How to Select Objects by Type in CorelDRAW

Managing complex designs in CorelDRAW often requires selecting multiple objects of the same category, such as all text frames, bitmaps, or vector curves, without manually clicking each one. CorelDRAW provides multiple built-in methods to accomplish this efficiently, ranging from quick main-menu commands to the highly customizable Find and Replace wizard and the Objects Docker.

Method 1: Using the "Select All" Menu

For basic categories like text, guidelines, or nodes, CorelDRAW offers an instant selection tool in the primary menu:

  1. Click on Edit in the top menu bar.
  2. Hover over Select All.
  3. Choose the specific type you want to select:
    • Objects: Selects every object on the active page or desktop.
    • Text: Instantly highlights and selects all artistic and paragraph text frames.
    • Guidelines: Selects all active guidelines on the workspace.
    • Nodes: Selects all nodes on an active, open curve.

Method 2: Using "Find and Replace" (Advanced Filtering)

To target specific shapes, bitmaps, or objects with particular properties (such as curves, rectangles, or specific fills), the Find and Replace inspector provides the most granular control.

  1. Open the Find and Replace docker by navigating to Edit > Find and Replace (or press Ctrl + F).
  2. Choose Find Objects.
  3. Click Add Query or choose the criteria tab to define what you want to select.
  4. Check Object Types and select the specific element you need (e.g., Curves, Rectangles, Ellipses, Bitmaps, or Symbols).
  5. (Optional) Define additional attributes such as outline colors, fill types, or transparency if you want to narrow down the selection further.
  6. Click Find All at the bottom of the docker. CorelDRAW will immediately highlight and select every matching object across your document or current page.

Method 3: Using the Objects Docker

The Objects Docker allows you to visually identify and select groups of similar elements in your layer structure.

  1. Go to Window > Dockers > Objects (or Object > Objects depending on your version).
  2. Expand the layers of your document to display the list of individual elements.
  3. Use the search bar at the top of the docker to type in the name of an object type (for example, typing Curve, Bitmap, or Text).
  4. Select the first matching item in the list, hold Shift, and click the last matching item to select all of them simultaneously in your workspace.