Edit menu

Edit menu

The Edit menu contains familiar commands such as Undo, Cut, Copy, and Paste and also contains commands to select and delete objects, modify project properties, and control the Motion spelling checker.

  • Undo: Restores the project to the state prior to the action previously taken. This command is usually followed by the name of the last command performed (Undo Move or Undo Rotation Change, for example). If the menu item is dimmed, you cannot undo. (Command-Z)

  • Redo: Performs the action that was previously undone. This command is usually followed by the name of the last command performed (Redo Move or Redo Rotation Change, for example). It’s only active if one or more actions have been undone. (Shift-Command-Z)

  • Cut: Removes the selection and stores it on the Clipboard so it can be pasted later. (Command-X)

  • Copy: Copies the selection and stores it on the Clipboard so it can be pasted later. (Command-C)

  • Paste: Adds the current Clipboard selection to the project based on the current selection. This command is not available if nothing is on the Clipboard or if the contents of the Clipboard cannot be pasted to the current selection—for example, text cannot be pasted onto a keyframe. (Command-V)

  • Paste Special: Gives you the choice to paste the contents of the Clipboard into the active Timeline by inserting (pushing existing objects out of the way) or exchanging or overwriting (replacing existing objects with the selected object). See Copy and paste objects in the Timeline. (Option-Command-V)

  • Duplicate: Makes a copy of the current selection and immediately adds it to the project. (Command-D)

  • Delete: Removes the current selected object, leaving a gap in the Timeline. (Delete)

  • Ripple Delete: Removes the selected object and closes the gap in the Timeline. (Shift-Delete)

  • Insert Time: Adds blank space into the Timeline. You can use Insert Time only after selecting a time region in the Timeline ruler. See Make changes to a region (range of frames).

  • Split: Breaks an object into two objects, each on its own Timeline track. The split occurs at the current playhead position. If no object is selected, or the playhead is not positioned over a selected object, this menu item is dimmed.

  • Transform Control Points: When multiple control points of a shape or mask are selected, choosing this command creates a transform box around the points. See Add and delete control points. (Shift-Command-T)

  • Select All: Selects all objects in the project. (Command-A)

  • Deselect All: Releases any objects selected in the project. (Shift-Command-A)

  • Project Properties: Selects the Project object in the Layers list and opens the Properties Inspector. Use this pane to change the settings for the project. See Project properties overview. (Command-J)

  • Spelling and Grammar: Opens a submenu of spell-checking controls that allow you to search through the selected text for spelling and grammatical errors. See Check spelling. Submenu items include the following:

    • Show/Hide Spelling and Grammar: Opens the system Spelling and Grammar dialog. This command is active only when a body of text is selected (in the Layers list, Canvas, or Text editor). See Mac Help. (Command-Colon)

    • Check Document Now: Turns on the spelling checker for the selected text in the Text editor (the text-entry area in the Format pane) in the Text Inspector. Mistyped or misspelled text is underlined in red. This command functions on text in the Text editor, but not in the Canvas. (Command-Semicolon)

    • Check Spelling While Typing: Turns automatic spell checking on and off for text selected in the Text editor in the Format pane of the Text Inspector. When active, a checkmark appears next to the menu item. This command functions on text in the Text editor, but not in the Canvas.

    • Check Grammar With Spelling: Turns automatic grammar checking on and off for text selected in the Text editor in the Format pane of the Text Inspector. When active, a checkmark appears next to the menu item. Text with potential grammatical errors is underlined in red. This command functions on text in the Text editor, but not in the Canvas.

    • Correct Spelling Automatically: Corrects misspelled words that do not begin with a capital letter or that appear on a line of their own for text selected in the Text editor in the Format pane of the Text Inspector. This command functions only on text in the Text editor, not in the Canvas.

  • Find and Replace: Opens the Find and Replace dialog, where you can locate and change a word (or any set of characters) that you’ve used in a Motion project. See Find and replace text in your project.

  • Start Dictation: Enables and disables dictation. Dictation must be turned on in the Dictation & Speech pane of System Preferences. See Mac Help.

  • Special Characters: Opens the OS X Characters Palette, which provides access to nontypical text characters like bullets, arrows, and currency icons. It can be used when typing in a text object in the Canvas, or when typing in the Text editor in the Text Inspector.