Cannot Select Objects using mouse cursor (Word 2010)

Question

Hi

I recently upgraded from Office 2007 Pro to 2010 Pro+. I inserted some shapes and when to select them - prior to grouping. I did the 'normal' thing: click the arrow shape on the ribbon, clicked Select Objects, brought my cursor on the page again and left-click and hold while I lasooed the objects. The lasooe part didn't happen. Nothing was captured by moving the cursor over the area where the objects were.

Can anyone suggest what's happening, and how it can be put right?

Thanks

Answer 1

Lasso selection works as long as the document is in Word 97-2003 format (in Compatibility Mode). When it's converted to Word 2010 format (or created new in Word 2010), dragging doesn't even show the lasso outline.

This is not true in Word 2007, which does lasso selection in both formats.

I assume this has something to do with the change in the graphics engine between 20007 and 2010, but it's a bug whether Microsoft classifies it that way or not. Ctrl+click is not a usable substitute when there are a large number of small pieces to be grouped.

As a sort-of-workaround, try using the Selection Pane (on the dropdown from the Select button). Unfortunately, that doesn't support Shift+click to select a lot of items in one click.

Answer 2

Ah, my normal.dotm template is a carryover from 2007.

Answer 3

Jay

Thanks for your post. I was beginning to think I'd done something during the upgrade process. Is there anyway of making contact with Microsoft in order to ascertain whether this is a bug, or is intended? I have visited the Office 2010 links I've found, however there seems to be no way of contacting MS.

Thanks again for the confirmation that I haven't lost my marbles.

BK1316

Answer 4

Doug

It's not any specific document. I have tried inserting text boxes, shapes, etc., in to new documents and tried the same technique. The select objects using the lassoe method just doesn't work. I cannot understand why it should be.

Blueknight1316

Answer 5

It worked fine with a document that I created.

If you want to send your document to me at dkr[atsymbol]mvps[dot]org, I will take a look to see if there is anything that might be causing the problem.