selection bug

[matt neuburg]

Here's another selection bug in Word 2004. Type "This is a
defenstration." Double-click "This" to select it. Now hold Shift and
click in the middle of "defenstration". In Word X and before, this would
select all of "defenstration". In Word 2004, it looks like it's trying
to do this, but then it lets go and just selects up to where the mouse
is.

You may have to try several times in order to generate this behavior.
Once you've done it, though, it won't go away. m.

 

[JE McGimpsey]

Here's another selection bug in Word 2004. Type "This is a
defenstration." Double-click "This" to select it. Now hold Shift and
click in the middle of "defenstration". In Word X and before, this would
select all of "defenstration". In Word 2004, it looks like it's trying
to do this, but then it lets go and just selects up to where the mouse
is.

You may have to try several times in order to generate this behavior.
Once you've done it, though, it won't go away. m.

Try checking the Preferences/Edit "When selecting, select entire word"
checkbox.

 

[matt neuburg]

Try checking the Preferences/Edit "When selecting, select entire word"
checkbox.

I think you're missing the point, but that's okay. m.

 

[JE McGimpsey]

I think you're missing the point, but that's okay. m.

Well, I tried 35 or so times using your procedure, with the "When
selecting, select entire word" checkbox checked, and the entire sentence
was selected every time.

The only way I can replicate the behavior you cite is to have the
checkbox unchecked. When it is unchecked, the behavior is exactly as you
describe, including the momentary selection of the entire word
"defenestration", then the collapse of the selection back to the
insertion point.

I get *exactly* the same results in Word 98, Word 2001, and Word v.X.

Rather than being a bug in Word 2004, selection under the scenario you
present is consistent with both the Preferences and previous version's
behavior.

Was there a different point you were trying to make?

 

[matt neuburg]

Well, I tried 35 or so times using your procedure, with the "When
selecting, select entire word" checkbox checked, and the entire sentence
was selected every time.

The only way I can replicate the behavior you cite is to have the
checkbox unchecked. When it is unchecked, the behavior is exactly as you
describe, including the momentary selection of the entire word
"defenestration", then the collapse of the selection back to the
insertion point.

I get *exactly* the same results in Word 98, Word 2001, and Word v.X.

Rather than being a bug in Word 2004, selection under the scenario you
present is consistent with both the Preferences and previous version's
behavior.

Was there a different point you were trying to make?

Shift clicking is supposed to mean "extend the selection by the same
kind of unit that formed the initial selection." For example,
command-click to select a sentence, then shift-click in the next
sentence: the *whole* sentence is selected. That's because you are now
selecting by sentence, and shift-clicking extends by sentence.
Similarly, triple-click to select a paragraph, then shift-click in the
next paragraph: the *whole* paragraph is selected. That's because you
are now selecting by paragraph, and shift-clicking extends by paragraph.

Selection by word should work the same way. This should not depend upon
the "select entire word" setting. Double-click means select a word, and
now shift-clicking in a later word should select that entire word, by
analogy with the above.

If previous versions behaved the same way, then they had the same bug.
m.

 

[JE McGimpsey]

Shift clicking is supposed to mean "extend the selection by the same
kind of unit that formed the initial selection." For example,
command-click to select a sentence, then shift-click in the next
sentence: the *whole* sentence is selected. That's because you are now
selecting by sentence, and shift-clicking extends by sentence.
Similarly, triple-click to select a paragraph, then shift-click in the
next paragraph: the *whole* paragraph is selected. That's because you
are now selecting by paragraph, and shift-clicking extends by paragraph.

Selection by word should work the same way. This should not depend upon
the "select entire word" setting. Double-click means select a word, and
now shift-clicking in a later word should select that entire word, by
analogy with the above.

If previous versions behaved the same way, then they had the same bug.
m.

OK. I was evaluating the behavior based on your previous (incorrect)
assertion:

In Word X and before, this would select all of "defenstration".

I'll agree that most Apple apps follow the behavior above (Finder
doesn't). It's frustrating to read the Aqua HIG though - the behavior of
Shift-click when text is selected is somewhat ambiguous. The HIG's
selection section states that

"A Shift-click should result in a continuous selection--the selection is
extended to include everything between the old anchor point and the new
active end."

But active end is defined as

"When selecting text, the point at which the user releases the mouse
button."

Which obviously has a different context when dragging vs. shift-clicking.

The ATSUI specification states that dragging when a word is selected
should extend the selection by words, but both it and the Aqua HIG are
silent on sentences and paragraphs, and in fact TextEdit doesn't extend
either - only words.

 

[matt neuburg]

OK. I was evaluating the behavior based on your previous (incorrect)
assertion:

Sorry for misremembering.

I'll agree that most Apple apps follow the behavior above

It's really just a question of internal consistency though.

You do know about the double-click-drag selection bug in Word 2004,
right? That one is definitely a bug. m.

 

[JE McGimpsey]

You do know about the double-click-drag selection bug in Word 2004,
right? That one is definitely a bug. m.

You bet.

Fortunately, I haven't really noticed in doing my work. I don't know
whether that's because I don't use the commands/mouse actions that cause
them, or if it's just that I've been trained to accept them. I tend to
use the mouse only for establishing an insertion point, rather than
selecting text, preferring to use the keyboard.

It's sometimes frustrating to realize how much I've been trained to
accomplish things the way the technology wants me to, rather than
training the technology. I first became aware of it with the Newton,
when my handwriting underwent a significant revision.