As noted in many of my Mac OS X Hints , I ’m an avowed keyboard junky — if there ’s a mode to do something by leaving my hands on the keyboard instead of achieve for the black eye , then that ’s the method acting I ’ll belike apply . This is true even if the mental process seems a moment wily than using the mouse ; I rule arrive at for the mouse to be an intrusive option , and will usually only rely on it as a last recourse . As such , I love all tips that let my hands stay on the keyboard , including today ’s choice morsel about Terminal .
In Terminal ( in OS X 10.4 only ) , you could in reality select and copy sections of textbook without connect with the computer mouse . This behavior is in reality documented in a Terminal menu item , but it ’s somewhat hidden — I missed it entirely until someone pointed it out to me .
To choose and copy a region of school text using the keyboard in Terminal , quality Edit - > Keyboard Selection - > Start Keyboard Selection , or ( much easier ) press Command - Option - Return . Nothing will come along to have change , but the pointer keys will now move the pointer away from its current quarrel , and back up into the prior output . Move around with the pointer keys until you reach the starting point for your textual matter selection , then push Return to put down “ pick ” mode . As you use the arrow keys now , you ’ll see schoolbook highlighting as you move around .
Move to the point at which you need your selection to end , and press Return again . When you do , the selection high spot will fly and the cursor will hark back to its usual spot on the input melodic line . However , what you did n’t see happening was the selection being replicate to the clipboard . I put together a little movie to demonstrate how this works , and to show that the selection does wind up up on the clipboard .
( you may also follow the full - sizing motion picture if you favor ( 643×350 , 1 MB ) .
This technique might seem a bit foxy at first , but I establish that I chop-chop adjusted , and this is how I now take and simulate smallish portions of Terminal ’s output . I still reach for the shiner , though , when I want to copy a large division of Terminal ’s cowcatcher , as it ’s quicker than using the up arrow key to page back through lots of yield .
