the first file you want to select, press the space bar to select it, then hold down the ctrl key and use the down-arrow to move down to the next song, repeat for as many files as you like.

Adding the sticky-control key to it makes it even easier. Just keep one hand on the down arrow and the other on the spacebar.

I'm glad you brought this up - by using Windows Explorer to view the Picture Library, Sorted by Day, Large Thumbnails and the Preview Pane, this is a great way to quickly cull photos.

Directory Opus among many many things, has a Check Box Mode. Has a great image viewer too and is HIGHLY customizable. The KING of file managers.

You can turn it on when viewing a folder, and select/unselect files without accidentally unchecking everything else. Then once you're done, you can Copy all check files or do whatever to them.

http://gpsoft.com.au …cuments/Checkbo​x_Mode.htm

I love Windows 7 ... but it has a few gotchas that ClassicShell, FileSearchEX and some software fixes ... but overall it's been a pleasure to use.