{"id":2524,"date":"2025-07-16T17:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-16T17:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/?post_type=knowledge-base&#038;p=2524"},"modified":"2025-10-21T11:23:41","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T11:23:41","slug":"how-to-select-single-and-multiple-objects","status":"publish","type":"knowledge-base","link":"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/knowledge-base\/how-to-select-single-and-multiple-objects\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Select Single and Multiple Objects"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Selecting objects is a fundamental skill for efficiently editing and manipulating your designs. DRAWings PRO XII offers a comprehensive set of tools and methods for selection, from simple point-and-click to advanced, context-aware commands. This guide covers all the ways you can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/knowledge-base\/how-to-move-scale-and-duplicate-objects\/\">select objects<\/a> in your workspace.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed wp-block-embed-youtube is-type-video is-provider-youtube epyt-figure\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><div class=\"epyt-video-wrapper\"><div  style=\"display: block; margin: 0px auto;\"  id=\"_ytid_52322\"  width=\"1290\" height=\"725\"  data-origwidth=\"1290\" data-origheight=\"725\" data-facadesrc=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/YopvCIcOzUw?enablejsapi=1&#038;autoplay=0&#038;cc_load_policy=0&#038;cc_lang_pref=&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;loop=0&#038;rel=0&#038;fs=1&#038;playsinline=0&#038;autohide=2&#038;theme=dark&#038;color=red&#038;controls=1&#038;disablekb=0&#038;\" class=\"__youtube_prefs__ epyt-facade no-lazyload\" data-epautoplay=\"1\" ><img decoding=\"async\" data-spai-excluded=\"true\" class=\"epyt-facade-poster skip-lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"YouTube player\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/YopvCIcOzUw\/maxresdefault.jpg\" title=\"\"><button class=\"epyt-facade-play\" aria-label=\"Play\"><svg data-no-lazy=\"1\" height=\"100%\" version=\"1.1\" viewBox=\"0 0 68 48\" width=\"100%\"><path class=\"ytp-large-play-button-bg\" d=\"M66.52,7.74c-0.78-2.93-2.49-5.41-5.42-6.19C55.79,.13,34,0,34,0S12.21,.13,6.9,1.55 C3.97,2.33,2.27,4.81,1.48,7.74C0.06,13.05,0,24,0,24s0.06,10.95,1.48,16.26c0.78,2.93,2.49,5.41,5.42,6.19 C12.21,47.87,34,48,34,48s21.79-0.13,27.1-1.55c2.93-0.78,4.64-3.26,5.42-6.19C67.94,34.95,68,24,68,24S67.94,13.05,66.52,7.74z\" fill=\"#f00\"><\/path><path d=\"M 45,24 27,14 27,34\" fill=\"#fff\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>1. Toolbar Selection Tools<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The main selection tools are located on the toolbar on the left side of the application. Hover over the &#8220;Selections&#8221; icon to find the <strong>Rectangle Selection<\/strong> and <strong>Lasso Selection<\/strong> tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A. Rectangle Selection Tool<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is the default selection method, ideal for selecting objects in clearly defined areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Activate the Tool:<\/strong> Click the <strong>Rectangle Selection<\/strong> icon from the toolbar.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Select a Single Object:<\/strong> Simply click on any object to select it. A highlighted rectangle with transformation controls will appear around it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Select Multiple Objects by Enclosing:<\/strong> Click on an empty area of the design and drag the cursor to form a box. Any object that is <em>completely inside<\/em> this box when you release the mouse will be selected.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Useful Tip: Selecting Partially Covered Objects<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To select objects that are only partially inside your selection box, hold down the <strong>Alt key<\/strong> while you click and drag. Any object the rectangle touches will be included in the selection.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>B. Lasso Selection Tool<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This tool is perfect for selecting objects in tight or irregularly shaped spaces where a rectangle is not suitable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Activate the Tool:<\/strong> Select the <strong>Lasso Selection<\/strong> icon from the toolbar.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Draw to Select:<\/strong> Click and drag your mouse to draw a free-form shape around the objects you wish to select. Any object completely inside the lasso shape will be selected.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>Alt key<\/strong> trick for selecting partially covered objects also works with the Lasso tool.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2. Using Modifier Keys for Multiple Selections<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can fine-tune any selection by using modifier keys. These work with both the Rectangle and Lasso tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>To Add or Remove from Selection (Toggle):<\/strong> Hold down the <strong>Ctrl key<\/strong> (on Windows) or the <strong>Cmd key<\/strong> (on macOS) while clicking on objects. Clicking on an unselected object will add it to the selection. Clicking on an already selected object will remove it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>To Only Add to Selection:<\/strong> Hold down the <strong>Shift key<\/strong> while clicking. This will only add objects to your selection; it will not deselect an object if you click on it again.