Object selection in Writer

[garcia1]

Hi

I was trying to select few objects (like a text box and an arrow) with Ctrl+A, but nothing happened. So I tried with Ctrl and the mouse, by moving the cursor around the objects, and sometimes it worked and sometimes not.

When it worked, I could see the cursor/arrow and a frame was created around these objects (screenshot .1) and then I could group the objects (screenshot .2) and continue with my work, but when it didn’t work, I couldn’t see the mouse cursor, just a small line and not an mouse’s arrow, when I moved the mouse nothing happened, the frame was missing and I couldn’t select any of the objects (screenshot .3).

In addition, I was not able to select them with Ctrl+A or one by one by holding Ctrl and click on the objects.

-Is this a bug ?
-Did anyone experience this as well?

I’ll be very grateful for any kind of help.

Thanks in advance

Jerry

[ajlittoz]

Don’t do “complex” graphical job in Writer. Connecting two objects is already a “complex job” in Writer. Do that in Draw. You have more tools and more flexibility/power in Draw. Editing is easier.
When you’re satisfied with your drawing, group all its components in a single object, copy it and paste it in Writer. This composite object ends up in frame which can be positioned and “formatted” anywhere and anyway. Separate the task of creating/editing a drawing from integrating it into a text document. This integration is sufficiently difficult to get it according to your taste that it is not necessary to add the relatively limited creation possibilities of Writer.

Also remember that the primary purpose of Writer is to manage text layout and formatting. Graphical objects are offered as courtesy service for simplistic cases and are only poor ersatz for a “normal” graphical application.

[Hrbrgr]

Your screenshots lead me to believe that you want to create a diagram.
Maybe this post will help you:

Create a diagram

[garcia1]

Thank you very much for your answers.

Can you explain please why the selection is sometimes available and sometimes it’s not possible?
I’m using the latest version of LibreOffice.

Thanks again!

[Hrbrgr]

If you upload your file here, someone can look at it and examine it. Write also (possibly in the file), how you proceeded exactly, so that a reliable starting situation is present. Thank you.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to make a statement only on the basis of screenshots.

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Please open LibreOffice.
From the menu, choose Help>About LibreOffice.
Click on the button “Version information” and paste this information into your next comment with Ctrl+V. Thanks.

[Grantler]

@garcia1
(Writer/Draw) Usually one uses the SHIFT key for selection of more than one drawing objects. CTRL key is useful if drawing objects are in background (and sometimes don’t react on mouse clicks).
Writer: What can’t be done: Rastergraphics object(s) and drawing object(s) can’t neither be selected together nor grouped. For that reason use Draw. See the tips of @ajlittoz !
One exception: If you insert (from Draw) a bitmap into Writer as a drawing object (Paste Special) then this object changes its character into a drawing object and can be treated as a drawing object. E.G. you can better rotate it (no extra frame).