How to select multiple tracks in iTunes without holding "Control"

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Level 1

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How to select multiple tracks in iTunes without holding "Control"

Please help me figure out how to select multiple tracks in iTunes. I understand that I can hit "Command" + "A" to select all tracks, and that I can hold "Control" to select multiple tracks, but what a PITA that is when one is trying to manage a large quantity of tracks. In Windows (gasp!) one can click and hold the mouse button to draw a box around all of the items that they want to select, and also hold the "Control" button to draw/select multiple boxes. Is there a similar functionality in iTunes that I am missing? If not, what is the best/easiest way to select multiple groups of tracks?

Thanks for you help.

-an Apple noob

Mac OS X (10.5.5)

Posted on Nov 16, 2008 9:53 AM

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Answer 1

Woggledog

Level 4

1,870 points

Nov 16, 2008 10:46 AM in response to deaner1

you talk of multiple groups of tracks....

Have you ever considered a smart playlist instead? You can add multiple criteria to dynamically create a playlist full of he music you want. Otherwise, Control it is, or drag them one at a time to a playlist.

For example, I have a smart playlist for depeche mode tracks between 1985 and 1989. Very powerful stuff once you start playing

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Answer 2

Limnos

Level 10

427,379 points

Nov 16, 2008 10:57 AM in response to deaner1

I use shift+click to select a range. Control+click for me just bring up the contextual menu. Command+click lets you toggle multiple individual tracks. If there isn't too much breakdown I will select a range and then command click individual to un-select individual tracks.

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Answer 3

turingtest2

Level 10

278,187 points

Nov 16, 2008 11:01 AM in response to deaner1

Assuming COMMAND-click is the Mac equivalent of the PC's CTRL-click.

To select a number of separate groups of consecutive tracks click to select the first track of the first group, hold SHIFT to select the last track and all in between, now hold COMMAND and select the first track of the next group, hold SHIFT and select the last of this group, repeat....

tt2

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Answer 4

deaner1 Author

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Nov 16, 2008 11:00 AM in response to deaner1

Thanks for the reply Woggle. I have not yet played with the Smart Playlist functionality, but it doesn't sound like it would help with what I'm trying to do. The reason I am asking about selecting multiple tracks is for the purpose of synching music to my iPhone. It is huge PITA to have to click every single file that I want to synch to my phone.

It baffles me that there is not an easier way to manage music, especially consider that Apple sells 100+ gig iPods.

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Answer 5

Nov 16, 2008 11:03 AM in response to deaner1

If you create a Smart Playlist to include those songs, you can simply drag the playlist to the iPod all in one go.

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Answer 6

deaner1 Author

Level 1

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Nov 16, 2008 11:04 AM in response to deaner1

Thanks for all of the replies. The "shift" functionality is what I was looking for.

-slightly less noobish

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Answer 7

Limnos

Level 10

427,379 points

Nov 16, 2008 11:09 AM in response to turingtest2

Turingtest: I selected a track. Used shift to select a range. Used command to select a track a few tracks below that range. Used shift to try and select a second range. It just highlighted everything from the very first track I had selected down to that track. I had tried that before I posted last and it didn't work and just wanted to make sure. I even tried doing things like command +and_ shift at the same time. I'm curious if you have found this actually works and on what computer.

Using iTunes 7.5 so I don't know if that makes a difference. The OP didn't state which version of iTunes was being used.

Message was edited by: Limnos

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Answer 8

turingtest2

Level 10

278,187 points

Nov 16, 2008 11:37 AM in response to deaner1

I would suggest you control the content of the iPhone using a selection of playlists, smart or regular, rather than trying to grab selections of tracks to drag & drop onto it. You could, for example, simply have a playlist called iPhone, into which you drag each album or track you want to put on it. If it's easier to think about which tracks you want to exclude, make a playlist called Exclude for those tracks and a smart playlist, e.g Include, with the rules *Playlist is Music AND Playlist is not Exclude*. Another useful technique is to uncheck tracks which you want to exclude from syncing with the iPhone

tt2

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Answer 9

turingtest2

Level 10

278,187 points

Nov 16, 2008 11:44 AM in response to Limnos

Limnos wrote:
Turingtest: I selected a track. Used shift to select a range. Used command to select a track a few tracks below that range. Used shift to try and select a second range. It just highlighted everything from the very first track I had selected down to that track. I had tried that before I posted last and it didn't work and just wanted to make sure. I even tried doing things like command +and_ shift at the same time. I'm curious if you have found this actually works and on what computer.

It's working (alternating between SHIFT or CTRL) in iTunes 8.0.1.11 on the very Windows XP box I'm typing at. A shame it doesn't work for you but we'd be foolish if we expected consistency.
🙂

tt2

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