Selecting objects in Word

It is not possible to select individual objects in a picture in a Word document. The best that you do is use a screen capture program, such as Snagit, to capture the required part of the picture or use the crop facility to remove unwanted parts of the picture.

If the picture is a bitmap, Doug's advice holds, you can't select a portion in Word. If the picture is a vector file, such as EMF or SVG, you may be able to select the picture, then use Picture Format>Group>Ungroup (or Graphics Format>Group>Ungroup for SVG). You may then be able to select separate elements of the ungrouped picture.

To select and copy a single object when there are several objects in a Word document on Windows, use one of these methods:

1. Click the object directly
   • Move the pointer over the object until it changes to a selection arrow.
   • Click once. Sizing handles around the object indicate it is selected.
   • Press Ctrl+C to copy, then Ctrl+V to paste.
2. Use Home → Select → Select Objects (for stacked/hidden objects)
   • Go to Home > Select > Select Objects.
   • Move the pointer over the object; when it becomes a selection arrow, click once to select that specific object.
   • Copy with Ctrl+C.
3. Use the Selection Pane for precise picking
   • Go to Home > Select > Selection Pane.
   • In the Selection Pane list, click the name of the object to select it.
   • Once selected (handles appear in the document), copy with Ctrl+C.
4. Selecting one object in a group
   • Click the group to select it.
   • Then click the specific object inside the group, or use the Selection Pane to pick that object.
   • Copy with Ctrl+C.

If dragging a box with Select Objects “does nothing,” ensure the pointer changes to the selection arrow and try a single click on the object rather than dragging, or use the Selection Pane for more reliable selection.

References:

• Select a shape or other object in Word
• Use the Selection pane to manage objects in documents