Selections

In Intype, you can use one or more selection ranges. Each range can select text or be empty. The behavior is set by modifiers used to create the ranges. Selection model is designed to not interferre with standard using single text selection behavior well known from other editors, and to still allow using powerful multiple or rectangle selections.

Types of Selection

In current version, Intype supports three basic types of selection:

  • Normal Selection is a standard selection consisting of one non-empty range.
  • Multiple Selection is advanced selection type consisting of one or more non-empty (selecting at least one character) or empty ranges.
  • Rectangular Selection is basically a Multiple Selection with ranges aligned to a rectangle area. Each row of the rectangle is one selection range.

Normal Selection

Normal Selection works similar to other editor's selection. You can use Shift+Arrows or mouse click & drag way of creating the selection.

Multiple Selection

Multiple Selection can be created by holding down Ctrl modifier key and clicking, double-clicking or draggin the mouse curosr in the text.

  • Ctrl+Click selects empty range at mouse cursor position.
  • Ctrl+Double-Click selects word under the mouse cursor
  • Ctrl+Click & Drag adds next region. Releasing the mouse button results in mergin all overlapping selection ranges.

Note that Ctrl must be pressed down before clicking on the mouse button.

ToDo: Screencast creating the multiple selection

Typing or pasting from clipboard copies text to each range. Launching a snippet that is working with selection (various wrapping or transformation snippets) are applied to each range separately.

Rectangular Selection

Rectangular Selection can be created with Alt and arrow keys, or Alt and mouse button. Each row of the selection is separate range, so the selection behaves just like Multiple Selection described above.

You cannot create multiple rectangles, but you can add more ranges using Multiple Selection.

As a result of being a specialization of the Multiple Selection, typing text, or launching a snippet has the same effect.

Modifying Selection Ranges

Modifying regions requires a little knowledge of the internal anatomy of the region described in this picture:

ToDo: Selection range anatomy

You can modify both sides of any range created. The one with caret at the ending position is currently active. You can simply use Shift+Click to move the ending position.

For precise range modification see this screencast:

ToDo: Modifying range screencast

Working with Empty Ranges

Selection range is allowed to be empty. Empty range can be created either by the Multiple Selection or Rectangle Selection. It's handy when you want to insert text between two characters in the text on multiple places.

ToDo: Screencast of working with empty ranges

Selecting Lines

To select current line you can use Select Lines (Ctrl+Shift+L) command. However, the command is more powerful when combined with various types of selection.

With Normal Selection, command aligns the range to lines. This results in one continuos range spreading over lines with selection.

With Multiple Selection or Rectangle Selection, the command wraps every line with selection in one separate range. This feature can be used to wrap each line in snippet.

Note that the selection always ends before the hard break character of the last line.

Selection Conversions

Not implemented yet.