In Finder, in list view, if I use my mouse I can down-click near a filename and drag to select multiple files. If i try this with the trackpad, it doesn't work, it selects the one file and starts dragging it away. What trick am I missing?
MacBook Air, macOS 15.3
nowhiz wrote:
That is incorrect. As I said in my OP and in my reply to Barney-15E, click-drag with the trackpad in List view in Finder does not work the same as click-drag with mouse; it drags the one file, it does not select multiple files.
A mouse or a trackpad work THE SAME WAY.
If you have enough space to start dragging OUTSIDE of any file, you can select by dragging.
If you click and drag starting ON a file, you drag that file, instead of selecting.
Here is me selecting with the TRACKPAD - the key is to start in the empty space.
nowhiz wrote:
That is incorrect. As I said in my OP and in my reply to Barney-15E, click-drag with the trackpad in List view in Finder does not work the same as click-drag with mouse; it drags the one file, it does not select multiple files.
A mouse or a trackpad work THE SAME WAY.
If you have enough space to start dragging OUTSIDE of any file, you can select by dragging.
If you click and drag starting ON a file, you drag that file, instead of selecting.
Here is me selecting with the TRACKPAD - the key is to start in the empty space.
If I click and drag anywhere in the area to the left of the icon, I can drag-select files.
If any files are selected in that area, then it will drag the selected files.
If I click on the file name or icon, whether selected or not, it will drag the file.
In List view, if you click the name, it drags the item.
If you click over the icon, it will allow selection.
nowhiz wrote:
In Finder, in list view, if I use my mouse I can down-click near a filename and drag to select multiple files. If i try this with the trackpad, it doesn't work, it selects the one file and starts dragging it away. What trick am I missing?
Hold the Command key to select mutiple
Hold the Shift to select everything in between
nowhiz wrote:
I don't understand. Does that answer my question how to select multiple files using the trackpad? If I click the icon to select the file and then drag, it drags the file, it does not select additional files.
You can select multiple files with the Trackpad in the same manner as with a mouse. However, to explain the previous replies, if you hold down the command key, each file icon you click on will be selected. In the case of the shift key, click the first file you wish to select, then shift-click the last file, and then files between will be selected.
I finally discovered the actual trick. To select more than one file from the same location, click to select one of the files, then down-click an adjacent file in the list and drag across the ones you want.
If you select File 1 in a list and then click-drag over Files 2 and 3, it will only select 2 & 3; if you want all three you have to first select File 2 and then click-drag over the three of them.
I haven't experimented with icon view.
I stand by what I said: under the same circumstances, clicking and dragging work the same whether using a trackpad or a mouse.
I understand that you may not have space around, but this is irrespective of which pointing device you use. In that circumstance, the easiest way is probably one that others have mentioned: click the first (or last), then shift-click the last file (ir first).
nowhiz wrote:
I don't understand. Does that answer my question how to select multiple files using the trackpad? If I click the icon to select the file and then drag, it drags the file, it does not select additional files.
try clicking in immediately dragging, not click wait drag.
also, make sure you’re not invoking force click by pressing hard on the trackpad.
Yes but that requires two hands. I can select multiple files just with one click-and-drag with the mouse, with one hand. I want the trackpad to work like the mouse, and I don't understand why it doesn't.
I don't understand. Does that answer my question how to select multiple files using the trackpad? If I click the icon to select the file and then drag, it drags the file, it does not select additional files.
That is incorrect. As I said in my OP and in my reply to Barney-15E, click-drag with the trackpad in List view in Finder does not work the same as click-drag with mouse; it drags the one file, it does not select multiple files.
I do not have space above or below the files I want to move -- there are other files there.
If you want to say 'they work the same, under certain special conditions,' OK. But that isn't what was said, and it isn't what I mean by 'work the same.' I don't know how often those conditions obtain in your workspace, but they aren't conditions I often if ever see.
In List view in Finder, if I click-drag with the mouse, it selects multiple files. This works in any row; I don't need to click in empty space below the last row. It works anywhere in a row - on the icon or any other item or between columns. And it doesn't matter how quickly I begin dragging.
That is not how the trackpad works.
I don’t have a mouse, I haven’t had one in about 20 years. I explained how to multi select files with the trackpad in list view . If it doesn’t work with a mouse as I described or to your liking contact Apple. We can do absolutely nothing about it if that is how it is designed. All we can offer is how we see it working and a setting to change if such a thing existed.
Barney-15E wrote:
I don’t have a mouse, I haven’t had one in about 20 years. I explained how to multi select files with the trackpad in list view . If it doesn’t work with a mouse as I described or to your liking contact Apple. We can do absolutely nothing about it if that is how it is designed. All we can offer is how we see it working and a setting to change if such a thing existed.
Ok, found a mouse to try. It works exactly the same as my Trackpad. What kind of mouse are you using? Does it have special software?
How to select multiple files in Finder with trackpad?
