Selecting a Range of Files

[raythompsontn]

In my transition to using a Mac from Windows one of the features that I miss is selecting a range of files when the files are displayed as icons. In Windows it was possible to select a file in a list of icons, scroll to the last file desired, and press shift and click again. The entire range of files would be selected. I have not found a way to do this in MacOS when the folder is displaying icons. When a file list is displayed the selection process works as advertised. Just not with icons. I can drag over the icons and select but that is clumsy in a large group of files.

Is there a way to select a range of files in a folder when the files are displayed as icons?

 

[Fishrrman]

You can hold down the command key and click on each icon you wish to be selected.
Although one might grow tired of this when selecting more than a dozen or so...

 

[raythompsontn]

You can hold down the command key and click on each icon you wish to be selected

That process I cyphered out. It is indeed tedious when selecting more than a few files. What I really want is to select a range of files when in icon view. I have to switch to list view from icon view to get range selection. Since I am dealing with images, the icon view is much more convenient than a list view as I can see the image I am selecting.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

You seem to know you can draw a box around files in icon view to select them. You could do this first and then use command key and select an icon to deselect some of them (to keep), leaving the rest selected.

You can use the Edit menu to "select all" and then the above to deselect some keepers.

You could use View menu, Sort By, to sort them into some order, so you could then easily drag a box around a subset that you want to highlight as a group.

 

[raythompsontn]

You could do this first and then use command key and select an icon to deselect some of them (to keep), leaving the rest selected.

That is what I have been doing. I was hoping for a better solution. That process involves more extra clicks. On Windows it did not matter if the files were icons or a list. Sigh, another difference with MacOS that could be better. Dealing with images Mac is strange as there are a couple of other differences in file handling. Some propeller head at Apple must have had a reason.

 

[doogm]

That is what I have been doing. I was hoping for a better solution. That process involves more extra clicks. On Windows it did not matter if the files were icons or a list. Sigh, another difference with MacOS that could be better. Dealing with images Mac is strange as there are a couple of other differences in file handling. Some propeller head at Apple must have had a reason.

I believe that this behavior has been consistent with macOS going all the way back, and macOS is older than Windows.

 

[svenmany]

I was surprised to learn about this behavior. I use QSpace as a Finder replacement and it behaves in the way the OP wants. @raythompsontn, if you've ever considered a Finder replacement for other reasons (like dual-pane support), choosing to use one could help you with the current issue.

 

[chabig]

In Windows it was possible to select a file in a list of icons...

I think this is the key misunderstanding. Mac icons don't display in a list. They just exist in graphical space as individual objects. If you want them in a list, Finder has list options.

 

[svenmany]

I think this is the key misunderstanding. Mac icons don't display in a list. They just exist in graphical space as individual objects. If you want them in a list, Finder has list options.

Interesting.

If you sort by "none", then that is true; the icons can be placed anywhere. But if you choose a sort order, macOS maintains the icons in a list. Shame that it didn't follow through on the conceptual list any more than just controlling the position of the icons.

QSpace doesn't have a sort by "none". Neither does Windows. The icons are always ordered. Maybe that's why they both didn't find it challenging to support the OP's requirement.

 

[chabig]

But if you choose a sort order, macOS maintains the icons in a list.

I guess we are debating word definitions. If you choose a sort order, I would say that Finder rearranges the icons by placing them in that order. But I still wouldn't call it a list. To me, it's just a bunch of individual objects that have been put into position based on the sort criteria.

Macs have always worked this way, and with the original Mac it was the only way. List, column, and Gallery views came much later in Mac history.

 

[raythompsontn]

I think this is the key misunderstanding. Mac icons don't display in a list

OK, a group of icons. There is still no way to select an icon, then select a group of icons by clicking on the last icon, using the shift key as can be done in Windows. An annoyance minor as it may be, to me. Others may consider it a feature. Just as image icons cannot be used to copy and paste the actual image. Drag and drop is the only way.

Viewing the icons in a folder, rather than the file name in a list, is easier to use to select and copy images, as I can see the actual image that I need to copy, or move.

 

[doogm]

Viewing the icons in a folder, rather than the file name in a list, is easier to use to select and copy images, as I can see the actual image that I need to copy, or move.

When in list view, View menu, View options (or, Cmd-J), change the icon size to the larger size. It's still not as large, but maybe it's good enough?

 

[svenmany]

OK, a group of icons. There is still no way to select an icon, then select a group of icons by clicking on the last icon, using the shift key as can be done in Windows. An annoyance minor as it may be, to me. Others may consider it a feature. Just as image icons cannot be used to copy and paste the actual image. Drag and drop is the only way.

Viewing the icons in a folder, rather than the file name in a list, is easier to use to select and copy images, as I can see the actual image that I need to copy, or move.

I agree with you. When icons are maintained for you in a fixed order and without gaps, one would expect to be able to work with those items as a list. The functionality you describe is a natural and convenient one, available in other tools on Windows and on macOS (e.g. QSpace).

I did test older versions of Forklift and Path Finder. Many people use those as Finder replacements. They behave like Finder in that they lack this convenience. It's likely because they, like Finder, support an unordered presentation, where you can place the items anywhere in the open window. The developers just didn't spend the time to make this work, supporting different user interaction when ordered versus unordered.

There are times that I want to switch views quickly in Finder, between list view and icon view. I make sure my toolbar is configured to have buttons to do that in easy reach. Have you done that? The would just introduce two clicks to the process - one switching into list view (to make the selection) and one back into icon view.

 

[doogm]

There are times that I want to switch views quickly in Finder, between list view and icon view. I make sure my toolbar is configured to have buttons to do that in easy reach.

FWIW, you can also Cmd-1 to view as icons and Cmd-2 to view as list, which you can see when you open the View menu in Finder.