Unsure how to use the selection tool, having inconsistent results due to an unknown user error.

[ptsoliver]

So I'm trying to use the selection tool to move stuff around, as I do. However, on some of my layers it will select only a bit of something and will highlight it with a bunch of dots, as pictured here.

This is what I want to happen, as I find using that format is much easier for me to work with.

However, on the layer that I'm making the rough sketch on, it selects the lines like this:

I don't know how to change this, and I know that this is completely user error, but I don't know what that error is. I want to know how/if I can make the selection tool select with the dots, as that is what I know how to work with easily.

Any help is appreciated, thanks!

[kglad]

i don't understand what you're trying to show.

but some (possibly) helpful hints:

1.  if you want to select from a particular layer, lock all the other layers (eg, lock all, then unlock the one you want)

2.  "grouping" (modify>group) and "ungrouping" can be helpful.

3.  if drag with the selection tool, it's going to select a rectangular region (unless there are objects or grouped shapes).  if you click with it, you select the entire shape.

[ptsoliver]

I'm using the lasso tool, sorry I forgot to mention that. When I make a circle around something on a different layer, it will select only the area I circled, which is what I want. When I make a circle around part of a line on a separate layer, it selects the whole line with a blue box as shown.

[kglad]

lasso works, as epected, for me when shapes are in different layers.  i selected an ovate shape overlying both these shapes, each in a different layer:

are you sure your problematic shape is not grouped or an object?  ie, ungroup it and retry.