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# setSelectionFrom(_:to:anchor:highlight:)

Programmatically selects a range of cells.

```
func setSelectionFrom(_ startPos: Int, to endPos: Int, anchor anchorPos: Int, highlight lit: Bool)
```

## Parameters

`startPos`

The position of the cell that marks where the user would have pressed the mouse button.

`endPos`

The position of the cell that marks where the user would have released the mouse button.

`anchorPos`

The position of the cell to treat as the last cell the user would have selected. To simulate Shift-dragging (continuous selection) `anchorPos` should be the `endPos` used in the last method call. To simulate Command-dragging (discontinuous selection), `anchorPos` should be the same as this method call’s `startPos`.

`lit`

<doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/Swift/true> if cells selected by this method should be highlighted.

## Discussion

`startPos`, `endPos`, and `anchorPos` are cell positions, counting from 0 at the upper left cell of the receiver, in row order. For example, the third cell in the top row would be number 2.

To simulate dragging without a modifier key, deselecting anything that was selected before, call [`deselectAllCells()`](/documentation/AppKit/NSMatrix/deselectAllCells()) before calling this method.

## See Also

[`var selectedCells: [NSCell]`](/documentation/AppKit/NSMatrix/selectedCells)

An array containing all of the matrix’s highlighted cells plus its selected cell.

[`var isSelectionByRect: Bool`](/documentation/AppKit/NSMatrix/isSelectionByRect)

A Boolean that indicates whether the user can select a rectangle of cells in the receiver by dragging the cursor.


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