Book Contents

Edit grouped objects

A grouped object can be manipulated like a single object. For example, you can cut, copy and paste groups, change their color or pattern, or send the whole group to the front or back. You can also double-click the group or use the Object Explorer to edit the objects within it.

When you double-click a group, you are in group edit mode. In this mode you can select individual members of the group and modify them without ungrouping them. You can also add new objects to the group in this mode.

You can apply animation to a group. In general, except for visibility, fill, and color, animation set up for a group of objects takes precedence over animation set up for individual objects within the group.

  • For visibility animation, the Invisible behavior takes precedence.
  • For fill animation, group animation is added to object animation.
  • For color animation, applying color animations to an object group as well as to the individual objects in the group causes unexpected behaviors. To set up color animations for an object group, apply the color animations to the group or to the individual objects in the group.

As well, some positioning animation may be additive. Be sure to test group animation to ensure that it produces the effect you intend.

To edit the properties that are common to all the objects in the group, use the Property Panel.

All properties

Click All Properties to view the properties of the group. Since the group is treated as a single object, these are the same as the Shared properties.

To view and edit all the properties of all the objects within the group, in the Property Panel, click All Properties, and then click Include Grouped Properties. The properties of all the objects in the group are listed.

Tip:

Any properties that are shared by more than one object will only be shown once, so changing a shared property will affect all the objects in the group that have that property.

Shared properties

Click Shared Properties to view the shared properties of the group. Since the group is treated as a single object, the list is the same as All Properties.

To view and edit the properties shared by all of the objects within the group, in the Property Panel, click Shared Properties, and then click Include Grouped Properties. Changing a shared property will affect all the objects in the group.

Tip:

To select an item in a group, use the Object Explorer.

See also

Set up object properties (Properties tab)

Object Explorer