Cannot Select Objects using mouse cursor (Word 2010)

Anonymous
2010-07-09T08:11:42+00:00

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

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

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Answer accepted by question author
Jay Freedman 208.2K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2010-07-15T01:52:24+00:00

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.

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  1. Anonymous
    2011-08-05T14:57:57+00:00

    Here is how I fixed this in Office 2010: Create a new Drawing Canvas and start drawing in it. Object Selection works fine this way. However, I do not know how this would work with readily existing drawings that are not included in a canvas...worth a test anyway :)

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-07-12T12:53:59+00:00

    This is just appalling.  Just installed Service Pack and it's still broken.

    I try my best to support Microsoft Products but Office time and again shows what a heap of junk they can create.

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-06-02T07:14:07+00:00

    I have also the same problem.  Do you know if the service pack will solve this?. This is really bad. The object selection works well in power point 2010 but not in office 2010. The only way to make it work as you said is to save the document as word 97 - 2003 but that means You lose some functions of 2010. anyways, I am just reporting the same here in Perú.

    Let me know if you find a registry fix.

    P.D: I have also found that everytime I select an exe file I loose the icon open of windows seven.

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  4. Anonymous
    2011-03-16T05:13:17+00:00

    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".)

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