IntelliJ Column Selection using Cursor Keys

133
votes

Is it possible to some how setup IntelliJ IDEA so that I can column select with the cursor keys similarly to how I might in Notepad++, Visual Studio, or FlashDevelop.

For instance when I'm typing code I almost always do my navigation solely through use of the keyboard. In the IDEs mentioned previously I can quickly select blocks of code by holding Shift + Alt then tapping ↑ to extend my cursor across the lines above. I can then hold Shift + Alt + Ctrl and tap ← or → to quickly jump across words and select the chunk of text I want.

In IntelliJ IDEA I have to constantly enable and disable Column Selection Mode using the Shift + Alt + Insert and even then it doesn't quite function as it does in the other IDEs or Text Editors.

Any ideas?

10
android-studiointellij-ideamultiple-columnstextselectionintellij-13
This blog post should be helpful. - Anton Dozortsev

10 Answers

185
votes

You can do column editing using the Edit | Column Selection Mode.

The shortcut to turn it on/off is Alt+Shift+Insert. You navigate with arrow keys to select blocks of text.

76
votes

Multiline Caret (without mouse)

Windows/Linux: CTRL + CTRL(Hold) + ↑ / ↓

Mac: ⌘ + ⌘(Hold) + ↑ / ↓

ESC will end multiline mode.

Change Multi-caret Hotkey

To add a custom Keymap, CTRL+SHIFT+A, type keymap and click on the one with Settings as subtext. Search for Clone Caret Above and Clone Caret Below.

I mapped mine to ALT+SHIFT+↑ / ↓.

Bonus

Try holding combinations of CTRL, SHIFT, and arrows for improved selection power.

57
votes

It is also possible to select holding middle mouse key.

19
votes

Go to the Settings | Keymap and set a shortcut for Clone Caret Above and for Clone Caret Below

12
votes

For me on Mac:

Press once 'option' key, release it, and press and hold it again. Now navigate with cursor to select desired code. Press 'Esc' to exit column mode! :)

12
votes

Most convenient way is to:

  • MAC: Hold Option+Shift and click with mouse.
  • Windows: Hold Alt and click with mouse.
11
votes

I think @Meo's answer is the most correct, but if your hand happens to be on the mouse, you can also accomplish this with Ctrl+Alt+Shift+Left Mouse Button Click. Or look for the Add Rectangular Selection on Mouse Drag in the keymap settings.

10
votes

In Windows or Linux I press two times Ctrl

9
votes

On a mac, to toggle block select on/off:

shift command 8

⇧⌘8

1
votes

For Mac cmd+shift+* didn't work for me. I changed the keymap to something else and now it works seamlessly.