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 would suggest using the tool "Drawing Canvas" from Microsoft Word 2010. With this, you can make pictures and select them. I think that Microsoft preferred that we use the tool "Drawing Canvas" to join all the figures, instead of using "Select objects."

(Translated from Google Traductor. Original text:

Yo sugeriría utilizar la herramienta "Lienzo de dibujo" de Microsoft Word 2010. Con esto, ustedes pueden realizar los dibujos y seleccionarlos

Pienso que Microsoft prefirió que utilizáramos la herramienta "Lienzo de dibujo" para unir todas las figuras, en vez de utilizar "Seleccionar objetos".)

Answer 3

Hi,

I had the same problem.  The workaround I came up with was to save the document as a doc (word 97-2003).  Object selection lasoe works then.

Adrian

Answer 4

Made a screencast video to demonstrate the bug.

URL:

http://screenr.com/QLv

If anyone at Microsoft is looking, please report this bug to the developers. It's a very annoying bug!

<object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="560" height="345" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,115,0"> <param name="movie" value="http://screenr.com/Content/assets/screenr_1116090935.swf" /> <param name="flashvars" value="i=175260" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="560" height="345" src="http://screenr.com/Content/assets/screenr_1116090935.swf" flashvars="i=175260" allowfullscreen="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed> </object>

Answer 5

@Michael ZH

I have seen the behaviour of being able to select and edit / move an individual item within a group advertised as a new feature of the way things work in 2010. I don't think MS will classify a deliberate change to the controls as a bug...

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Adam Vero MCT, MMI, MBMSS:CRM 4, MCSA:Messaging Meteor IT - Training and Consulting Services