Grouping Excel objects (charts, text boxes, etc.)

[jhtep]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)
Processor: Power PC

I cannot highlight more than one object and, hence, cannot group objects for use in .ppt slides, etc. is there a fix? BTW, what is the best way to insert a table "under" a bar chart so that one can align a symbol , word, etc. with a bar?
Help appreciated.

 

[JE McGimpsey]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)
Processor: Power PC

I cannot highlight more than one object and, hence, cannot group objects for
use in .ppt slides, etc. is there a fix? BTW, what is the best way to insert
a table "under" a bar chart so that one can align a symbol , word, etc. with
a bar?
Help appreciated.

When you say you "cannot", did you follow the instructions in Excel
Help's "Group, arrange, or distribute objects" topic?

Did you try holding down the shift key when you select multiple objects?

What happens when you try?

 

[jhtep]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)
Processor: Power PC

I cannot highlight more than one object and, hence, cannot group objects for
use in .ppt slides, etc. is there a fix? BTW, what is the best way to insert
a table "under" a bar chart so that one can align a symbol , word, etc. with
a bar?
Help appreciated.

When you say you "cannot", did you follow the instructions in Excel
Help's "Group, arrange, or distribute objects" topic?

Did you try holding down the shift key when you select multiple objects?

What happens when you try?[/QUOTE]

Thank you for the post,
In fact that is the surprising problem, when I try to highlight multiple objects by holding the shift key in order to group them, the highlighting skips from object to object as I highlight them so that only one object is highlighted at a time making it impossible to group.

 

[jhtep]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger)
Processor: Power PC

I cannot highlight more than one object and, hence, cannot group objects for
use in .ppt slides, etc. is there a fix? BTW, what is the best way to insert
a table "under" a bar chart so that one can align a symbol , word, etc. with
a bar?
Help appreciated.

When you say you "cannot", did you follow the instructions in Excel
Help's "Group, arrange, or distribute objects" topic?

Did you try holding down the shift key when you select multiple objects?

What happens when you try?[/QUOTE]

Thank you for the post,
In fact that is the surprising problem, when I try to highlight multiple objects by holding the shift key in order to group them, the highlighting skips from object to object as I highlight them so that only one object is highlighted at a time making it impossible to group.[/QUOTE]
Let me add that I have noted that the "group objects" button is not active in the Toolbox.

 

[CyberTaz]

Thank you for the post,
In fact that is the surprising problem, when I try to highlight multiple
objects by holding the shift key in order to group them, the highlighting
skips from object to object as I highlight them so that only one object is
highlighted at a time making it impossible to group.

I'm unable to reproduce the problem here regardless of what objects are
involved. There are no settings or preferences that change the selection
behavior & I've tried anything that seems remotely related. Without more
details, though, the only thing I can guess is a defective Shift key

Since the behavior isn't normal it will require more detail to troubleshoot:

What is your current update level of Office & OS X?

Have you tried; Restarting your Mac? Logging in while holding Shift?
Launching Excel while holding Shift? Running Excel in a different user
account?

Have you tried using the Select Objects tool from the Drawing toolbar?

Specifically what types of "objects" are you trying to multi-select? Also,
describe step-by-step how you are going about selecting these objects...
Accuracy & details are important.

As for the Grouping button [actually, the Grouping command itself], it will
not be active unless more than one object is selected. That's normal.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[jhtep]

Thank you for the message and your efforts to reproduce the problem.

I have done a little "trial and error" followup and realized that the problem only occurs when the "blue frame" (not the usual thin blue line which to which I am accustomed from Office 2004, but a heavy blue frame.) When clicking on the Plot area or an other original element of a excel chart, ppt image or certain word images (especially pasted images or text) the blue frame appears and things within the frame cannot be multi-highlighted and grouped. I suspect I am missing a std. function of Office 2008.

Nevertheless, to answer the rest of your questions:
The Office :mac is a 2008 upgrade from the 2004 version.
The OSX is 10.4.11. (Tiger?) Again, I am grateful for the help.

 

[CyberTaz]

If what you're trying to group includes elements that are components of a
Smart Art Object (Charts & diagrams) that explains why you're having a
problem . Those components are already soldered together so there's no need
to be able to group them. Likewise, other objects cannot be grouped with
components of Smart Art Objects. You can select the Smart Art Object itself
along with other objects & Group the selection. You can also select multiple
Smart Art Objects along with other objects & group the lot.

IOW, you can group a Chart (or more) with a rectangle (or more) but you
can't group a rectangle with a column in the chart or one of the axis
labels.

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[jhtep]

Thank you once more.
It is clear I had no idea of the "rules" of Smart Art Objects. In fact, I don't understand why SOME objects, when cut and pasted (e.g. from a publication to an Office app, Word, .ppt, etc.) become Smart Art, while others don't.
Further, is it possible to reformat, edit etc. Smart Art Objects? I spent at least half an hr. trying to change the font on a ref. (biblio.) I cut and pasted from an old journal that morphed into a SAO... finally had to type it in.

I am forced to admit that for many years I have relied on the "intuitive" nature of Mac OS, etc. , including Mac/Microsoft hybrids, without referring to a 4lb manual. Perhaps those times are gone...and certainly the "Help" has gotten more obscure. The hand-holding is appreciated.