How to deselect a single multi-selection point in Sublime Text 2

Question

I am finding I often will multi-select a bunch of single points (ctrl+click on the point) in Sublime Text 2, get to the end of the items I want to multi-select and then discover one in the middle of them all that should not have been selected.

I then have to cancel the multi-select (esc key) and start my selection all over.

Is there a way to deselect a single multi-select point? I looked all over the net and experimented with the traditional opposite items such as ctrl+shift+click on the point I want to deselect. No joy.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Vantassel

Answer 1

Try this one:

alt + Middle Mouse Button

this feature/shortcut is called subtract from selection.

Ilyssa

I just forgot to say that, on OS X (Mac), you should use Command+Shift instead of Alt. – Monogamist

And what if I'm using the trackpad and have no middle mouse button? – Beauteous

Answer 2

In OSX ⌘+opt+shift+ left click removes an added multi-cursor.

Zilpah

Just ⌘+shift + left click is enough – Conal

Answer 3

On Linux, if you are using a touchpad, try using: Alt + Shift + Right-Click.

Resinous

Thanks! This is the only one option working for me in Ubuntu :) – Reichsmark

Answer 4

If you are on OSX, you need to disable drag_text.

Edit your user preferences, i.e. super + , and add this:

"drag_text": false

Otherwise, you can select just like before - ctrl + click (command + click), and to deselect an instance you use alt + click (command + shift + click).

Matthiew

Upvote because this does work, but is not the best answer for my use as it also disables the ability to drag and drop sections of code. So if I want the convenience of alt+click to deselect a multi-selection point the trade off is no drag and drop. This is a good solution for someone who may not have a three-button mouse. But, as I do have one, the solution from Hugo Corra is the best answer. Thanks so much for your solution! – Vantassel

Made my answer relevant to both OSX and Windows users. – Matthiew

If you are saying that in windows you just alt + click to subtract from the selection without having to disable draft_text, just an FYI that does not work. alt+middle button click does work in Windows, but not just alt+click (i.e. traditional left button click) – Vantassel

Answer 5

To deselect any text region (this way also deselects any included cursor point(s)):

On Windows

Alt+Shift+Right_Mouse_Button (Drag-Select what you need to deselect)

OR: Alt+Middle_Mouse_Button (Drag-Select what you need to deselect)

On OSX

Command+Shift+Option+Left_Mouse_Button (Drag-Select what you need to deselect)

OR: Command+Shift+Middle_Mouse_Button (Drag-Select what you need to deselect)

This works on SublimeText 2/3.

In case you want to deselect a single cursor point (not a region), you can do the same and drag-select any region that includes that cursor point. [Example: My Wor[Cursor]d. To deselect the cursor you can drag-select on: r[Cursor]d (or any region including the cursor) and it will automatically deselect the cursor point.]

Source: Column Selection

Bloat