Use SHIFT to Select Multiple, Sequential Items in Lists

Earlier, I wrote about using the CTRL button to select multiple items in lists.

Now, it is time to explain a similar trick. You can use the SHIFT key on the keyboard to select sequential items in lists. It works like this:

• Select the first item
  
• Press and hold the SHIFT key on the keyboard
  
• Select the last item, and all items in between will automatically be selected.
  

For example, let us say that you have come back to work after a long weekend. You open your e-mail account and you have received 25 spam e-mail messages and no work e-mail messages. You would NOT have to click on each item to delete them. Simply click on the first spam, press and hold the SHIFT key, then click and the last spam. The entire list is highlighted. You can then click the delete button and they are gone.

Use CTRL to Select Multiple Items in Lists

Have you ever helped a customer who sent multiple print jobs? The scenario may go like this: They send 6 print jobs but they only want this one and that one and that one, etc. Then, they need to know how much it will cost because they need to add some money to their card. Meanwhile the line at the desk is getting longer and the line of people wanting to use the print station is getting impatient.

The CTRL key is your calvary in these situations. If you press and hold the CTRL key while mouse-clicking on the various print jobs, the Pharos system will automatically calculate the price of all print jobs. Likewise, when you click on Print, Pharos will print all print jobs you clicked on.

If you want to remove a print job from your selection, just click on it again while still holding the CTRL key.

This concept works with many applications. For example, if you want to delete several e-mail messages, you can press and hold the CTRL key while mouse-clicking the various e-mail messages. Then, click the delete button and they will all go away.