Fireworks CS4 Resources

Select objects

Before you can do anything with any object on the canvas, select it. This applies to a vector object, path, or points; a text block, word, or letter; a slice or hotspot; an instance; or a bitmap object. To select an object, use the Layers panel or a selection tool.

The Layers panel

Displays each object. You can click an object in the Layers panel to select it when the panel is open and layers are expanded.

The selection tools

Each have a specific purpose:

	The Pointer tool selects objects when you click the objects or drag a selection area around them.
	The Subselection tool selects an individual object in a group or the points of a vector object.
	The Select Behind tool selects an object that is behind another object.
	The Export Area tool selects an area to be exported as a separate file.

Select objects by clicking

Do one of the following:

Move the Pointer tool over the object's path or bounding box and click.
Click the object's stroke or fill.
Select the object in the Layers panel.

To preview what is selected when you click an object beneath the pointer on the canvas, select the Mouse Highlight option in the Editing tab of the Preferences dialog box.

Select objects by dragging

Drag the Pointer tool to include one or more objects in the selection area.

Move or modify objects with the Subselection tool

Use the Subselection tool to select, move, or modify points on a vector path or an object that is part of a group.

Select the Subselection tool.
Make a selection.
Do one of the following:
- To modify an object, drag one of its points or selection handles.
- To move the entire object, drag anywhere in the object except a point or selection handle.

Select an object that is behind other objects

Click the Select Behind tool repeatedly over the stacked objects, starting with the top until you select the object you want.

Note: You also can select a hard-to-reach object by clicking it in the Layers panel when the layers are expanded.

Selection information in the Property inspector

When you select an object, the Property inspector identifies the selection. The upper left area of the Property inspector contains a description of the item being inspected, and the number of selected objects if multiple objects are selected. The Property inspector also provides a box for entering a name for the items selected.

Note: The name appears in the title bar of the document whenever you select this item. For slices and buttons, the name is the filename when exported.

(Windows only) If the status bar is turned on, selected objects are identified in the status bar at the bottom of the document window.

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Modify a selection

After you select a single object, you can add objects to the selection and deselect objects that are selected. Using a single command, you can select or deselect everything on every layer in a document. You can also hide the selection path so that you can edit a selected object while viewing it as it appears on the web or in print.

Add to a selection

Hold down Shift while clicking additional objects with the Pointer, Subselection, or Select Behind tool.

Deselect an object while leaving other objects selected

Hold down Shift while clicking the selected object.

Select everything on every layer in the document

Choose Select > Select All.

Note: Select All does not select hidden objects.

Deselect all selected objects

Choose Select > Deselect.

Note: Deselect the Single Layer Editing preference to select all visible objects on all layers in a document. When you select the Single Layer Editing preference, only objects on the current layer are selected. For more information, see Organize layers.

Hide the path selection feedback of a selected object

Select View > Edges.

Note: You can use the Layers panel or the Property inspector to identify the selected object when the outline and points are hidden.

Hide selected objects

Select View > Hide Selection.

Note: Hidden objects are not exported. (This does not apply to slice and hotspot web objects on the Web Layer.)

Show all objects

Select View > Show All.

Note: To hide objects regardless of whether they are selected, click or drag along the Eye column in the Layers panel.