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Tutorial: The Drag-Select Workflow

The drag-select trigger is Rephlo's fastest way to process text. Instead of selecting text and then pressing a hotkey, you select text and trigger the command overlay in a single fluid motion.

What You'll Learn​

  • How the drag-select modifier key trigger works
  • How to configure which modifier key to use
  • Best practices and troubleshooting tips

Prerequisites​

  • Rephlo is installed and running (visible in your System Tray / menu bar)
  • At least one command exists in your library (the built-in defaults work fine)
  • A configured AI provider (any BYOK key or the Dedicated API)

Step 1: Configure the Modifier Key​

The drag-select trigger uses a modifier key that you hold while selecting text. By default this is Cmd on macOS and Ctrl on Windows/Linux, but you can change it.

  1. Open Rephlo's main window.
  2. Navigate to Settings (gear icon in the sidebar).
  3. Select the Hotkeys tab.
  4. Find the Text Selection Trigger section.
  5. Choose your preferred modifier key from the dropdown.
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                  SETTINGS > HOTKEYS > TEXT SELECTION TRIGGER             │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                                         │
│   ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐   │
│   │  Settings                                                       │   │
│   ├───────────┬─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤   │
│   │           │                                                     │   │
│   │  General  │  Hotkeys                                            │   │
│   │  Hotkeys  │  ─────────────────────────────────────────────      │   │
│   │  Account  │                                                     │   │
│   │  About    │  Context Menu Overlay                               │   │
│   │           │  macOS: ⇧⌘C      Win: Ctrl+Shift+Alt+C             │   │
│   │           │                                                     │   │
│   │           │  Screenshot Capture                                 │   │
│   │           │  macOS: ⇧⌘S      Win: Ctrl+Shift+Alt+S             │   │
│   │           │                                                     │   │
│   │           │  ─────────────────────────────────────────────      │   │
│   │           │                                                     │   │
│   │           │  Text Selection Trigger                             │   │
│   │           │  Modifier Key: [Cmd (⌘)                      v]    │   │
│   │           │                                                     │   │
│   │           │    Hold this key while drag-selecting text to       │   │
│   │           │    automatically open the command overlay.           │   │
│   │           │                                                     │   │
│   │           │  ─────────────────────────────────────────────      │   │
│   │           │                                                     │   │
│   │           │  [Test Overlay]                                     │   │
│   │           │                                                     │   │
│   └───────────┴─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘   │
│                                                                         │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Available Modifier Keys​

ModifiermacOSWindows / Linux
DefaultCmdCtrl
Option 2OptionAlt
Option 3ShiftShift

Tip: Pick a modifier you do not regularly use for text selection. For example, if you often use Cmd+Click for multi-cursor editing in your code editor, consider switching to Option instead.

Step 2: Try the Drag-Select Trigger​

Now let's use it for real.

  1. Open any application with text -- a document, email, website, or code editor.
  2. Hold down your configured modifier key (Cmd on macOS by default).
  3. While holding the modifier, click and drag your mouse to select a passage of text.
  4. Release the mouse button. The command overlay appears instantly.
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                      DRAG-SELECT IN ACTION                              │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                                         │
│   1. Hold modifier key          2. Drag to select text                  │
│                                                                         │
│   ┌──────────────────────┐     ┌──────────────────────┐                 │
│   │ Email - Inbox        │     │ Email - Inbox        │                 │
│   │                      │     │                      │                 │
│   │ Hi team,             │     │ Hi team,             │                 │
│   │ Please review the    │     │ [===============]    │                 │
│   │ attached proposal    │     │ [= selected ===]     │                 │
│   │ by Friday.           │     │ [===============]    │                 │
│   │                      │     │                      │                 │
│   │ [Holding ⌘...]       │     │ [Release mouse]      │                 │
│   └──────────────────────┘     └──────────┬───────────┘                 │
│                                           │                             │
│                                           ▼                             │
│                                                                         │
│   3. Overlay appears instantly   4. Pick a command                      │
│                                                                         │
│   ┌──────────────────────┐     ┌──────────────────────┐                 │
│   │ ┌──────────────────┐ │     │  Streaming Progress  │                 │
│   │ │ Search commands..│ │     │  ┌────────────────┐  │                 │
│   │ ├──────────────────┤ │     │  │ 1.4s           │  │                 │
│   │ │ > Fix Grammar    │ │───▶ │  │ [=======>    ] │  │                 │
│   │ │   Summarize      │ │     │  └────────────────┘  │                 │
│   │ │   Translate      │ │     │                      │                 │
│   │ │   Make Formal    │ │     │  Result --> clipboard │                 │
│   │ └──────────────────┘ │     └──────────────────────┘                 │
│   └──────────────────────┘                                              │
│                                                                         │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Note: The selected text is automatically captured and passed to whatever command you choose. You do not need to copy it first.

Step 3: Run a Command​

Once the overlay appears:

  1. Type to filter commands by name (e.g., type "fix" to find "Fix Grammar").
  2. Click a command, or use the arrow keys and press Enter.
  3. The AI processes your selected text and the result is automatically copied to your clipboard.
  4. Paste the result anywhere with Cmd+V (macOS) or Ctrl+V (Windows/Linux).

The overlay closes automatically after execution. You stay in your original application the entire time.

Comparing Trigger Methods​

MethodBest ForSpeedSteps
Drag-select modifierQuick one-handed text selection and processingFastestHold key + drag + pick command
Global hotkeyText already selected (e.g., double-clicked a word)FastSelect text + press hotkey + pick command
System tray clickMouse-heavy workflows, no text pre-selectedModerateSelect text + click tray icon + pick command

The drag-select trigger saves a step compared to the global hotkey because selection and triggering happen simultaneously.

Tips and Pitfalls​

Choose the Right Modifier​

Pick a modifier key that does not conflict with your most-used applications:

  • Code editors (VS Code, JetBrains): Cmd/Ctrl is used for multi-cursor. Consider Option/Alt instead.
  • Browsers: Cmd/Ctrl-drag sometimes triggers link dragging. Option/Alt avoids this.
  • General office work: The default (Cmd on macOS, Ctrl on Windows) usually works fine.

Timing the Modifier​

Press and hold the modifier key before you start dragging. If you press the modifier after the drag has already begun, the trigger may not activate.

The Command Success Guide​

After your very first successful command execution, Rephlo shows a Command Success Guide dialog. This dialog introduces the drag-select workflow and walks you through configuring it. If you dismissed it before reading, you can always configure the trigger manually in Settings > Hotkeys.

If the Overlay Does Not Appear​

  • Verify Rephlo is running (check for the tray icon).
  • Confirm the modifier key is set in Settings > Hotkeys > Text Selection Trigger.
  • On macOS, ensure Rephlo has Accessibility permission (System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility).
  • Try the Test Overlay button in Settings > Hotkeys to confirm the overlay works independently.

Next Steps​