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Selecting objects

To work with an object on a layout, select it in Layout mode. You see small squares, or handles, surrounding the selected objects.

 

Selected field	Selected text block

For information about selecting text, see Selecting a field in Browse mode or Find mode and Making text bold, italic, highlighted, or setting other styles. For information about selecting tab control objects, see Selecting and working with objects in tab panels.

To select one or more objects on a layout:

1.	In Layout mode, click the Selection tool in the status toolbar.

The pointer becomes an arrow pointer.

2.	Do one of the following:

 

To	In Layout mode, do this
Select one object	With the arrow pointer, click the object.
Select several objects at once	• Drag the arrow pointer to make a selection box that includes the objects. The selection box does not have to completely surround the objects. To avoid including partially selected objects, press Ctrl (Windows) or Option (Mac OS) as you drag.  • Or, press Shift as you click each object individually.
Select all objects on the layout	Choose Edit menu > Select All.
Select a tab control	• With the arrow pointer, click inside the background of the tab control.  • Or, drag the arrow pointer around any portion of the tab control boundary.
Select all objects of the same type, including objects in tab panels that are not in front (for example, all text objects or all rectangles)	• Click the tool for the type of object to select, then choose Edit menu > Select All.  • Or, with the arrow pointer, click an object, press Shift (Windows) or Option (Mac OS), and choose Edit menu > Select All (Windows) or Select Same (Mac OS).
Select all fields	With the arrow pointer, click a field, press Shift (Windows) or Option (Mac OS), and choose Edit menu > Select All (Windows) or Select Same (Mac OS).
Select a portal	With the arrow pointer, click the border of the portal, or any other area within the portal that doesn't contain a field or object.
Deselect selected objects	• Click a blank area of the layout or any layout tool in the status toolbar.  • Or, press Shift and click selected objects.

Notes

•	If an object’s selection handles display as , the object is locked. For information about locking and unlocking objects, see Protecting objects from change.

•	If multiple objects are grouped, you can't move an individual object within the group. For more information, see Grouping and ungrouping objects.

•	You can layer objects on a layout. If you can't see or select an object on a layout, you might need to send other objects backwards in the stacking order. For information, see Moving objects forward or backward on a layout.

•	To switch between the Selection tool and the last-used tool, press Ctrl-Enter or Enter on the numeric keypad (Windows) or press Enter (Mac OS).