Can't Select Multiple Objects

[macwordman]

Has anyone tried grouping objects, such as a JPEG picture and a text box, in Word 2008? I am able to select one object by clicking on it, but when I hold down the Shift key and try to select a second object, the 1st object is unselected! I tried using other keys (Command, Ctrl, Fn, etc.) and nothing allows me to make multiple selections. Anyone else run into this?

 

[CyberTaz]

Unfortunately this is a known bug for which there is no workaround in Mac
Word. It results from the graphics engine versus other types of graphic
objects. You can't concurrently select objects of different types. In this
case the jpeg is the "old type" & the text box is the "new type".

One possible option: You *can* select both types in PPt, Group them, then
copy the grouped object & paste into Word. You won't be able to ungroup for
further changes though, so you may want to save the PPt file for revisions -
then replace the old version in Word with the new version from PPt.

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[John McGhie]

This is all a bit confusing until you find the Graphics Cursor

On the Drawing toolbar, the first icon is labelled Select Objects. That's
the Graphics Cursor. It enables you to Marquee Select across a range of
floating graphics objects.

In previous versions of Word, it was a white arrow, which made it easier for
me to get the idea

If you drag over a set of floating objects with it, you will select all of
them. By "floating" we mean the graphics object has a layout of anything
EXCEPT "inline with text".

For such a selection to include a JPEG, it must also be floating.

Select just the JPEG and set its text wrapping to anything OTHER than
"inline with text" to get it out of the text layer.

All being well, you will then be able to group it with any other graphics
objects you have.

Hope this helps

Has anyone tried grouping objects, such as a JPEG picture and a text box, in
Word 2008? I am able to select one object by clicking on it, but when I hold
down the Shift key and try to select a second object, the 1st object is
unselected! I tried using other keys (Command, Ctrl, Fn, etc.) and nothing
allows me to make multiple selections. Anyone else run into this?

--
Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/

Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie, Consultant Technical Writer
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
http://jgmcghie.fastmail.com.au/
Sydney, Australia. S33°53'34.20 E151°14'54.50
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]

 

[CyberTaz]

Yeah - disregard my post - I was thinking of another set of circumstances:-}
John's reply is much more on target for Mac Word... The most likely is that
you have one or more In Line with Text & once you apply text wrapping you
should be fine. The Select Objects tool is a real help, but with the
wrapping set you should still be able to shift-click as well.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[macwordman]

Thanks, John! My JPEG was in fact "in line with text". After I changed this layout setting I was able to select multiple objects by shift-clicking. Your tip about the graphics cursor was good too. Thanks!

 

[Jason Andersen [MSFT]]

Note that you can also change what layout Word assigns to inserted pictures,
so that they are always inserted floating instead of inline. Here's how:

1. Go to Word > Preferences to bring up the Word Preferences dialog.
2. Select the "Edit" set of preferences (under Authoring and Proofing Tools)
3. The second to last item under "Editing Options" says, "Insert/paste
pictures as:" and then has a dropdown where you can select various layout
types.
4. Ok to set the preference.

Now anytime you insert a new picture, it will be set to the layout type you
selected in step 3.

Oh, I forgot step 5... Have fun with pictures!

- Jason