BioRich

Q: Magic Trackpad Text Select

Hi folks.

 

Just bought a Magic Trackpad.  Seems quite nice.  However some items I can't seem to find how to do.

 

I want to select text in AppleScript Editor, or any text editor for that matter.

 

Single finger double click, with finger up, selects a word.  I want to select words.  I also want to select text, character to character.  How can these be done?  Do I have to use the keyboard?  That pretty much kills the need for a trackpad. 

 

Cheers

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.2), Hypercard UG!

Posted on Nov 25, 2011 3:26 AM

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Q: Magic Trackpad Text Select

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  • Helpful answers

  • by captfred,Solvedanswer

    captfred captfred Nov 25, 2011 6:19 AM in response to BioRich
    Level 7 (26,329 points)
    iTunes
    Nov 25, 2011 6:19 AM in response to BioRich

    There are two ways to select or mark text.  One is to activate the 3 finger drag in System Preferences > Trackpad > Point and click tab.

     

    The other is to activate the old method of double tap and hold dragging in System Preferences > Universal access > Mouse & Trackpad tab > Trackpad options... button.  > dragging with or without drag lock.

     

    I find the 3 finger method much easier.   Note that if 3 finger drag is set then Mission Control and app expose will be 4 fingers.

     

    Regards,

    Captfred

  • by BioRich,

    BioRich BioRich Nov 25, 2011 7:16 AM in response to captfred
    Level 1 (72 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Nov 25, 2011 7:16 AM in response to captfred

    Aha, for the life of me I couldn't find it.  Thanks for the info!

  • by whydoidoit,

    whydoidoit whydoidoit Dec 3, 2011 2:48 PM in response to BioRich
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 3, 2011 2:48 PM in response to BioRich

    I've tried pretty much all of these methods. I find the double tap a bit annoying as the software decides that there is a time out when you lift off the trackpad (with Drag Lock turned off) that means when I select text and drag it then sometimes the selection continues rather than the selected text moving. 

     

    3 fingers was just too inaccurate for me.  I was about to revert to the mouse!

     

    The I realized that if you use your thumb in a corner of the trackpad for left click it just works great. Clicking with your selection finger requires too much continued pressure to be accurate, but your thumb is perfect for this.  The coordination between thumb and finger also means you don't accidentally move the cursor while clicking.

     

    I think I was confused by the lack of a button, I just needed to realize that it is still effectively there!  Now I click things by pushing my middle finger and select text using my thumb and my middle finger and everything is suddenly rosy again.

  • by BioRich,

    BioRich BioRich Dec 3, 2011 3:00 PM in response to whydoidoit
    Level 1 (72 points)
    Servers Enterprise
    Dec 3, 2011 3:00 PM in response to whydoidoit

    Check out BetterTouchTool.  Fantastic "Control Panel".  There are some functions that I need to map out, but this tool allows for it.  I have a 5 button mouse from Logitech, to the right of my new Trackpad, but I do like the Trackpad's ease. 

  • by Patrick Mau,

    Patrick Mau Patrick Mau Jan 31, 2012 1:21 PM in response to whydoidoit
    Level 1 (35 points)
    iPhone
    Jan 31, 2012 1:21 PM in response to whydoidoit

    Wow! Thanks ... that never occured to me.

    I'm now clicking lower-left with my thumb, hold it, and mark text with my index finger as I want.

     

    That really was helpful! I could have figured that out by myself.

     

    Thanks.

  • by Den5ter,

    Den5ter Den5ter Mar 26, 2014 4:45 AM in response to whydoidoit
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 26, 2014 4:45 AM in response to whydoidoit

    @whydoidoit - that's a brilliant idea. I love my trackpad, but the only thing that really bothers me when I have to do a lot of clicking. It never occurred to me to use my thumb to click, and it works fantastic, GREAT suggestion

  • by umangd,

    umangd umangd Jul 20, 2015 2:36 AM in response to Den5ter
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 20, 2015 2:36 AM in response to Den5ter

    same here! Very handy.. thanks @whydoidoit

  • by heavymetalica,

    heavymetalica heavymetalica Apr 18, 2016 10:35 AM in response to BioRich
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 18, 2016 10:35 AM in response to BioRich

    If you are using the latest magic trackpad (with force touch) on El Capitan, you need to enable the three finger drag in the ACCESSIBILITY > Mouse & TrackPad. Here is how: Turn on "three finger drag" for your Force Touch trackpad - Apple Support