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

It's definitely a bug. Whether Microsoft considers it to be a bug is a different question. :-(

However, note that saving in Word 97-2003 format makes the "lasso" function work properly.

Answer 3

Thanks Tais,

This works just fine. Nice work=around.

gare

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gary fuller

Answer 4

Same here, I checked update history and a number if updates to MS Office was installed 11th of November, however I still have this problem/bug. My work around until MS comes with a fix is as follows:

If I really need multi select using mouse, typically in documents with a lot of overlaping shapes and object, I go to File->"Save As" and change the "Save as type:" to "Word 97-2003 Document (*.doc)" and then press "Save" actually saving the document (I typically save using different name, just in case it messes up my docx format). I perform my selections, groupings, moving around opjects etc. and then return to Save as type: "Word Document (*.docx)" format.

Any-ways I hope that MS either can tell us how to perform multi select using mouse (assuming 50+ shapes and hence not feasible to use ctrl method), or fix the bug, because I love many of the new functions in 2010 objects/shape editing engine.

Regards,

Tais

Answer 5

What update fixed it? Mine still has no "lasso" functionality.

gary

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gary fuller