This topic describes the options for selecting text and cells within documents or
frames. Remember, to work with cells or text inside a frame, the frame must be
active. For information about selecting graphic items and frames, see the Frames and Graphic Items topic in this section.
Selecting text and cells in a spreadsheet works pretty much the same as most graphical
applications.
- Position the cursor where you wish to begin the selection.
- Hold down the primary mouse button.
- Move the mouse and highlight the cells or text you wish select.
You can now format, copy, cut, etc. the cells or text as needed.
In the word processing and spreadsheet environments you can select noncontiguous cells
or text. Consider the example below.

In this image, the user has selected different words throughout the text
flow. These are noncontiguous selections. Noncontiguous selections are extremely
useful for formatting different words or cells in a document.
- Highlight the first cell or text you want to select as if it were a basic selection.
- Hold down the [ALT] key.
- Keeping the [ALT] key held down, highlight the other cells or text you wish to select.
The cells or text do not need to be next to each other.
Using the [SHIFT] key, you can make rapid selections of contiguous text or cells.
- Place the cursor at the beginning of the text or cells you wish to select.
- Hold down the [SHIFT] key
- Keeping the [SHIFT] key held down, click on the last cell or word you wish to select.
All cells or text between the first place you clicked and the last place clicked is
selected.
Incidentally, rapid selections work in both directions. For example, click on the
last word you wish to select, hold down [SHIFT], then click on the first word.
All words between the two are selected.
Rapid Selection is also how you make selections using the keyboard only. While
holding down the [SHIFT] key, use the arrow keys to select contiguous text or cells.
Use select all to select all text or all cells in a document or frame. Remember,
the frame must be active to select cells or text.
- Select Select All from the Edit menu. All text
or cells in the document or frame are selected. Selections span linked or cloned
frames.

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