Shift X to reduce selection to the line above

[tqwewe]

Helix currently allows users to select multiple adjacent lines using the x key. However, there might be instances where users accidentally select one extra line and wish to deselect the current line and navigate back up.

A potential solution is to introduce the Shift X key binding for this purpose, along with a new command, possibly named reduce_line_above. It is worth noting that Shift X is currently assigned to "Extend selection to line bounds (line-wise selection)". However, the functionality and difference between x and Shift X is not clear to me.

[CptPotato]

However, the functionality and difference between x and Shift X is not clear to me.

Shift X will not extend the selection to multiple lines.

So when you have a cursor on an empty line the behavior between X and Shift X is different (X will extend to the next line in that case).

[tqwewe]

Thank you for clarifying.
I still would love a way to reduce the selection up a line

[tqwewe]

What does Alt x do?

I've dug into the source code and played around with it, but I honestly can't get my head around what it does exactly, and if anyone would actually use it.

[jnns]

Alt-x (shrink_to_line_bounds) removes those lines from the selection that don't cover whole lines.

[jesusmgg]

Try this: press v and then k. It will deselect the last line.

Then v again to exit select mode if you want.

[tqwewe]

This almost works, but it doesn't extend to the end of the line after pressing k.
For the behavior I'm describing, you'd have to do v k X v.

[gabydd]

You can create a custom bind to ["extend_line_up", "extend_to_line_bounds"] which should give you the functionality you want

[tqwewe]

There seems to already be a command for extending a line up.

All I had to do was add this to my config:

[keys.normal]
X = ["extend_line_up", "extend_to_line_bounds"]
A-x = "extend_to_line_bounds"

[keys.select]
X = ["extend_line_up", "extend_to_line_bounds"]
A-x = "extend_to_line_bounds"

The Alt x keybindings are there so I still have access to the old Shift x command.
Though this removes the shrink_line_bounds bindings, which I honestly have never understood what its for and how it works.

[gabydd]

Visual line in this case actually means it moves by softwrapped lines that visually look like different lines, the commands that start with extend are the actual visual mode commands

[tqwewe]

Oh so both these keys should be mapped to extend_line_up?

[michaeljones]

Thanks for sharing. I've often been annoyed by going one over with x presses and would be keen to have something to address it easily.

I can't see extend_line_up in the docs? Even the master version of the docs? Am I missing something? Or is it missing?

[tqwewe]

@michaeljones I only came across it in the source code. There's a link to it at the bottom of https://docs.helix-editor.com/remapping.html:
https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/blob/master/helix-term/src/commands.rs

I just opened that file and did a ctrl find for "up"

[KaaiH]

I think the proper way to get X to expand the section upwards would be
X = "extend_line_above".

[gabydd]

Yep, plus you should add extend_to_line_bounds for when the lower line is smaller then the line above

[matuusu]

If you selected one or few extra lines and wish to deselect the extra lines, just enter visual mode v and use k or up to shrink selection.

[chtenb]

Using the new select_line_below and select_line_above commands this becomes easier. For reference #9080 (comment)