Objects cannot be grouped or ungrouped

Symptoms

If one or more of these match what you are seeing, you are on the right page.

• •Ctrl+G does nothing with one element selected
• •Ungrouping moves elements somewhere unexpected
• •A group cannot be selected on the canvas
• •Elements move when grouped

Causes and fixes

Ordered from most to least likely. Work down the list — each cause is paired with what to do about it.

1. 1

   Fewer than two elements are selected.

   Select two or more, then press Ctrl+G. Shift+click in the Layer Panel or marquee-select on the canvas to build the selection.

2. 2

   Ungrouping a nested group returns members to the parent group, not the top level.

   This is expected — members return one level up. Ungroup repeatedly to reach the top level.

3. 3

   One of the elements is locked.

   Unlock it in the Layer Panel. A locked element cannot join the selection.

4. 4

   The group transform is being confused with member movement.

   Group and member transforms compose — a member at (100, 50) inside a group moved to (200, 0) renders at (300, 50). Nothing moved on grouping; the coordinates are now relative.

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