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

I'm sorry I claimed in an earlier post that an update fixed it. I tried it after an update and it seemed to work for me (on a .docx, not just a .doc). Since then it hasn't worked again. I guess this, and Brent Hall's post (where it doesn't even work on a .doc), show how temperamental this bug is.

Since then I've reformatted my computer (hard drive crash) and freshly installed Office 2010, this time the 64-bit edition.  The bug persists.

Updated workaround: I suggested using drawing canvases to workaround this problem, and mentioned adding a toolbar button. Well it turns out that you can insert a drawing canvas straight from the ribbon: it's on the Insert tab in the Shapes dropdown (right at the bottom).

As posted on another thread, Microsoft devs are aware of this problem, but the chance of them fixing it seems low: http://notepad.patheticcockroach.com/1097/how-to-use-lasso-selection-in-ms-office-2010/

Answer 3

Hi Gary: My file was originally created in word 2003, so it is a native .doc. However, when I open it in Word 2010 on my new machine I can't select multiple objects (e.g. a screen capture jpeg and a drawing object circle placed on top of it to highlight one aspect of the GUI) and group them. I am using a word 2003 custom template also.

I have tried saving it as a .docx then resaving it as a .doc - this is just blowing away all kinds of time on something that used to work well and reliably.

Answer 4

I open a docx and automatically now save it as a doc, then everything works fine. What a poor way to use a new release.

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gary fuller

Answer 5

Word 2010 (and the entire office suite) is possibly the worst designed piece of software ever released. I have wasted dozens of hours leading into days of down time trying to figure out aspects of the new interface for Word 2010 (I have gone straight here from being a Word 2003 (and earlier) user since the office suite was first released. Why the CUA standard GUI from 2003 was abandoned is impossible to understand. What was a highly functional piece of software has been turned into a maze of ridiculously complicated concepts and interfaces.

My current problem is that the simple, yet important function to select multiple objects and group them as one NO LONGER WORKS. I am working in 2003 compatability mode with a word 2003 document and I cannot select more than one object at a time, hence I cannot group objects and move them as one. The 2003 lasoo function doesn't work - even in compatability mode (.doc document) - it simply colours both objects I am trying to select in blue and group is greyed out. Multiple selection by holding down shift or control doesn't work at all.

How this software could have been released with such a major flaw is unbelievable - I have read the thread above with a growing sense of wonderment at the Word MVPs from Microsoft arguing about whether or not this is a bug or a design flaw. Whatever it is get the damn thing fixed as this is a major impediment to the use of this software.

In the meantime, I would please like some direction as to how to select multiple objects in a .doc document - shift and cntrl do not work, and the lasoo function is non-existent. I have turned on select objects (why a menu is needed for this is hard to understand) on the Home tab, and I have added the format tab to this very silly ribbon concept - which is far, far less useful than a standard menu. Nothing works. Do I really need to abandon this tool and return to word 2003 on my 5 year old notebook to do this??

Thanks in advance for any assistance.