At a Glance

The objects of a screen are sometimes associated to become a single compound object (that can be animated). Similarly, you may have to unbind a compound object into several simple objects, in order to manipulate them individually.

How to Bind a group of objects

The table below describes the procedures for binding a group of objects.

Step

Action

1

Select the objects to bind.

Result: The selection is represented by a frame with handles.

2

Activate the Group command.

Result: The objects are grouped in a single compound object. the handles belonging to the selected objects disappear and a rectangle containing all of the selected objects and represented by handles is displayed.

How to Unbind a group of objects

The table below describes the operations to perform to unbind a group of objects.

Step

Action

1

Select the compound object to unbind.

Result: The selected object is represented by handles.

2

Activate the Ungroup command.

Result: All the objects contained in the compound object are viewed with their handles. If the object is animated, the animated characteristics are lost.

How to select an element belonging to a compound object

The table below describes the operations to perform to modify the characteristics of an item belonging to a compound object, without having to ungroup it.

Step

Action

1

Select the compound object.

Result: The selected object is represented by handles.

2

Press Alt then right click on the compound object, while holding down the Shift key.

Result: The elements comprising the compound object are selected successively. The selected object can not be manipulated as a simple object.