You can Group multiple elements in Stage (lines, shapes, images) to add them into a single object, called "Group".
Grouping multiple elements prevents them to interact with other objects in Stage and makes them to be used together.
Grouping essentially stores the elements in a bounding box that can only be edited by entering a group editing mode, by double-clicking the Group.
Creating Groups
- Select the objects, lines, shapes, etc., on the Stage that you want to group (with any of Flash's selection tools or methods).
- Click Modify -> Group (or Ctrl+G)
- Now, these eements are added into one group, and you can manipulate them simultaneously. If you try to click and move one of them, the whole group will be selected and moved as a single object.
With the "Free Transform Tool" the Group can be rotated and resized.
You can create and use multiple copies of a group, with Copy (Ctrl+C) and Paste (Ctrl+V). For example, if you create a house with multiple windows, draw and arrange the objects that create a window, then you can group them and copy the group how many times you want.
Grouped elements are protected from merging with other objects, changing color or other property while you are working on other drawings in the stage.
- If you want to modify /edit one of the objects in the group, double-click on it (or right-click, and choose
Edit Selected). In the top-left corner of the Stage will be displayed the name "Group", next to Scene name, which indicates that you are in a Group editing mode. In this way you enter in that group, and you can edit each of its elements. Any drawing and modifications made in that group editing mode will belong to the group and will not affect other objects in the stage, outside it.
Once you have finished the modifications within the group, to exit of that editing mode, click on the Scene name (in the top-left corner), or double-click on an empty area.
Ungroup
You can ungroup objects that have been grouped by using the "
ungroup" option (click
Modify menu -> Ungroup), or by breaking them apart (right-click and choose
Break Apart).
- Click on the Group you want to ungroup, then click
Modify menu -> Ungroup. Doing so removes the bounding box and the objects can be freely edited.
In the presentation below you can see an example with Group.