Semi-transparent box on desktop

[Richard England]

Frank Cox wrote:
> I just noticed that if you left-click on your Gnome desktop, hold the
> button down and move the mouse, you create a little semi-transparent box on
> your desktop.  It goes away as soon as you release the mouse button.
>
> What is that for, if anything at all?
>
>   


It is a "selection box".  If you do it over items that show up on your 
desktop, each will be selected.