> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://roam-tui.avelino.run/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://roam-tui.avelino.run/tui/multi-select.md).

# Multi-Block Selection

Select multiple blocks at once and perform batch operations: delete, indent, or dedent all selected blocks in one step.

## Selecting blocks

Extend the selection with `Shift+Up` and `Shift+Down` from the current cursor position. The selection is always a contiguous range.

| Action      | Vim          | Emacs        | VSCode       |
| ----------- | ------------ | ------------ | ------------ |
| Select up   | `Shift+Up`   | `Shift+Up`   | `Shift+Up`   |
| Select down | `Shift+Down` | `Shift+Down` | `Shift+Down` |

All selected blocks are visually highlighted.

### Resetting selection

Any regular movement key (`j`/`k`, arrows, page up/down) collapses the selection back to a single block cursor.

## Batch operations

With multiple blocks selected:

| Operation | Key         | Effect                                             |
| --------- | ----------- | -------------------------------------------------- |
| Delete    | `dd`        | Deletes all selected blocks                        |
| Indent    | `Tab`       | Indents all selected blocks under previous sibling |
| Dedent    | `Shift+Tab` | Dedents all selected blocks to parent level        |

### Delete

All blocks in the selection range are removed. The API call uses batch-actions to delete them in a single request.

### Indent / Dedent

Each block in the selection is indented (or dedented) individually, preserving relative order. All moves are sent as a batch API call.

## Undo

Batch operations create a single undo entry. Pressing undo (`u` in Vim, `Ctrl+/` in Emacs, `Ctrl+Z` in VSCode) reverts the entire batch operation in one step — all deleted blocks are restored, or all indent/dedent moves are reverted.

## Limitations

* Selection is always a **contiguous range** (no non-contiguous multi-select like Cmd+Click in Roam web)
* Selection does not span across **linked refs** sections
* Entering **insert mode** resets the selection
* Selection works only in **Normal mode**


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