Is there a way to select multiple mining/farming squares?

[gibbeon]

Whenever I'm mining or harvesting for that matter, The only way seems to be selecting a single square, then select harvest/mine.  Is there any way to group this up, so that I can select a field that is ready to be harvested, for example, and request harvesting of the whole field without selecting item by item?  I'm slowly learning the game (one of my current favorites), but this I have been unable to resolve, and it annoys me to no end.

[Serenity]

You can select the commands in the Orders menu and draw a rectangle

For mining, get a Vein Miner mod like this:
https://ludeon.com/forums/index.php?topic=9616.msg253901#msg253901
Automatically marks all connected ore tiles

[gibbeon]

Thanks, much.  I've seen those buttons, but didn't realize they behaved differently than the buttons (harvest plant, for example) when you click on an item.