Selecting objects

You have to select an object before you can change it, whether that would be moving it, applying a color to it, editing its shape, or whatever. There are several ways to select an object, including:

• Using the selection tools from the Toolbox to select the entire object.
• Using the selection tools to select individual nodes on a path or shape.
• Using menu items to select all objects or only objects with particular attributes.
• Using the Layers panel.

Expression Design highlights an object when you select it. You can see a path's centerline, an underscore under text, nodes on shapes, and so on. These highlights are drawn in a color specific to the object's layer. Selected objects are typically also surrounded by eight handles which can be used for scaling, rotating, and skewing the selection. (If you prefer not to see these highlights, see Turning off selection highlights.)

Note that some objects cannot be selected at all, including locked objects, objects on locked or hidden layers, or object guides.