CODEWITHSUNDEEP
android-studiointellij-ideamultiple-columnstextselectionintellij-13
jshbrntt
jshbrntt

Reputation: 5384

IntelliJ Column Selection using Cursor Keys

Is it possible to some how setup IntelliJ IDEA so that I can column select with the cursor keys similarly to how I might in Notepad++, Visual Studio, or FlashDevelop.

For instance when I'm typing code I almost always do my navigation solely through use of the keyboard. In the IDEs mentioned previously I can quickly select blocks of code by holding Shift + Alt then tapping ↑ to extend my cursor across the lines above. I can then hold Shift + Alt + Ctrl and tap ← or → to quickly jump across words and select the chunk of text I want.

In IntelliJ IDEA I have to constantly enable and disable Column Selection Mode using the Shift + Alt + Insert and even then it doesn't quite function as it does in the other IDEs or Text Editors.

Any ideas?

Upvotes: 157

Views: 104135

Answers (10)

duffymo
duffymo

Reputation: 308733

You can do column editing using the Edit | Column Selection Mode.

The shortcut to turn it on/off is Alt+Shift+Insert. You navigate with Shift + arrow keys to select blocks of text.

Upvotes: 223

Bohemian
Bohemian

Reputation: 424943

On a mac, to toggle block select on/off:

shift command 8

⇧⌘8

Upvotes: 19

lukyer
lukyer

Reputation: 7983

Most convenient way is to:

  • MAC: Hold Option+Shift and click with mouse.
  • Windows: Hold Alt and click with mouse.

Upvotes: 21

LeXav
LeXav

Reputation: 151

For me on Mac:

Press once 'option' key, release it, and press and hold it again. Now navigate with cursor to select desired code. Press 'Esc' to exit column mode! :)

Upvotes: 15

Gibolt
Gibolt

Reputation: 47059

Multiline Caret (without mouse)

Windows/Linux: CTRL + CTRL(Hold) + ↑ / ↓

Mac: ⌘ + ⌘(Hold) + ↑ / ↓

ESC will end multiline mode.

Change Multi-caret Hotkey

To add a custom Keymap, CTRL+SHIFT+A, type keymap and click on the one with Settings as subtext. Search for Clone Caret Above and Clone Caret Below.

I mapped mine to ALT+SHIFT+↑ / ↓.

Bonus

Try holding combinations of CTRL, SHIFT, and arrows for improved selection power.

Upvotes: 96

sia
sia

Reputation: 577

For Mac cmd+shift+* didn't work for me. I changed the keymap to something else and now it works seamlessly.

Upvotes: 1

Carlos Verdes
Carlos Verdes

Reputation: 3147

In Windows or Linux I press two times Ctrl

Upvotes: 11

kyb
kyb

Reputation: 8101

It is also possible to select holding middle mouse key.

Upvotes: 69

Wesley Musgrove
Wesley Musgrove

Reputation: 574

I think @Meo's answer is the most correct, but if your hand happens to be on the mouse, you can also accomplish this with Ctrl+Alt+Shift+Left Mouse Button Click. Or look for the Add Rectangular Selection on Mouse Drag in the keymap settings.

Upvotes: 11

Meo
Meo

Reputation: 12491

Go to the Settings | Keymap and set a shortcut for Clone Caret Above and for Clone Caret Below

Upvotes: 20

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