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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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
    2010-07-15T20:59:43+00:00

    Jay

    Thanks for your post. I was beginning to think I'd done something during the upgrade process. Is there anyway of making contact with Microsoft in order to ascertain whether this is a bug, or is intended? I have visited the Office 2010 links I've found, however there seems to be no way of contacting MS.

    Thanks again for the confirmation that I haven't lost my marbles.

    BK1316

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-07-14T18:16:27+00:00

    Doug

    It's not any specific document. I have tried inserting text boxes, shapes, etc., in to new documents and tried the same technique. The select objects using the lassoe method just doesn't work. I cannot understand why it should be.

    Blueknight1316

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  3. Doug Robbins - MVP - Office Apps and Services 323.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2010-07-09T21:42:25+00:00

    It worked fine with a document that I created.

    If you want to send your document to me at dkr[atsymbol]mvps[dot]org, I will take a look to see if there is anything that might be causing the problem.

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  4. Anonymous
    2010-07-09T18:30:57+00:00

    Niranjan

    It's a wired mouse. Nothing has changed, except the upgrade from 2007 to 2010. The feature worked perfectly in 2007. I'm consierding uninstalling everything, however from what I have read things might get difficult (working in the registry if I have to carry out a manual uninstall). Any views on this idea would be welcome.

    thank you

    BK1316

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