Why can't I move multiple objects by forming a box with my mouse?

E

Epinn

Hi,

I don't understand why the following method (#8) doesn't work every time.
When it didn't work, I could still select each object individually and group
them. As far as I am concerned, the circumstances are the same - e.g.
animated WordArt objects overlapping (NOT stacking on top) one another.
Any ideas? I am eager to know why. Appreciate help!

8. One Step Selection of Multiple Objects



If you want to select multiple objects in one easy step, click/hold/drag you
mouse to form a box around the objects, release the mouse button, and they
will all be selected. They can now be moved as a group, grouped to make a
single object, or "nudged" as a group to position them precisely on the
slide.



Source:

http://www.soniacoleman.com/Tutorials/PowerPoint/quicktricks.htm#16. Di
splay%20explanatory%20text%20on%20mouse-over
 
E

Echo S

Placeholders can't be grouped. Is it possible that one of your items is a
placeholder?

If you're having difficulty with the actual selection, though, it could be
that the bounding box for the object is larger than the area you marqueed
around. When you drag a marquee with your mouse to select objects, you have
to have the entire object within the marquee area. (Not all programs work
this way -- some select the entire object if you just touch part of it, and
others select just the part you touched, and some work like PPT in that you
have to drag 'round the enitre thing.)
 
E

Epinn

Thanks for your response Echo. No placeholder. It is blank layout. Six
WordArt objects, one letter for each object, side by side. I even removed
the rectangle background to make them as "isolated" as possible. I can
select each letter and group. Does this give any clue?

Epinn


Echo S said:
Placeholders can't be grouped. Is it possible that one of your items is a
placeholder?

If you're having difficulty with the actual selection, though, it could be
that the bounding box for the object is larger than the area you marqueed
around. When you drag a marquee with your mouse to select objects, you have
to have the entire object within the marquee area. (Not all programs work
this way -- some select the entire object if you just touch part of it, and
others select just the part you touched, and some work like PPT in that you
have to drag 'round the enitre thing.)

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP] http://www.echosvoice.com
What's new in PPT 2007? http://www.echosvoice.com/2007.htm
Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/powerpointannoy/
PPTLive! Sept 17-20, 2006 http://www.pptlive.com


Epinn said:
Hi,

I don't understand why the following method (#8) doesn't work every time.
When it didn't work, I could still select each object individually and
group
them. As far as I am concerned, the circumstances are the same - e.g.
animated WordArt objects overlapping (NOT stacking on top) one another.
Any ideas? I am eager to know why. Appreciate help!

8. One Step Selection of Multiple Objects



If you want to select multiple objects in one easy step, click/hold/drag
you
mouse to form a box around the objects, release the mouse button, and they
will all be selected. They can now be moved as a group, grouped to make a
single object, or "nudged" as a group to position them precisely on the
slide.



Source:

http://www.soniacoleman.com/Tutorials/PowerPoint/quicktricks.htm#16. Di
splay%20explanatory%20text%20on%20mouse-over
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
E

Epinn

Problem solved!! Steve, have you noticed that your post and my #2 post had
exactly the same time stamp? Talk about synchronicity......

I mentioned in my second post that I removed one rectangle. As a matter of
fact, the letters sit on (NOT inside) another rectangle (autoshape). When I
removed that, I could draw a box with my mouse effectively. Very sensitive
stuff. Interesting to know.

Thanks all!

Epinn
 
J

John Wilson

Epinn
Sorry about double post!
There's a very useful tool I use all the time called "select mutiple
objects" I think you need to customise the toolbar to get it from the draw
menu (dont think it shows as default) Shows you a list of objects on the
slide and lets you tick the one you want selected.
--

Did that answer the question / help?
_____________________________
John Wilson
Microsoft Certified Office Specialist
http://www.technologytrish.co.uk/ppttipshome.html
 
E

Epinn

Wow!! Done - button added to drawing toolbar in seconds.

John, I am glad I ran into problem and posted, otherwise I might not have
known this trick. This is such a useful tool, can we suggest that Microsoft
add this to the toolbar? Can we at least make this 8(b) of the list of
tricks that I mentioned in my first post of this thread?

One minor problem is sometimes the description of the choices on the list
may not be obvious and I may not know which objects they refer to. But it
is okay, I can just click on one object on the slide and then locate the
tick on the list and find the cluster.

Thanks so much John.

Epinn
 
J

John Wilson

Thanks Echo - naming the items is a really useful tip!
-- P.S. Trish's hair isn't **VERY** purple!
_____________________________
John Wilson
Microsoft Certified Office Specialist
http://www.technologytrish.co.uk/ppttipshome.html


Echo S said:
PPT 2007 has a nice "selection and visibility" task pane, which negates the
need for select multiple.

But here is some info on select multiple and names I did for the Techsmith
folks awhile back:
http://www.techsmith.com/community/blogcomments.asp?thread=38 I think it
will help you overcome knowing which is what.

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP] http://www.echosvoice.com
What's new in PPT 2007? http://www.echosvoice.com/2007.htm
Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/powerpointannoy/
PPTLive! Sept 17-20, 2006 http://www.pptlive.com


Epinn said:
Wow!! Done - button added to drawing toolbar in seconds.

John, I am glad I ran into problem and posted, otherwise I might not have
known this trick. This is such a useful tool, can we suggest that
Microsoft
add this to the toolbar? Can we at least make this 8(b) of the list of
tricks that I mentioned in my first post of this thread?

One minor problem is sometimes the description of the choices on the list
may not be obvious and I may not know which objects they refer to. But it
is okay, I can just click on one object on the slide and then locate the
tick on the list and find the cluster.

Thanks so much John.

Epinn
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
E

Epinn

Thank you so much Echo. I enjoyed the tutorial. You are a good teacher.

Epinn

Echo S said:
PPT 2007 has a nice "selection and visibility" task pane, which negates the
need for select multiple.

But here is some info on select multiple and names I did for the Techsmith
folks awhile back:
http://www.techsmith.com/community/blogcomments.asp?thread=38 I think it
will help you overcome knowing which is what.

--
Echo [MS PPT MVP] http://www.echosvoice.com
What's new in PPT 2007? http://www.echosvoice.com/2007.htm
Fixing PowerPoint Annoyances http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/powerpointannoy/
PPTLive! Sept 17-20, 2006 http://www.pptlive.com


Epinn said:
Wow!! Done - button added to drawing toolbar in seconds.

John, I am glad I ran into problem and posted, otherwise I might not have
known this trick. This is such a useful tool, can we suggest that
Microsoft
add this to the toolbar? Can we at least make this 8(b) of the list of
tricks that I mentioned in my first post of this thread?

One minor problem is sometimes the description of the choices on the list
may not be obvious and I may not know which objects they refer to. But it
is okay, I can just click on one object on the slide and then locate the
tick on the list and find the cluster.

Thanks so much John.

Epinn

post
had individually
and to
make on
the
http://www.soniacoleman.com/Tutorials/PowerPoint/quicktricks.htm#16. Di
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 

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