How to save time selecting objects in File Explorer

by Ed Bott

When you right-click an icon in File Explorer (Windows Explorer in Windows 7), the choices on the shortcut menu and on the ribbon offer predictable ways to perform basic file management tasks, such as copying a file to a new folder, renaming a subfolder, or creating a shortcut to the current object.

But two obscure options can be extremely useful when you want to manage groups of files.

First, click the View tab and then select the Item check boxes option. That enables a check box to the left of every file and folder in every Explorer view. (If you don't see the check boxes, move your mouse over an item.) With this option on, you can select multiple items without having to use the Ctrl key as you click.

Next, look on the ribbon's home tab for the Invert selection command. That option changes any selected items to unselected and vice versa. It's especially handy if you have a folder full of files where you want to delete or move all but a handful. Select the ones you want to keep, then click Invert selection to swap those check marks, selecting all the remaining files in the folder while clearing your original selection.

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