I’m still new to ST3 and learning things. I come from Notepad++ and I really like how block select worked there as well as many other editors (such as Visual Studio as well). Basically I could hold down ALT+SHIFT and use the arrow keys to create a perfect selection rectangle. All valid characters in the block would be selected and I could copy them.

However in ST3, not only is column mode more cumbersome to use (it becomes more of a toggle in ST3 rather than something that can be enabled quickly by holding down modifier keys), but it doesn’t behave the same as I expect based on previous experience with the aforementioned editors.

Is there a 2nd block select mode in ST3 more like what I describe or is this what I have to deal with? The way it works now isn’t really useful because once I press CTRL+ALT+UP to set the number of rows in my selection, pressing RIGHT or LEFT causes carets on different lines to move independently, which causes some strange selection patterns.

ST3 only has one way.
Personally I find it to be about 1000 times better than all other column selects ever anywhere else… Maybe give it another shot?
And have you tried alt-dragging a box?

[quote=“adzenith”]ST3 only has one way.
Personally I find it to be about 1000 times better than all other column selects ever anywhere else… Maybe give it another shot?
And have you tried alt-dragging a box?[/quote]

Well I don’t want to use my mouse, with Notepad++ I don’t have to use my mouse either.

In what scenario are you trying to do a block select? Perhaps there’s a better way to do it in Sublime Text?