Moving Multiple Files Into Trash At Once

Being an old Windows 2000 guy and recently defecting to Mac, I used to be able to delete muliple files/documents by selecting all the files (Shift-click top and bottom), then right-clicking, getting a submenu for delete and voila...files went bye-bye.
In Mac, I shift-click multiple files (or lasso them) and attempt to push every conceivable combinations of keys (cntl+shift, command+shift, etc, etc..) to try to get the Remove to Trash submenu and everytime I re-click to try to establish a submenu, the remaining files become unselected. My wireless Apple Mouse does not have dual left/right buttons....Any ideas...I feel so stupid..there's probably a shortcut right under my nose, but I can't seem to uncover it....

Posted on Sep 19, 2005 9:09 PM

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3 replies

Sep 19, 2005 9:12 PM in response to Henri J. Blits

Henri,

there's probably a shortcut right under my nose


Yes, there is. I bet you could guess what it is, if I tell you that it is entirely logical......

Anything come to mind?..................

Try
b Apple-Delete!

Even better, you can take this one step further and go ahead and empty the trash. Try Shift -Apple-Delete.

Since we're talking about using one key combination to do one thing, then adding a modifier to get "higher order" results, I would like to pose a question that might help you begin to "think in Mac," so to speak. I'm sure you know the key combination (shortcut) to quit an application. What do you think might happen if you similarly "elevated" that key combination as we did above?

Scott

Sep 19, 2005 9:19 PM in response to Henri J. Blits

Well, here's the way it works. If you are in icon mode you can simply drag the mouse across all the icons of files you wish to delete. Once selected release the mouse button. The files will stay selected. Keep the mouse over one of the selected files and right click (or CTRL-click) for the contextual menu, select Move to Trash. You can also left click on one of the selected files and drag the files to the Trash. You can also simply press COMMAND-DELETE.

To select non-contiguous files hold the COMMAND key down while you click on the file icons. To select all the files in a folder press COMMAND-A while the folder window is open and active.

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Moving Multiple Files Into Trash At Once

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