Selecting multple layers?

[terrypin]

In PSP 8 I'm 99% sure I used to be able to select multiple layers, I think by holding the Shift key as I left clicked. But I'm darned if it works now!

Was I imagining it?

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Terry, East Grinstead, UK

[LeviFiction]

If memory serves, in previous versions of PSP you can only select multiple vector objects. Not multiple layers.

[Jean-Luc]

But you can place multiple layers in a Group of layers and they act like one layer.

[LindaSue]

That feature was added in PSPX3 or X4. It's there in X4 but not in X2 and I don't have X3.

[LeviFiction]

I believe it was added in X4. A lot of complaints about how it breaks scripts by making some features like "Duplicate" and "Delete Layer" work. But I didn't hear about those with X3. There were a lot of big problems in X3, but I don't believe that was one of them.

[terrypin]

If memory serves, in previous versions of PSP you can only select multiple vector objects. Not multiple layers.

Ah, thanks, it must have been vectors I'd recalled then.

On this occasion I wanted to delete 17 layers with a few clicks, rather than 51.



As I expect doing this fairly often in the near future, I've this morning used my macro program (Macro Express Pro) to do it. However, it only works if all the target layers are consecutive. Although they usually will be, I'm wondering if there's a relevant, more flexible script anyone can share please? But then, if there is no way to select mutiple layers, I suppose that's unlikely. My macro does it essentially by emulating the manual actions: select, click Delete, confirm. But preceded by asking the user to click the first and last layers so as to establish where all subsequent left clicks should occur. Took about 4 sec to delete those 17.

@Jean-Luc: Presumably LindaSue was correct, as I can't see a way to group my layers in PSP 8?

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Terry, East Grinstead, UK

[LindaSue]

Terry, you can group layers in PSP8. Not sure about vector layers but for raster layers, go to Layers > New Layer Group. You can drag any of your other layers into the group and delete them all in one go by deleting the group layer.

I just tested this with vector layers and they can be added to a group and deleted in a similar manner. You can select multiple vector object layers by pressing Shift but they have to be selected one at a time. Once you've got them selected, you right-click on one of the selected layers and choose Group. This will move all of the selected layers into the new group. To delete the entire group, right-click on the Group layer and choose "Clear".

[terrypin]

Thanks LindaSue and Jean-Luc.

Just tried it and the 17 drags makes it much slower than my macro, although it does have the advantage of being more flexible. For 15-30 layers though, it's a bit tedious!

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Terry, East Grinstead, UK

[LindaSue]

If you're deleting more layers than you want to keep, it might be quicker to Select All then Shift/click to de-select the layers that you want to keep.

[terrypin]

If you're deleting more layers than you want to keep, it might be quicker to Select All then Shift/click to de-select the layers that you want to keep.

Do you mean in the main window, not the Layers pane? In the pane, Select All (Ctrl + A, yes?) doesn't select the layers, nor does Shift + Left Click do anything. In the main window what mode must I be in? Presumably that implies taking care to visually identify the objects I want to keep? So far I haven't grasped how to do it, i.e. what to Shift Click, so I'm clearly missing something basic!

If it helps, here's what my screen looks like:


--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

[LindaSue]

Terry, the Select All option is only available for vector layers. For raster layers, dragging them into a layer group is probably the easiest method. If your list of raster layers is really long, you can simply move the Layer Group to a spot that's the most convenient to drag them into and then re-position it as needed.

[terrypin]

Thanks LindaSue, understood.

That screenshot seems to have been cut off at the right, where I'd shown the layers. I'd already reduced its size but obviously not enough! (BTW, this is the only forum I use which doesn't handle such resizing automatically.)

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Edit: That footnote was sent from my iPad. Here, a few minutes later on my PC, I can see some of the layer pane. Odd!

Terry, East Grinstead, UK

[Jean-Luc]

Hy Terrypin,
did you try the following ?
Use the Select tool (K).
Maintain the Shift key down and click on all images in your picture you want to delete.
This will select all layers containing those images.

[LindaSue]

Hy Terrypin,
did you try the following ?
Use the Select tool (K).
Maintain the Shift key down and click on all images in your picture you want to delete.
This will select all layers containing those images.

There's no Pick Tool (K) in PSP8. Only the Move Tool (M) and the Object Selection Tool for vectors.

[hartpaul]

Problem : deleting multiple layers with the least number of clicks in PSP 8

eg 20 layers and want to delete 17

Solution:
turn visibility of 3 layers off.
Merge > Merge Visible (this merges all the layers you want to delete into one layer)
Delete merged layer
Turn visibility of remaining three layers back on.