start-range and finish-range should graphically show the range being created. also add bindings for comma and period in addition to existing bindings which require a numpad. the old ones are now alternates. all primary functionality should appear on the qwerrty, and the numpad should be considered an ergonomic redundant alternative if you have one

gtk2_ardour/ardour.menus.in

@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@
   <accelerator action='toggle-edit-mode'/>
   <accelerator action='toggle-midi-input-active'/>
   <accelerator action='escape'/>
+
+  <accelerator action='alt-start-range'/>
+  <accelerator action='alt-finish-range'/>
+
 #ifdef GTKOSX
   <accelerator action='Quit'/>
 #endif
@@ -191,7 +195,6 @@
         <menuitem action='move-range-end-to-next-region-boundary'/>
         <menuitem action='start-range'/>
         <menuitem action='finish-range'/>
-        <menuitem action='finish-add-range'/>
         <separator/>
         <menuitem action='select-next-route'/>
         <menuitem action='select-prev-route'/>

gtk2_ardour/editor.cc

@@ -4546,11 +4546,8 @@ Editor::get_regions_from_selection_and_edit_point ()
 
 	if (_edit_point == EditAtMouse && entered_regionview && !selection->regions.contains (entered_regionview)) {
 		regions.add (entered_regionview);
-	} else {
-		regions = selection->regions;
 	}
 
-
 	if (regions.empty() && _edit_point != EditAtMouse) {
 		TrackViewList tracks = selection->tracks;
 

gtk2_ardour/editor_actions.cc

@@ -333,7 +333,11 @@ Editor::register_actions ()
 
 	reg_sens (editor_actions, "start-range", _("Start Range"), sigc::mem_fun(*this, &Editor::keyboard_selection_begin));
 	reg_sens (editor_actions, "finish-range", _("Finish Range"), sigc::bind (sigc::mem_fun(*this, &Editor::keyboard_selection_finish), false));
-	reg_sens (editor_actions, "finish-add-range", _("Finish Add Range"), sigc::bind (sigc::mem_fun(*this, &Editor::keyboard_selection_finish), true));
+
+	reg_sens (editor_actions, "alt-start-range", _("Start Range"), sigc::mem_fun(*this, &Editor::keyboard_selection_begin));
+	reg_sens (editor_actions, "alt-finish-range", _("Finish Range"), sigc::bind (sigc::mem_fun(*this, &Editor::keyboard_selection_finish), false));
+
+//	reg_sens (editor_actions, "finish-add-range", _("Finish Add Range"), sigc::bind (sigc::mem_fun(*this, &Editor::keyboard_selection_finish), true));
 
 	reg_sens (
 		editor_actions,

gtk2_ardour/editor_keys.cc

@@ -37,7 +37,77 @@
 
 using namespace ARDOUR;
 using namespace PBD;
+using namespace Editing;
 
+void
+Editor::keyboard_selection_finish (bool add)
+{
+	if (_session) {
+
+		framepos_t start = selection->time.start();
+		framepos_t end;
+		
+		if ((_edit_point == EditAtPlayhead) && _session->transport_rolling()) {
+			end = _session->audible_frame();
+		} else {
+			end = get_preferred_edit_position();
+		}
+
+		//snap the selection start/end
+		snap_to(start);
+		
+		//if no tracks are selected and we're working from the keyboard, enable all tracks (_something_ has to be selected for any range selection)
+		if ( (_edit_point == EditAtPlayhead) && selection->tracks.empty() )
+			select_all_tracks();
+
+		selection->set (start, end);
+
+		//if session is playing a range, cancel that
+//		if (_session->get_play_range())
+//			_session->request_cancel_play_range();
+
+	}
+}
+
+void
+Editor::keyboard_selection_begin ()
+{
+	if (_session) {
+
+		framepos_t start;
+		framepos_t end = selection->time.end_frame();  //0 if no current selection
+
+		if ((_edit_point == EditAtPlayhead) && _session->transport_rolling()) {
+			start = _session->audible_frame();
+		} else {
+			start = get_preferred_edit_position();
+		}
+		
+		//snap the selection start/end
+		snap_to(start);
+		
+		//if there's not already a sensible selection endpoint, go "forever"
+		if ( start > end ) {
+			end = max_framepos;
+		}
+		
+		//if no tracks are selected and we're working from the keyboard, enable all tracks (_something_ has to be selected for any range selection)
+		if ( selection->tracks.empty() )
+			select_all_tracks();
+					
+		selection->set (start, end);
+
+		//if session is playing a range, cancel that
+		if (_session->get_play_range())
+			_session->request_transport_speed ( 1.0 );
+
+		//if join playhead, locate to the newly selected start
+//		if ( !_session->transport_rolling() && Config->get_join_play_range() )
+//			_session->request_cancel_play_range();
+	}
+}
+
+/*
 void
 Editor::keyboard_selection_finish (bool add)
 {
@@ -82,7 +152,7 @@ Editor::keyboard_selection_begin ()
 
 		}
 	}
-}
+}*/
 
 void
 Editor::keyboard_paste ()

gtk2_ardour/editor_selection.cc

@@ -1378,17 +1378,7 @@ Editor::select_all (Selection::Operation op)
 {
 	list<Selectable *> touched;
 
-	TrackViewList ts;
-
-	if (selection->tracks.empty()) {
-		if (entered_track) {
-			ts.push_back (entered_track);
-		} else {
-			ts = track_views;
-		}
-	} else {
-		ts = selection->tracks;
-	}
+	TrackViewList ts  = track_views;
 
 	if (_internal_editing) {
 
@@ -1418,8 +1408,10 @@ Editor::select_all (Selection::Operation op)
 			continue;
 		}
 		(*iter)->get_selectables (0, max_framepos, 0, DBL_MAX, touched);
+		selection->add (*iter);
 	}
 
+
 	begin_reversible_command (_("select all"));
 	switch (op) {
 	case Selection::Add:

gtk2_ardour/mnemonic-us.bindings.in

@@ -275,10 +275,10 @@ This mode provides many different operations on both regions and control points,
 @rop|Region/nudge-forward|KP_Add|nudge forward
 @-group|Editor/nudge-next-forward|<@PRIMARY@>KP_Add|some text
 
-@-group|Editor/start-range|<@PRIMARY@>KP_Down|some text
-
-@-group|Editor/finish-range|<@PRIMARY@>KP_Up|some text
-@-group|Editor/finish-add-range|<@TERTIARY@><@PRIMARY@>KP_Up|some text
+@-group|Editor/start-range|comma|some text
+@-group|Editor/finish-range|period|some text
+@-group|Editor/alt-start-range|<@PRIMARY@>KP_Down|some text
+@-group|Editor/alt-finish-range|<@PRIMARY@>KP_Up|some text
 
 @markers|Editor/add-location-from-playhead|KP_Enter|add mark at playhead
 @wvis|Transport/focus-on-clock|KP_Divide|focus on main clock