How do you select non consecutive files in a folder to copy and paste?

[audiodrome]

I have categorized folders of thousands of pictures and every once in a while I need to sort through and certain files for a specific project. The way I've been doing this is to select one file at a time or if there happens to be a consecutive run of pictures I can grab the whole group and then copy and paste.

Is there a way to select one file and then select another file three files away and then another file ten files away? In other words highlighting and selecting non consecutive files to copy and paste. I'm thinking that Windows must have the capability to do this and I just haven't found the trick yet. Every time I do a search online all I find are instructions on how to select consecutive files.

 

[strollin]

Yes, press and hold down the Ctrl key, then select all the non-consecutive files you wish. Once selected you can then copy & paste or drag & drop them to wherever you wish.

 

[Alejandro85]

Select the first file/group and hold control then click the next one, or drag a box to select a second group. Control key allows to select more items without lose the already selected ones, which may or may not be consecutive.

This technique works in pretty much every list in Windows that allows multiple selection.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Using check boxes to select items is the best way I've seen
Little more forgiving than ctrl.

 

[mitchell65]

Hi,
Using check boxes to select items is the best way I've seen
Little more forgiving than ctrl.

Learnt something new today. Didn't know you could show tick boxes against files. Much the best way and easy to configure.Thanks, ThrashZone.

 

[strollin]

I only find the check boxes useful on a touchscreen device like a tablet. If I have a mouse and keyboard Ctrl and the mouse works better for me.

 

[Barman58]

You can also use the shift key with the mouse to select consecutive items - Click first item then Shift-Click last item - this an be repeated by using Ctrl-Click to start a separate selection and Ctrl-Shift-Click to end the selection.

Also as these key combinations are toggles if you wanted to select all except a few items you could use a Shift-Click, (or Ctrl-A) to select all then Ctrl-Click the items you want deselected.

 

[Barman58]

@audiodrome

If you are dealing with a lot of photos you may find that a specific photo management app may be more to your needs than file explorer

Take a look at Adobe Bridge It?s True: Adobe Bridge CC Is Completely Free for Everyone, for Life! | ProDesignTools which will allow you to select images for projects by use of many of the internal Metadata tags in the files, you can even make collections to store often used sets while not actually moving the files

 

[RolandJS]

Hi, Using check boxes to select items is the best way I've seen. Little more forgiving than ctrl.

I had click boxes awhile when I first got Windows 7. Completely did away with that feature after getting into deletion trouble because in my Windows the click boxes were "sticky."

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Yea using check boxes is so items don't get deselected in case you click on something accidentally like to scroll or if you loose focus on the window the check marks stay checked and you don't have to start all over again

I only use check boxes if I know I have to scroll a lot to get to the next ones.

 

[audiodrome]

Yes, press and hold down the Ctrl key, then select all the non-consecutive files you wish. Once selected you can then copy & paste or drag & drop them to wherever you wish.

You know it's funny because this is so simple and it works perfectly - thank you!

I had been doing it the other way around (select file and then hold CTRL key) because that's the way Windows tells you to do it. The problem is that when you select a file, hold the CTRL key and then select another file, the first file gets deselected. Maybe it's just me but I can't understand why Microsoft and nearly every other computer tech website I've seen proposes that method!

 

[strollin]

Yes, press and hold down the Ctrl key, then select all the non-consecutive files you wish. Once selected you can then copy & paste or drag & drop them to wherever you wish.

You know it's funny because this is so simple and it works perfectly - thank you!

I had been doing it the other way around (select file and then hold CTRL key) because that's the way Windows tells you to do it. The problem is that when you select a file, hold the CTRL key and then select another file, the first file gets deselected. Maybe it's just me but I can't understand why Microsoft and nearly every other computer tech website I've seen proposes that method!

It actually works the same either way regardless of whether you select a file first or press Ctrl first, then select files.

 

[cornemuse]

Yes, press and hold down the Ctrl key, then select all the non-consecutive files you wish. Once selected you can then copy & paste or drag & drop them to wherever you wish.

You know it's funny because this is so simple and it works perfectly - thank you!

I had been doing it the other way around (select file and then hold CTRL key) because that's the way Windows tells you to do it. The problem is that when you select a file, hold the CTRL key and then select another file, the first file gets deselected. Maybe it's just me but I can't understand why Microsoft and nearly every other computer tech website I've seen proposes that method!

, , , If Windows tells you to jump off a cliff, , ,

(sorry, couldnt resist, , ,)

-c-

 

[Barman58]

As you Can actually select a file then press Ctrl and Select a second and then subsequent files, then it could be said that the Microsoft instruction is correct, although it obviously leaves some margin for error as it does not work if you release the ctrl key and click

 

[mitchell65]

I had been doing it the other way around (select file and then hold CTRL key) because that's the way Windows tells you to do it. The problem is that when you select a file, hold the CTRL key and then select another file, the first file gets deselected. Maybe it's just me but I can't understand why Microsoft and nearly every other computer tech website I've seen proposes that method!

If using the MS method you find that quote "the first file gets deselected." then I would suspect that there is something wrong with your system. The first file does not get deselcted on any of the three PC's I have tested it on. Can others interested in this thread actually try "Select file, press and hold down Ctrl key , select another file and see if the first file stays selected."
I'm no great lover of MS but I think they are right here!

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

One thing I learned about using the CRTL key when selecting multiple items is, if I move the mouse after clicking a file while still holding down the mouse bitton, it will make a copy of all the selected files in the same folder. I still use the CRTL key when making multiple selections; I just make sure I don't move the mouse until after I release the button.

I never knew about check boxes. It took me a minute to figure out how to get them but it looks like they could be handy. Thanks, you all, for mentioning them.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Yea sorry should of added a screen shot which I did a minute ago

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Hi,
Yea sorry should of added a screen shot which I did a minute ago

No worries; I found it fairly quickly. I wound up disabling it after trying it out; it turned out to be a bit of a pain in my ample asset for me (that's not to say it wouldn't be useful for others).