Computer Training

Microsoft Publisher 2003

Grouping Objects

If you have worked in Word or PowerPoint, the grouping of objects is not new to you.

1. Hold the Ctrl key down and select each object. Then click on the Group Icon and choose the menu Group.
   
   
2. To ungroup the objects click on the icon again.
   
   Take notice, when you ungroup the objects they are still selected. In order to move the objects independently click in an open area then move the object.
   
   Hint: The grouping of objects is useful when you need to reposition or adjust all the frames in relation to the top or bottom of the page.
   

Layering of Objects

1. The stacking of objects, one on top of another is used to create a visual effect.
   
   
2. Layering is used to position an object's relationship to other objects in a stack. Dragging a frame on top of another frame creates a layer. One example is a Text Frame placed on top of a Picture Frame, another is an oval circle dropped on top of a square. Notice that some of the bottom frame seems to disappear and may require rearranging.
   
   
3. To rearrange a frame or object make a selection and then click on the menu Arrange | Order. Use the commands Bring to Front, Send to Back, Bring Forward, or Send to Back to arrange the selection's position.
   
   
4. A short-cut used to make a layer visible beneath a frame is to click on the Text Frame and then press Ctrl+T.
   

Nudging an Object Into Place

1. Select the object, hold down the Alt key, and then use the keyboard arrows to move the object a pixel at a time.
   
   
2. Another method is to click on the menu Arrange | Nudge and then use the menus provided.
   

Adding Colors, Borders, and Shadows

1. First select the object that you wish to format and then use the buttons on the Formatting Toolbar to apply the attributes.
   
   
2. The first button is the Fill button, which is used to add color and fill effects. The second button changes line color, whereas the third button is used to change the width of the line, and the fourth to change line styles.
   
   
3. The last two are used to apply a shadow and add a 3-D dimension to the shape.
   

Object Rotation

To rotate or flip an object click on menu Arrange | Rotate or Flip. Use the submenus provided to make the desired changes.

Insert Objects Command

The Insert Objects command allows you to insert objects from other programs that support Microsoft Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) technology. These objects can be sound files, movie clips, text files, etc.

1. To insert an OLE object click on the menu Insert | Object, to open the Insert Object dialog box.
   
   
2. The dialogs box provides the choice of creating a new file (Create New) from a file type listed in the dialog box or creating a file from an exisiting file (Create from File). The Create from File option produces a prompt asking the location of the existing file.
   
   
3. If you elect to use the Create from File option placing a checkmark in the box labeled Link maintains a link between the orginal file and the one embedded. This means that changes to the orginal object will be reflected in your document.