Sometimes if you’re using Notepad++, you need to select text as though it were a column in a spreadsheet. You can do this using the following steps.
- Place your cursor at the beginning position where you want to begin selecting text.
- Press and hold the “Shift” and “Alt” keys on your keyboard.
- Continue holding “Shift” and “Alt” while using the “Down” and “Right” arrow keys on your keyboard to select the text as desired.
Sarah Betts says
I have rows of text that I was to separate into three distinct columns, there is currently only a space separating them. How can I make them into three distinct columns?
DJS says
Step 1 identifies one corner of your column edit. After doing that, you can hold SHIFT and ALT and drag to complete the area selection.. Dragging past the edge of the window will scroll the text for selections larger than the height or width of your window.
rainy says
For a better column mode experiment, you can try the plugin ConyEdit, it can be used in notepad++.
D says
You can make a vertical selection in most of text editors running under Windows, by holding Alt and selecting with a mouse. A bit more comfortable then with pure keys, as for me.