Disable them by editing file ~/.config/openbox/lubuntu-rc.xml near “S-A-Up”, “S-A-Down”, “S-A-Left”, and “S-A-Right”. On Lubuntu (and Xubuntu?), the keyboard shortcuts do not work, because they conflict with four default keyboard shortcuts in the window manager ( LXDE? Openbox?), Shift + Alt + arrow up, Shift + Alt + arrow down, Shift + Alt + arrow left, and Shift + Alt + arrow right. It was tested with version 1.36 (Windows) and version 1.36 (Linux). In Geany, Shift + Alt + arrow keys will make a block selection and thus effectively enter into column mode. It turns out all the text editors considered here have a way to exclusively use the keyboard for column mode operations.

It is also impractical as the mouse must be used very precisely in both directions.

In particular, Alt + mouse movement in Visual Studio will make a block selection, but this increases the risk of RSI. Although it is often somewhat hidden, most text editors, except for the most basic ones, have a column mode (also known as block mode or visual mode) – to work on rectangular selections of text (including a width of zero).Įven more hidden is if it is possible to avoid using the mouse.

Visual studio code theme from notepad++