Grouping and Ungrouping Objects in Microsoft Word: A Comprehensive Guide
Microsoft Word offers a Grouping feature that simplifies managing multiple shapes and objects. By grouping items, you can treat them as a single unit, making tasks like moving, resizing, and formatting more efficient.
How to Group Objects in Word
If you’re creating flowcharts or adding instructional elements like arrows, grouping allows you to control multiple objects simultaneously.
Steps to Group Objects:
- Select the Objects:
- Hold Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) and click each shape or object.
- To select all elements in the document, press Ctrl+A (Windows) or Command+A (Mac).
- Verify Selection:
- Ensure all desired objects are selected by checking the borders around each item.
- Group the Objects:
- Navigate to the Layout tab and find the Arrange section.
- Click Group > Group.
- Alternatively, right-click, hover over Grouping, and select Group.
The selected objects will now be enclosed within a single border, allowing you to move, resize, or format them as one unit.
Example: In the image below, a grouped set of shapes is being moved upward. While individual outlines remain visible, the group functions as a single entity.
How to Ungroup Objects in Word
If you need to work with individual elements after grouping, ungrouping is straightforward.
Steps to Ungroup:
- Select the Group:
- Click the grouped object to activate it.
- Ungroup the Objects:
- Go to the Layout tab, click Group, and choose Ungroup.
- Alternatively, right-click, hover over Grouping, and select Ungroup.
The objects will revert to their original individual states, each with its own border.
How to Regroup Objects
If you ungroup objects but later decide to group them again, Word makes it easy to regroup without reselecting everything.
Steps to Regroup:
- Select One Object from the Previous Group:
- Click on any object that was part of the original group.
- Regroup the Objects:
- Go to the Layout tab, click Group, and select Regroup.
- Alternatively, right-click, hover over Grouping, and choose Regroup.
Word remembers the original group configuration and regroups the objects for you.