What do you call selecting multiple files that aren't one after another, and how do you do it?

By Bruce Harrell, 9 March, 2023

Forum
macOS and Mac Apps

Hi all.

Senior moment time. I can't remember the correct term used to describe the technique for selecting various files in a file list that aren't actually listed one after another. I'd like to look it up in the User Guide, but I don't know the correct search term. After years of using VoiceOver, I'm thinking it's finally time I got around to learning this feature, seeing as how I have files here and there in a long list that I'd like to select together at the same time. I'd like to avoid having to be selecting each one, copying, and then selecting the next, copying, etc.

Can anyone tell me the correct term, or even better, how you do it?

Bewildered Bruce

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Comments

By Cobbler on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 - 20:51

Non-contiguous selections.

From this AppleVis guide:

Non-contiguous selections are more complex, but quite doable. Note that the below instructions are for OS X 10.9 Mavericks or above; if you are using a version below 10.9, replace vo-command-enter with vo-command-space. Also remember that "vo" here means to hold down the control and option keys.

  1. Interact with the list of files/folders.
  2. Find the first item you want to select, and press vo-command-enter.
  3. Now vo-up or vo-down to the next item you want. Be careful not to use the arrows by themselves, or you will de-select everything.
  4. Once you are on the second item, press vo-command-enter.
  5. Once you have all the items you want, perform your action - delete, copy, whatever it is, it will apply to everything you just selected.

By James Dean on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 - 20:51

I wonder if you could use the VO+semicolon command to lock the controll and option keys to avoid having to hold down the VO keys in order not to deselect the files you've selected so far. It may not work for this particular operation, but I feel like it would be worth a shot. Unfortunately, I don't have a Mac at the moment to test this myself.

By Chris Smart on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 - 20:51

The term you want is noncontiguous.
As for what it means, synonyms include: nonadjacent, discrete, isolated, isolate, unlinked, unconnected, removed, apart.