Selecting Multiple Items in Windows Programs

We are often asked about selecting more than one file at a time in Windows programs.

There are several ways to select multiple files, folders, or items in a list.

• To select a consecutive group of files, folders or items in a list, click the first item, press and hold down the Shift key, and then click the last item.
• To select non-consecutive files, folders, or items in a list, press and hold down the Ctrl key, and then click each item that you want to select.
• To select all of the files, folders, or items in a list, on the toolbar, press and hold the Ctrl key and A. If you want to exclude one or more items from your selection, press and hold down the Ctrl key, and then click the items.

To clear a selection, click a blank area of the window.

Tip!

After selecting files or folders, you can perform many common tasks, such as copying, deleting, renaming, printing, and compressing. Simply right-click the selected items, and then click the appropriate choice.