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Microsoft Office Tutorials

Selecting Drawing Objects

Before you can modify a drawing object, you must select it. When an object is selected, white selection handles appear around it. Any formatting commands you perform only affect the selected object. An object remains selected until you select another object or click anywhere in the document.

You must use different methods when selecting filled and unfilled objects. Unfilled objects are empty, so you must click the border in order to select the object. You can, however, click anywhere in a filled object to select the object.

To select more than one drawing object, select the Select Objects button on the Drawing toolbar and drag across the objects, or hold the [Shift] key and click the other objects.

When a graphic image, that has been inserted from a file, is selected, black selection handles appear around it.

Multiple Drawing Objects Selected


link to document

Read through the steps:. If you would like to complete these steps in an actual Office file, please click on the link and move between the Office file and Web windows until you are satisfied you have mastered the skill. (If a dialog box appears while you are trying to open the exercise, click Open It.)

Practice the Skill

1. Open the Word document DRAW3.DOC by clicking the link above.Display the entire Standard toolbar, switch to Print Layout view, and display the rulers.
2. Click the Drawing button on the Standard toolbar to display the Drawing toolbar.
   The Drawing toolbar appears.
   
   
3. Scroll to view the rectangle above the first paragraph and the line between the first and second paragraphs.
4. Click in the rectangle (a filled object) to select it.
   Selection handles appear around the object.
   
   
5. Point to the line at the bottom of the first paragraph (an unfilled drawing object).
   The mouse pointer changes into a single, white arrow with a black four-headed arrow attached to it.
   
   
6. Click the line to select it.
   Selection handles appear around the object. Notice that selecting the line deselected the rectangle.
7. Hold the [Shift] key and click inside the rectangle.
   Notice that both objects are selected.
8. Click anywhere in the document to deselect the objects.
   All selection handles disappear.
   
   

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