Selecting text vertically (not horizontally)

Question

Level 1

24 points

Selecting text vertically (not horizontally)

Hello

I read a shortcut somewhere that enables text selection that runs up and down so that you can, for instance, select all the text to the right of a certain place on the page and delete only that text to the right. I know I used to do it in Word holding the alt key but I can't work it out in Pages and thought I read it somewhere. I have searched the forum to no avail.

Is there a shortcut for this function?

Many thank

Deborah

iMac / MacBook, Mac OS X (10.5.4)

Posted on Aug 8, 2008 4:40 PM

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Answer 1

Ric Donato

Level 4

1,129 points

Aug 8, 2008 6:32 PM in response to djaneb2

Hi djaneb2,
Welcome to Pages discussions.

Pages to my knowledge doesn't have the ability to do what you desire. The feature you speak of is in MS Word. Hold down the Option key as you select text.

Again welcome to Pages discussions, have fun here.

Sincerely,

RicD

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Answer 2

KOENIG Yvan

Level 8

41,819 points

Aug 9, 2008 2:09 AM in response to djaneb2

Not exactly that but a feature which may help is described in the page "Selecting Text" of the Help.

To select multiple words or blocks of text that are not next to each other, select the first amount of text you want, and then select additional text while holding down the Command key.

Yvan KOENIG (from FRANCE samedi 9 août 2008 11:09:57)

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Answer 3

djaneb2 Author

Level 1

24 points

Aug 9, 2008 3:01 AM in response to KOENIG Yvan

Well, yes, that does work in that I can select the text I want but then I can't delete it - I have text down the left hand side and I want to delete text just to the right of that text.

Probably what I will end up doing if I can't work this out is just to set the page up like a table so that I can always delete column 2 and keep column one - it may even be a better way to go!

Many thanks again

Deb

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Answer 4

djaneb2 Author

Level 1

24 points

Aug 9, 2008 3:02 AM in response to Ric Donato

Hey thanks - I get heaps of answers just doing searches through here - it is the single most useful place in working out how to switch from Office to Pages and to find workarounds when it isn't possible.

Deb

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Answer 5

KOENIG Yvan

Level 8

41,819 points

Aug 9, 2008 3:57 AM in response to djaneb2

Well, yes, that does work in that I can select the text I want but then I can't delete it

Dawn, you are right, I missed that.
And the worse thing is that I have a script on my iDisk to fit the gap.

<http://idisk.me.com/koenigyvan-Public?view=web>

Download:
for iWork:for_Pages:copy_cut_deletesparse.zip

Yvan KOENIG (from FRANCE samedi 9 août 2008 12:54:51)

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Answer 6

Aug 9, 2008 11:28 AM in response to djaneb2

I hate to suggest this but when I hit a snag like this I look for a work around.

If it is just a matter of editing the text, export it in rtf format (or cut & paste), go into Word and do what you always have there. Then take it back into Pages with a simple cut and paste.

If you are trying to completely avoid Word, the command selection and deletion of unconnected text works in TextEdit as well as Bean and *iText Express* both of which are free and extensions of TextEdit. They all support rtf and rtfd so should retain formatting when you do this.

Have a look at NisusWriter it has many tricks that may include this one.

If there is a clear tabbed break between the text on the left and the right you might find that multiple clicks in the appropriate part of the line might neatly select the part you want, rather than have to drag over each piece. I must admit that the vertical selection of text in Word is about the only thing I miss from that app.

I highly recommend iText Express, I use it more than any other app on my Mac.

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