<p>Multiple cursors is handy for quickly changing multiple places at the same time. Sure, there are other ways of doing it (like using find and replace), but sometimes it is easier to "see" the changes as you are making it. This is how to activate it:
</p>
<h2 id="in-intellij-idea">In Intellij Idea</h2>
<p>With the mouse:</p>
<ul>
<li>Hold down <code>ALT</code> + <code>SHIFT</code> while clicking

On the keyboard</li>
<li>Press <code>ALT</code> + <code>SHIFT</code> + <code>INS</code> to toggle column selection (or <em>Edit</em> -&gt; <em>Column Selection Mode</em> via the menus)</li>
<li>While holding <code>SHIFT</code> press arrow keys to select area</li>
<li>Press <code>ALT</code> + <code>SHIFT</code> + <code>INS</code> to toggle column selection back off
<h2 id="visual-code">Visual Code</h2>
With the mouse:</li>
<li>Hold down <code>ALT</code> while clicking

On the keyboard:</li>
<li>Hold down <code>ALT</code> + <code>CTRL</code> while using the up and down arrow keys to extend the "cursor" vertically</li>
<li>While holding down <code>SHIFT</code>, use left and right keys to select the block</li>
</ul>
<p>Here's an example of using it to populate fields from constructor arguments in Visual Code:

<img src="https://i.ibb.co/Km5Ym9S/multi-cursor-with-keys.gif" alt="Copy and paste with multiple cursors in Visual Code" /></p>


Multiple cursors is handy for quickly changing multiple places at the same time. Sure, there are other ways of doing it (like using find and replace), but sometimes it is easier to "see" the changes as you are making it. This is how to activate it:

## In Intellij Idea
With the mouse:
- Hold down `ALT` + `SHIFT` while clicking

On the keyboard
- Press `ALT` + `SHIFT` + `INS` to toggle column selection (or _Edit_ -> _Column Selection Mode_ via the menus)
- While holding `SHIFT` press arrow keys to select area
- Press `ALT` + `SHIFT` + `INS` to toggle column selection back off

## Visual Code
With the mouse:
- Hold down `ALT` while clicking

On the keyboard:
- Hold down `ALT` + `CTRL` while using the up and down arrow keys to extend the "cursor" vertically
- While holding down `SHIFT`, use left and right keys to select the block

Here's an example of using it to populate fields from constructor arguments in Visual Code:

![Copy and paste with multiple cursors in Visual Code](https://i.ibb.co/Km5Ym9S/multi-cursor-with-keys.gif)

Using Multiple Cursors in Idea and Visual Code

Thanks to some friends, I started learning to program in high school. Now I am a software engineer. I can sometimes be found running, tending to my garden or playing with my six backyard chooks.
