Selection Delete
Selection Delete mode lets you select text by holding backspace and moving your finger like a joystick. When you release, the selected text is deleted.
Quick Summary
| What | Description |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Quickly select and delete text |
| Activation | Short swipe + hold on backspace |
| Movement | Joystick-style text selection |
How It Works
- Do a short swipe on backspace and hold
- Move your finger to select text (like TrackPoint)
- Release to delete the selected text
The gesture combines selection and deletion in one fluid motion.
How to Use
Step 1: Short Swipe on Backspace
Touch backspace and do a small swipe in any direction, then hold without lifting.
Step 2: Selection Mode Activates
After holding briefly, selection mode activates. You’ll feel a haptic pulse.
Step 3: Move to Select
Move your finger in the direction you want to select:
| Direction | Selection |
|---|---|
| Left | Select characters to the left |
| Right | Select characters to the right |
| Up | Select lines above |
| Down | Select lines below |
Step 4: Release to Delete
Lift your finger. All selected text is deleted.
[!WARNING] This action cannot be easily undone. Select carefully!
Bidirectional Selection
You can change direction while selecting:
- Start selecting left
- Move finger right to reduce selection
- Move further right to select in the other direction
The selection follows your finger movement continuously.
Vertical Selection
Moving up/down selects by lines:
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Vertical Threshold | How much vertical movement triggers line selection |
| Vertical Speed | How fast line selection moves |
Configure in Settings > Gesture Tuning > Selection-Delete Mode.
Selection Movement
Settings > Gesture Tuning > Selection-Delete Mode > Selection Movement chooses how your finger drives the selection:
| Mode | Behaviour |
|---|---|
| Speed by distance (default) | Joystick: the selection keeps growing while you hold, faster the further your finger is from where selection began |
| Follow finger | The selection length matches how far your finger has moved: one character per Step Size of horizontal travel. Moving back shrinks the selection by the same amount |
Speed by distance
Like TrackPoint, speed depends on distance:
- Near center: Slow selection (precise)
- Far from center: Fast selection
- Vertical: Slower than horizontal (configurable)
Follow finger
- Each Step Size (default 12 dp, range 4–40 dp) of horizontal travel selects one more character
- Holding still selects nothing more; the selection only changes when your finger moves
- Moving past the starting point selects on the other side
- Vertical travel past the Vertical Threshold selects one line, then one more per key height
- Vertical Speed has no effect in this mode and is hidden
Tips and Tricks
- Small deletions: Don’t move far, quick release
- Large deletions: Swipe to edge for fast selection
- Change direction: Move opposite way to deselect
- Cancel: Move back to center and release (selects nothing)
[!TIP] Practice with non-important text first. The gesture takes some getting used to.
Difference from Regular Backspace
| Action | Regular Backspace | Selection Delete |
|---|---|---|
| Gesture | Tap or hold | Short swipe + hold |
| Deletes | One char / word at a time | Selected region at once |
| Direction | Backwards only | Any direction |
| Speed | Fixed repeat rate | Variable |
Settings
| Setting | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Vertical Threshold | Gesture Tuning | % of key height for vertical activation |
| Vertical Speed | Gesture Tuning | Speed multiplier for line selection (Speed by distance only) |
| Selection Movement | Gesture Tuning | Speed by distance or Follow finger |
| Step Size | Gesture Tuning | Finger travel per character (Follow finger only) |
Default values:
- Vertical Threshold: 40%
- Vertical Speed: 0.4x (slower than horizontal)
- Selection Movement: Speed by distance
- Step Size: 12 dp
Related Features
- TrackPoint Mode - Similar joystick for cursor
- Cursor Navigation - Basic cursor movement
- Short Swipes - Regular short swipe on backspace deletes word
Technical Details
See Selection Delete Technical Specification for implementation details including:
- FLAG_P_SELECTION_DELETE_MODE flag
- Shift+Arrow key simulation
- Axis tracking algorithm