A computer keyboard and a mouse have become part of every computer user’s life. These devices have made it easier for many people to do certain tasks or execute computer commands. One of the most common keyboard and mouse strategies is shift clicking. In this article, we’ll discuss what shift clicking is, what it does, and how it makes some processes faster and more efficient.
What is shift clicking?
Shift clicking is a common computer technique that involves a mouse and a keyboard. This mouse-keyboard combination involves holding down the “Shift” key on the keyboard while clicking something on the screen using the mouse.
What is shift clicking used for?
Shift clicking can accomplish various computer tasks depending on the context or program the technique is being used. Here are some common instances where shift clicking is used:
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Multiple item selection
Shift clicking can help select multiple items simultaneously. This serves many purposes, such as deleting several items at once or moving different files into one location or folder. This action saves a lot of time compared to selecting items individually.
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Highlighting text
Another use of shift clicking that involves selecting items is highlighting texts. This applies to major word processing programs that allow users to edit, erase, or overwrite a block of text without deleting it character by character.
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Opening links in a new tab
Popular internet browsers such as Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Safari allow opening links in a new tab by doing the shift clicking technique. This lets users load links without losing their place on the current webpage.
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Deselecting items
Aside from multiple item selection, shift clicking can also be used strategically to deselect items. Unlike clicking another item independently (which deselects everything), shift clicking allows for selective deselection. Holding down the “Shift” key and then clicking on the specific item you want to deselect removes that item from your selection while keeping the others chosen.
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Expanding selections
In programs such as file explorers or image editors, shift clicking can expand selections a user has previously made. For example, in Adobe Photoshop, if you have already selected a part of an image using the marquee tool, you can then hold “Shift” and click on another area of the image to add that new selection to the existing marquee without deselecting the first part.
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Games
Many strategy games or games with unit control use shift-clicking to issue commands to multiple units at once. Holding Shift while clicking on units adds them to a selection group, allowing you to give them commands as a single entity.
How does shift clicking help?
Like many other keyboard-mouse shortcuts, shift clicking was created to help users perform tasks while reducing actions that need to be taken. Here are some benefits of shift clicking:
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Minimizing clicks
Clicking fatigue can tire users and make the computing experience uncomfortable. Shift clicking reduces the number of clicks a user does when performing specific tasks, such as selecting multiple items in a graphical interface.
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Improved selection
Shift clicking offers precise selection techniques that dragging a cursor alone may not provide. Shift clicking helps you accurately select the items or texts you want to highlight instead of doing it alone with your mouse, which can create unintentional selections of unwanted items.
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Enhanced accessibility
People with motor control challenges who rely on a keyboard and mouse can significantly benefit from shift clicking. It allows them a more accessible and efficient selection method that bypasses the need for precise, multiple clicks. It helps them target a single item, reduce hand movement, and improve selection accuracy.
Conclusion
Shift clicking is a powerful technique that helps users to perform computer tasks while minimizing the number of clicks. It offers a wide range of functionalities such as item selection, highlighting texts, deselecting items, and even gaming precision. The keyboard-mouse technique also greatly helps computer users with mobility issues who rely on keyboards and mice. It’s a fundamental technique for users to effectively interact with their computers.
