BOX SELECT
Selects a box rather than a standard, linear range---useful to edit tables
and lists. In the BUFFER LIST, lets you view the a buffer without having
to type the buffer name.
Steps:
1. Put the cursor where you want to select text---typically
where you want the the upper left corner of the box.
2. Use BOX SELECT---or if SET BOX SELECT is in effect, you can use
SELECT. (For example, on DECwindows you can drag M1---see help on
Mouse.)
3. Move the cursor to where you want the diagonally opposite corner
of the box. Text that cursor crosses is highlighted in bold video.
4. To edit the selection, use a command or key that works on a box,
such as COPY, BOX CUT, FILL, REMOVE, or UPPERCASE---see help on
Ranges And Boxes.
Example:
Typically you start a box selection where you want the upper left
corner of the box, and then move the cursor to where you want the lower
right corner. In the following example, BOX SELECT highlights from
"Him" to the end of the second line (that is, after the period). Note
that the cursor ([]) is outside the box. Also, all of the second line
would be highlighted in bold video, but the first four words are not
part of the box.
start +------------------------+
|Him there they found |
Squat like a toad, |close at the ear of Eve.[] end (cursor
+------------------------+ position)
Usage notes:
o To cancel the selection, use RESET (GOLD-SELECT) or repeat SELECT or
BOX SELECT. If the selection was done with mouse clicks, moving the
cursor out of the select range cancels the selection.
o In the Buffer List, SELECT or BOX SELECT lets you view a buffer whose
name the cursor is on, without having to type the buffer name:
1. Use the SHOW BUFFERS command to list the buffers you created.
2. Put the cursor on the name of the buffer you want to view.
3. Use BOX SELECT, SELECT, or RETURN to view that buffer.
o When the $CHOICES$ buffer is displayed and you are in the list of
choices, pressing a key defined as BOX SELECT copies a choice onto the
command line (see help on Choices Buffer).
o On DECwindows, if you select text, the pop-up menu contains COPY, CUT,
FILL RANGE, case changes, and other commands for editing a selection.
You display the pop-up menu by clicking M3. See help on Menus.
+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| Box-editing operations are slow with very long box selections, |
| particularly if buffer-change journaling is in effect (which |
| is the default). |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+
Related topics:
Pending Delete Ranges And Boxes RESET SELECT SET BOX SELECT