Text Selection

Select text efficiently using CleverKeys gestures, including selection-delete mode and trackpoint navigation.

Quick Summary

What	Description
Purpose	Select text for copy/cut/delete
Methods	Selection-delete, trackpoint, shortcuts
Features	Word/line/all selection

Selection Methods

Method 1: Selection-Delete Mode

Select text while preparing to delete:

1. Short swipe on backspace (any direction)
2. Hold (don’t release)
3. Wait for haptic feedback
4. Move finger like joystick:
   • Left/Right: Select characters
   • Up/Down: Select lines
5. Release to delete selected text

See Selection Delete for details.

Method 2: TrackPoint Mode

For precise cursor positioning:

1. Long-press the nav key (between spacebar and enter)
2. Wait for haptic activation
3. Move finger to position cursor
4. Hold Shift while moving to select
5. Release to exit mode

See TrackPoint Mode for details.

Method 3: Keyboard Shortcuts

Use modifier keys:

Shortcut	Action
Ctrl+A	Select all
Shift+Arrow	Extend selection
Ctrl+Shift+Arrow	Select word

Quick Selection Actions

Select All

1. Open command palette (long-press settings)
2. Select Select All
3. Or use Ctrl+A shortcut

Select Word

1. Double-tap on a word (in the text field)
2. Word is selected
3. Or use Selection-Delete with minimal movement

Select Line

1. In Selection-Delete mode, swipe up or down
2. Entire line gets selected
3. Continue for multiple lines

Working with Selected Text

Once text is selected:

Copy Selection

Method	How
Ctrl+C	If Ctrl key enabled
Command palette	Long-press settings > Copy
App menu	Use app’s copy function

Cut Selection

Method	How
Ctrl+X	If Ctrl key enabled
Command palette	Long-press settings > Cut
App menu	Use app’s cut function

Delete Selection

Method	How
Backspace	Press backspace key
Selection-Delete	Release finger
Type anything	Replace with new text

Selection Visual Feedback

When text is selected:

┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Text before [selected text] after   │
│              ↑ Blue highlight       │
│                                     │
│ ┌───────────────────────────────┐   │
│ │    Selection handles (○)      │   │
│ └───────────────────────────────┘   │
└─────────────────────────────────────┘

• Selected text is highlighted
• Selection handles appear at edges
• Keyboard shows selection-aware actions

Tips and Tricks

• Practice Selection-Delete: Most efficient method once learned
• Modifier keys: Add Ctrl as extra key for shortcuts
• Word selection: Double-tap in text is often faster
• Line selection: Vertical swipe in Selection-Delete mode

[!TIP] Selection-Delete mode selects AND deletes in one gesture - great for editing.

Selection Settings

Setting	Location	Description
Selection Haptics	Haptics	Feedback during selection
Vertical Threshold	Gestures	Line selection sensitivity
Selection Speed	Gestures	Character selection speed

Common Selection Patterns

Deleting a Word

1. Short swipe backspace, hold
2. Swipe right to select word
3. Release to delete

Copying a Paragraph

1. Enter TrackPoint mode
2. Position at paragraph start
3. Hold Shift, move to end
4. Open command palette, Copy

Replacing Text

1. Select text to replace
2. Start typing
3. Selection is replaced

Common Questions

Q: How do I select without deleting?

A: Use TrackPoint mode with Shift, or use the app’s native selection.

Q: Why is selection slow/fast?

A: Adjust selection speed in Settings > Gestures.

Q: Can I select across multiple lines?

A: Yes, use vertical movement in Selection-Delete or TrackPoint mode.

Related Features

• Selection Delete - Selection-delete gesture
• TrackPoint Mode - Cursor navigation
• Clipboard History - Manage copied text

Technical Details

See Text Selection Technical Specification.