Groups of Objects

A group combines several objects into one for easier selection and manipulation.

An embroidery design consists of many basic parts, such as fills, connections, etc. These elementary objects are used to digitize entities such as letters, flowers, animals, and everything else in the design.

Using groups

It is useful to mark the elementary parts that belong to an entity (such as a letter) so that the program knows that they belong together and allows you to select and manipulate them all at once. This process is called grouping objects.

Grouping

Commands for grouping and ungrouping selected objects are available from the Main Menu > Groups and also from the pop-up menu in selection/transform mode.

Digitized letter R consists of three parts: 1. column object, 2. connection, 3. column object

For example, in digitizing a lettering, the elementary parts of letters (columns and connections) can be joined using the Group 1 command, so that each letter consists of parts grouped together. Letters can be joined into words using the Group 2 command, and words can be joined into sentences using the Group 3 command.

The numbers 1, 2, and 3 indicate the group level. Many programs have only one group level. Multiple levels allow you to separate and manage objects at a certain level while leaving other levels intact. For example, you can separate parts of a letter for editing while preserving the grouped words and the entire sentence.

Letter 'R' made up of columns and connection.

Elementary parts of letter 'R' are selected. These parts are column, connection and another column, as shown in object inpector list.

Use Group 1 to combine them into a single object. Repeat this process for each letter and its parts.

Small lock icon indicates that object is composed of parts grouped on level 1.

Each letter is composed of several parts, but these parts are grouped into objects now. There is a small lock icon at right side of each object in the inspector list indicating that this object is composed of parts grouped on level 1.

Select the letters in the word RED now a use Group 2 to combine then into a single object. Do the same with letters in the second word. Each word will become a group with level 2.

Small double lock icon at right side of each object indicates that this object is composed of parts grouped on both levels 1 and 2.

Select both words and use Group 3 to combine them into single object.

The fact that this object is composed of objects grouped on levels 1,2 and 3 is indicated by a triple lock icon.

Splitting the Group

Use Ungroup 1, Ungroup 2 and Ungroup 3 commands to divide groups on respective levels (in this example, use Ungroup 3 to split sentence into words, Ungroup 2 to split words into letters and Ungroup 3 to split letters into basic objects).