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Select objects

Applies to: Microsoft Office Excel 2003, FrontPage 2003, PowerPoint 2003

Sizing handles (sizing handle: One of the small circles or squares that appears at the corners and sides of a selected object. You drag these handles to change the size of the object.) indicate that the object or group of objects has been selected.

Do one of the following:

Show Select one object

Do one of the following:
- Click the selection border of the object.
- To select an object that is part of a group (group: A collection of objects that behave as one for the purpose of moving, resizing, or rotating them. A group can be composed of multiple sets of groups.), first select the group, and then click the object you want.

Note To select an object that is under other objects, first select the object on top, and then press the TAB key to cycle forward (or SHIFT+TAB to cycle backward) through the objects.

Show Select multiple objects

Do one of the following:
- To select one object at a time, hold down SHIFT while you click each object.
- To select objects that are close to each other, on the Drawing toolbar, click Select Object and drag a dotted box over the objects.
- To select objects that are part of a group (group: A collection of objects that behave as one for the purpose of moving, resizing, or rotating them. A group can be composed of multiple sets of groups.), select the group, and then hold down SHIFT while you click the objects you want.

Show Tip

To select hidden or stacked objects, you can also use the Select Multiple Objects command. Add this button to the Drawing toolbar (toolbar: A bar with buttons and options that you use to carry out commands. To display a toolbar, click Customize on the Tools menu, and then click the Toolbars tab.).

Show Select one or more objects without using the mouse

If it is not on your Drawing toolbar, add the Select Multiple Objects button.
How?
1. Press ALT+F , and then press CTRL+TAB until you select the Drawing toolbar.
2. Press the RIGHT ARROW key until you reach the More Buttons arrow.
3. Press the DOWN ARROW key. The Add or Remove Buttons menu will appear.
4. Press the DOWN ARROW key, press the RIGHT ARROW key, and then press TAB until you reach the Select Multiple Objects button, and then press ENTER.
On the Drawing toolbar, click Select Multiple Objects .
Select the checkbox next to the object or objects you want, and then click OK.

Notes

To deselect all of the objects, click anyplace but on the objects.
To deselect one object at a time, hold down SHIFT and click the object.

Show Tip

If you are having difficulty selecting a specific object or group of objects, click the Zoom box to magnify the view.