# Selecting by Structure

The structure view is especially convenient for quickly selecting large elements or groups of elements within a document.

To select an element:

- There are three ways to select a large element like a complex table or a long list with a single click: Click the blue label that represents the element, click the name of any of its attributes, or click the blue vertical line associated with that element.

To select a text character or text string within a structure:

- Click a text character in Structure view to select only that character. To select a text string, click and drag across the text.

To select an attribute value:

- In Structure view, attribute values that can be edited from the keyboard are represented in bold text. Click and drag across the attribute value to select it. You cannot extend this type of text selection outside the attribute value.

To select structure elements using the keyboard:

- Press the `Esc` key on Unix or the ``F2`` key on Windows to select the parent element in the document structure. Press the key several times to select containers (and everything in them) up the structure towards the root.

- Press `Ctrl -` (minus key) to select a child element.

- Press `Ctrl k` to select the next element at the same level, or at the level of the parent element if there is no next or previous child of the current level.

- Press `Ctrl j` to select the previous element at the same level, or at the level of the parent element if there is no previous child of the current level.