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pmgrue
pmgrue
Participant
March 31, 2023
Answered

Keyboard shortcut adding to selection

  • March 31, 2023
  • 5 replies
  • 927 views

I am going through my images multiple times and am adding to my designated target collection by using the keyboard shortcut "B".

I can't remember all the images that I added previiously. If the image is already added to the collection, it gets removed when I want to "add" it (again).

Is there a keyboard shortcut that only adds but does not remove images from collections?

Correct answer richardplondon

I've thought of another option. Make a fresh Collection temporarily and make it target. Add images to that with B key as you are used to doing. Then drag all the contents of this temporary collection into the desired collection. Any which were already in there should not matter. Then delete the temporary Collection.

 

I had been unaware of, and am surprised by, such a peculiarity with the B key method.

5 replies

dj_paige
dj_paige
Legend
February 26, 2025

Post deleted

Bob Somrak
Bob Somrak
Legend
March 31, 2023

You can do this in GRID view easily by using the "Paint Can" set to "Target Collection".  Clicking with the Paint Can only ADDS to the Target Collection.  

M4 Pro Mac Mini. 48GB
    G
    ghouri_1159
    Participant
    February 26, 2025

    Could you clarify which software or platform you're referring to? For general use, holding Ctrl (Cmd on Mac) + Click usually adds to the selection. Let me know if you need something specific!

    R
    Community Expert
    richardplondonCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    March 31, 2023

    I've thought of another option. Make a fresh Collection temporarily and make it target. Add images to that with B key as you are used to doing. Then drag all the contents of this temporary collection into the desired collection. Any which were already in there should not matter. Then delete the temporary Collection.

     

    I had been unaware of, and am surprised by, such a peculiarity with the B key method.

      Conrad_C
      Community Expert
      Conrad_CCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      March 31, 2023
      quote

      I had been unaware of, and am surprised by, such a peculiarity with the B key method.

      By @richardplondon

       

      I have run into it a lot, and I understand why…Photo > Add to Target Collection is implemented as a toggle (if the photo is already in there, the command and its shortcut change to Remove from Target Collection). What saves me is paying attention to the pop-up message that tells me what I just did, but I am sure I have missed that at times. One way the problem happens is if I did a pass through one source (folder or collection) looking for photos to add to the target collection, then switch to another source where some of the same images exist. If you forget that an image was already added and you press B on the same image in another collection, then it will remove it from the target collection, just as the command says.

       

      If this is a major issue for anyone, consider submitting a trackable feature request in the Ideas section of this community to ask Adobe to alter this behavior, maybe by adding a preference setting such as “Add to Target Collection never removes”.

      Sean McCormack
      Community Expert
      Sean McCormackCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      March 31, 2023

      I'm happy with the toggle, but it were to be removed, it would still need a way to remove as a shortcut too.. Preferably based around the B key. 

       

      Sean McCormack. Author of 'Essential Development 3'. Magazine Writer. Former Official Fuji X-Photographer.
      Conrad_C
      Community Expert
      Conrad_CCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      March 31, 2023

      I don’t think there is a keyboard shortcut that only adds to the target selection without removing, so you may have to use Richard’s suggestion. If you already use Pick flags and don’t want them mixed up with collection selections, you could try another single-key marker such as the color label (the 6, 7, 8, or 9 single-key shortcuts on the Photo > Set Color Label submenu).

      R
      Community Expert
      richardplondonCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      March 31, 2023

      You could try Pick flag instead (P key). Then filter to hide all but Pick flagged photos, Ctrl+A (select all visible) then drag the highlighted set into the Collection concerned. If any ot these photos are already within that Collection, I don't believe this action will remove them.

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