To perform an operation on an object, it must first be "selected" by clicking anywhere within the object. A "selected" object is displayed within an outline rectangle of eight "selection handles" (the icon in the structure chart which represents the object is also displayed as "selected"). Selected objects can be moved, arranged, sized, cut, copied, have their fill (background) and pen (foreground) colors changed, their fonts changed and their border styles changed. The selection handles also enable an object to be resized vertically, horizontally and diagonally.
Multiple objects can be selected together. This can be done by holding down the Shift key and clicking on each object in turn, or using "marquee selection". Marquee selection is performed by placing the cursor to the left of and above the left-most and top-most object to be included in the selection, holding down the right mouse button (the left button if you have reversed them), and moving the cursor to the right of and below the right-most and bottom-most object to be included in the selection, and then release the right mouse button. As you move the cursor, a marquee rectangle is traced out. All objects which are completely enclosed by the marquee rectangle are selected. To select every object, press Ctrl+Shift+8. Objects can also be selected using the structure chart by clicking on the icon which represents the object. The Shift-click operation also functions within the structure chart. When multiple objects are selected, the selection handles do not respond to attempted resizing operations.
When an object is selected, its selection handles are gray-filled. When multiple objects are selected, only one of them has gray-filled selection handles (if using Shift + click, it is the last object selected). The selection handles for all other objects are rendered in outline. The object that has the gray-filled handles is called the "anchor" object. Many of the options under the Arrange menu operate by transmitting a selected property of the "anchor" object to all the other selected objects.
Objects can sometimes overlay one another. Associated with every object is its "Z-Order" (refer to the structure chart). The Z-Order of an object is its relative order in the third dimension (i.e. into the screen). If one object overlays another, then the one which is visible has the highest Z-Order value. To select objects that underlie other objects (i.e. have a lower relative Z-Order), hold down the Ctrl key and click on the object on top until the selection handles of the desired object appear. Ctrl+click is called "click through". As it is sometimes difficult to locate objects that are completely obscured by other objects, it is often easier to use the structure chart to select such objects.
Finally, objects can also be selected using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys. The tab key moves the selection focus from the currently selected object to the object which is next in the Z-Order (refer to the structure chart). Shift+Tab moves the selection focus in the reverse Z-Order direction.
To de-select all the currently selected objects, click once on the right mouse button (or left mouse button if you have reversed them). To de-select one of the currently selected objects, hold down the Shift key and click on either the object itself, or the icon in the structure chart that represents the object.