How to group and ungroup objects in

Publisher
To group objects in Microsoft Publisher, use one of the following methods.
Method 1: Select objects one-by-one

1.

Press and hold SHIFT, and then click each object that you want to group.

2.

On the Layout menu, click Group Objects. Or, in the lower-right corner of the
selection box, click the Groupbutton. (The Group button is displayed as two puzzle
pieces: one black, one white.)
One set of handles appears around the group of objects, and the handles for individual
objects disappear.

Method 2: "Corral" the objects

1.

On the left toolbar, click the Selection tool.

2.

Rest the mouse pointer outside the objects that you want to select.

3.

Right-click and then drag the pointer until all the objects that you want to group are
enclosed in a dotted box.

4.

Release the mouse button. All the objects that were completely within the dotted
box are now selected.

5.

In the lower-right corner of the selection box, click the Group button.
(The Group button is displayed as two puzzle pieces: one black, one white.) Or,
click Group Objects on the Layout menu.

Method 3: Group the whole publication

1.
2.

On the Edit menu, click Select All.

In the lower-right corner of the selection box, click the Group button.
(The Group button is displayed as two puzzle pieces: one black, one white.) Or,
click Group Objects on the Layout menu.

Ungroup objects
To ungroup objects, follow these steps:
1.

Click anywhere in the group of objects to select the group of objects.

2.

In the lower-right corner of the selection box, click the Group button.
(The Group button is displayed as two puzzle pieces: one black, one white.) Or,
click Ungroup Objects on the Layout menu.

Rotate or flip objects

When you rotate an object it moves left or right around an axis and keeps the same face toward
you. When you flip and object it turns the object over, either vertically or horizontally, so that it is
now a mirror image.

Rotate objects freely

1.

Select the object and point to the green rotation handle.

2.

Drag the mouse in the direction you want the object to rotate.
NOTE

To rotate in 15-degree increments, hold down SHIFT while dragging the handle.

Rotate objects by 90 degrees

1.
2.

Select the object.

On the Home tab, point to Rotate in the Arrange group and select Rotate Right
90 or Rotate Left 90.

Rotate an object an exact number of degrees

1.

Right-click the object.

2.

On the shortcut menu, click Format <object type>, and then click the Size tab.

3.

Under Size and rotate, type or select the number of degrees to rotate the object in
the Rotation box.

Rotate an object on its base

Hold down CTRL and drag the green rotation handle. The object will rotate in a circle by pivoting
around the handle that is located directly across from the green rotation handle.

Flip an object
1.
2.

Select the object.

On the Home tab, point to Rotate in the Arrange group and select Flip Vertical or Flip
Horizontal.

Insert a date or time

Insert a date or time that will be
automatically updated
1.

Click in the text box or table cell where you want to insert the date or time.

2.

On the Insert menu, click Date and Time.

3.

In the Language list, select a language.

NOTE Publisher displays only the languages for which you have enabled support through Microsoft Office Language

Settings.
4.
In the Available formats list, select a date or time format.
5.

Select the Update automatically check box to update the date and time whenever you open or print the
publication.

Insert a date or time that will not

change
1.

Click in the text box or table cell where you want to insert the date or time.

2.

On the Insert menu, click Date and Time.

3.

In the Language list, select a language.

NOTE Publisher displays only the languages for which you have enabled support through Microsoft Office Language

Settings.
4.
In the Available formats list, select a date or time format.

Align objects
Align objects in a row

1.

Select the objects you want to align.

2.

On the Arrange menu, point to Align or Distribute, and then select the option you want.
Tip
To align objects down the center of a page, click Relative to Margin Guides, and then click Align Center.
Align an object to another object, a grid line, or ruler mark
The Snap commands set objects to exert a magnet-like pull on nearby objects.

1.

On the Arrange menu, point to Snap, and then select an option.

2.

Select the object you want to move.

Selection handles will appear around the object.

3.

Position the mouse pointer over the object until you see the Move pointer

4.

Drag the object until its edge snaps to the guide, object, or TE000128417 that you want the object to align with.
NOTE

If the guides are hidden, objects will still snap to the guides.

If you have turned on all of the Snap options, Microsoft Publisher tries to snap objects first to a nearby guide. If
there's no guide nearby, Publisher snaps to the nearest object. If there are no objects nearby, Publisher snaps to the closest
ruler mark.
Align objects relative to the margin
1.

Select the objects you want to align.

2.

On the Arrange menu, point to Align or Distribute, and then click Relative to Margin Guides

3.

Select another Align or Distribute option.

Tip
To align objects down the center of a page, select both Relative to Margin Guides and Align Center.