"(unless I could click and drag)."

There is a "Select" tool in VMS. I'm not at a computer with VMS installed, so I don't remember exactly where it is, but look up at the toolbar icons. There is the normal editing tool, the envelope editing tool, and somewhere nearby is a "Selection" tool. I think it looks like a mouse pointer with a dotted-line rectangle?

Zoom way out on your project, and then you can click and drag a selection box. But this selection box operates differently from many other programs. Some programs require an object to be completely enclosed in the selection box to be included with the selection group. With VMS, the box only needs to touch an object to be included -- you don't need to totally enclose it.

Still, the Ripple Edits function might be easier. But be careful to enable it only when you want it, and disable it immediately afterword. Also, as mentioned above, select the drop-down arrow next to it and choose the appropriate option -- probably "all tracks and markers".

Tim L

kirks, I'm not sure I am understanding what it is you want to do but I think it is this. You want to delete shots at the head of your project then move the undeleted portion to the left on the timeline. Do I have it correct?
If so, do this: Place the timeline cursor at the head of the portion you want to keep. Hold down the shift key and select all the tracke. Now hit the "g" key to group everything togetner. With the left mouse button drag the group to the right to get it out of the way temporarily. Now select the part you want to get rid of and hit the delete key. Now drag the group to the left to where you want it, probably the begining.
You can unfroup by doing this: Click a bland spot on the timeline to unselect the group. now click on any part of the group and hit the "u" key to ungroup. BTW if you right clict on a project these commands will show in a menu.
Hope this helps.
Ken