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>3. Context Menu &amp; Hotkey Selections<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For design-wide selections, use the following quick commands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Select All:<\/strong> Right-click on an empty space in the design area and choose <strong>Select all<\/strong> from the menu, or use the keyboard shortcut <strong>Ctrl + A<\/strong> (Windows) or <strong>Cmd + A<\/strong> (macOS).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Deselect All:<\/strong> Simply click on any empty area of the workspace.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Invert Selection:<\/strong> Select one or more objects, then right-click on an empty space and choose <strong>Invert selection<\/strong>. This will deselect everything you had selected and select everything that was not. The keyboard shortcut is <strong>Ctrl + Shift + I<\/strong> (Windows) or <strong>Cmd + Shift + I<\/strong> (macOS).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>4. Selecting from the Sequence Manager<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/knowledge-base\/how-to-use-auto-and-manual-sequencing-in-embroidery-software\/\">Sequence<\/a> Manager allows for precise selection based on the stitching order of the design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"1\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Select a Single Object:<\/strong> Click on any object&#8217;s icon in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/knowledge-base\/how-to-use-the-sequence-manager-to-re-order-embroidery-designs\/\">Sequence Manager<\/a> list to select it on the design canvas.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Select Multiple Objects (Non-Sequential):<\/strong> Hold the <strong>Ctrl key<\/strong> (or <strong>Cmd key<\/strong>) and click on the individual icons of the objects you want to select.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Select a Range of Objects (Sequential):<\/strong> Click on the first object&#8217;s icon in the range you want to select. Then, hold down the <strong>Shift key<\/strong> and click on the last object&#8217;s icon in the range. All objects in between will be selected.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>5. Cycling Through Objects with the TAB Key<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is a fast way to navigate through objects without using the mouse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Cycle Forward:<\/strong> Press the <strong>Tab key<\/strong> to select objects one by one, following the stitching sequence. If nothing is selected, it will start from the first object.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cycle Backward:<\/strong> Press <strong>Shift + Tab<\/strong> to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/knowledge-base\/how-to-transform-designs-move-resize-rotate-skew\/\">move<\/a> backward through the sequence.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>6. Other Selection Methods<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/drawings-pro-xii-embroidery-software\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"751\">DRAWings PRO XII<\/a> also offers powerful selection tools based on object properties. You can select all objects that share the same color or the same stitch type.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These advanced functions are covered in detail in their own dedicated tutorials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Selecting objects is a fundamental skill for efficiently editing and manipulating your designs. DRAWings PRO XII offers a comprehensive set of tools and methods for selection, from simple point-and-click to advanced, context-aware commands.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2525,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":""},"categories-kb":[333],"class_list":["post-2524","knowledge-base","type-knowledge-base","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","categories-kb-how-to-training"],"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":{"categories-kb":[{"value":333,"label":"How to Training"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/maxresdefault3-1024x576.jpg",1024,576,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"DRAWings Embroidery Software","author_link":"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/author\/drawings\/"},"comment_info":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/knowledge-base\/2524","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/knowledge-base"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/knowledge-base"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2525"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2524"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"categories-kb","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drawstitch.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories-kb?post=2524"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}