How to select graphic objects

At a Glance

When objects have been created in a screen, you may have to select some of them in order to position them, regroup them, etc. The selection or de-selection of graphic objects is one of the basic tasks during the construction of an operator screen.

How to select a single object

The following table describes the operations to perform in order to select an object.

If you want to select	Then
an isolated object.	validate selection mode then click on the object with the left mouse button.
an object among several overlaid objects.	validate the selection mode, press ALT then right mouse click several times on the area occupied by the objects. Result: You select each object one after the other even they are hidden (in the background).
successive objects on a screen.	press the space bar successively. Result: Each time you press the spacebar, you select the next object even if it is hidden behind another object.

If you want to select

Then

an isolated object.

validate selection mode then click on the object with the left mouse button.

an object among several overlaid objects.

validate the selection mode, press ALT then right mouse click several times on the area occupied by the objects.

Result: You select each object one after the other even they are hidden (in the background).

successive objects on a screen.

press the space bar successively.

Result: Each time you press the spacebar, you select the next object even if it is hidden behind another object.

How to select several objects

The following table describes the operations to perform in order to select several objects at the same time.

If you want to select	Then
several contiguous objects.	frame the objects to be selected by defining a selection zone (this operate mode is identical to that for the creation of objects). Result: A rectangle with handles is displayed on the screen. It regroups all the objects located in the selection zone.
several objects scattered in the operator screen.	press Shift then click on the objects to be selected while keeping the Shift key held down. Result: A rectangle with handles is displayed on the screen, it groups all the selected objects.

If you want to select

Then

several contiguous objects.

frame the objects to be selected by defining a selection zone (this operate mode is identical to that for the creation of objects).

Result: A rectangle with handles is displayed on the screen. It regroups all the objects located in the selection zone.

several objects scattered in the operator screen.

press Shift then click on the objects to be selected while keeping the Shift key held down.

Result: A rectangle with handles is displayed on the screen, it groups all the selected objects.

How to deselect a selected object or a group of objects

The following table describes the operations to perform in order to deselect an object.

Step	Action
1	Press Shift and hold down this key.
2	Left click on the selected object that you want to deselect. Result: The selection handles associated with the object disappear, indicating that the object is no longer part of the selection.

Step

Action

Press Shift and hold down this key.

Left click on the selected object that you want to deselect.

Result: The selection handles associated with the object disappear, indicating that the object is no longer part of the selection.

NOTE: Press ESC to delete the entire active selection. Clicking on the screen background gives the same results.