I create booklets and have a large library of ads that I use. The booklets and the ads are of course all done in CorelDraw.

When importing those ads into my booklets, prior to X4, the ads always imported with all objects grouped together, even if the original file wasn't saved that way. (In other words, it comes in as "Group of 11 objects on Layer 1" even if I hadn't grouped them in the original file). I liked this because after I import, I often have to move and resize that ad as a group anyway.

In X4, the files do not import grouped, but as separate objects.

I looked around the options, and couldn't find a way to revert to the old way of grouping objects in imported files. It's not a big issue with me, but I've just become so accustomed to working this way over the years that it's not a change I welcome.

Has anyone else noticed this or know if there's an option I missed to go back to the old way?

Thanks!

Were the objects across separate layers? If they were, and you had maintain layers and pages checked, then it would have to ungroup them to preserve the layer structure.

T.

No I don't use layers at all in these particular files. If I import the file into X3, it comes in grouped. When I import the exact same file in X4 (I just double checked to make sure the import options were all the same), it comes in ungrouped.

I have this same issue.  Files importing into corel x4 ungrouped.  I would like to know the answer to this.  I liked the files coming in grouped.  Like you I have to move and resize the images.  That small extra step to group does take time. 

I finally installed SP1 and that didn't fix it. BUT... If you UNCHECK "Maintain Layers and Pages" upon import, it will come in as a .cdr group which appears to act the same as a regular group, which can then be moved and ungrouped. I've never used that option before but in this case it seems to bring it in the way you and I want. I haven't experimented with this extensively, but that is my first impression at least.

I have to do that with many of my files, infact 99% of the files I import are done this way.

I have to use many predesigned templates, of which some have a layer locked, and some do not.  It gets to be a pain to deal with at times, but after a few days I was fairly used to it.

Same for me....

Wow...I didn't realize they changed that...that BAD NEWS. My company's work flow totally depends on an object being grouped when imported. Just another reason not to upgrade...to this version.

I just wonder if this was a conscious change on Corel's part, and if so... why? It just makes sense to import other CDR's as a group, as it has always been.

Just press CTRL + G after importing.

photog38:

My company's work flow totally depends on an object being grouped when imported.

Yes, that is one of two possible "fixes" to the problem, along with unchecking "Maintain Layers and Pages" when importing.

But there are two issues here.

First, after 10+ years of doing the same recurring project, my habit is not to hit CTRL+G but to hit another series of shortcuts upon import. It's a very hard habit to break after all this time for me. I am constantly having to hit CTRL+Z because I keep forgetting it is not grouped. The last booklet I did had 104 ads in it, all imported this way.

The second issue is that I shouldn't have to change, and if I do - what if they go back in SP2? This is not an improvement but merely a "change" whether inadvertent or not. I'm happy to change and adapt, but there should at least be some logic as to why a change is occuring. And if I get in the habit of hitting CTRL+G upon import, this could turn out to be a bug that they fix, which means I'll have to adapt again.

I'd like to know from Corel if it was a conscious change before I take the time to break a long habit.

 im not 100% on this but give it a shot. export the drawings you want to import out of the original doc as a .cmx By its very nature it groups things by layer when you import. I know it used to be this way but that may have changed too.

Andy

That was a good suggestion actually... but apparently that changed too. I exported to both .cmx options (there's a normal one and a 5.0 option). Both came back in ungrouped.

The good news is that this experiment allowed me to find yet another fix, which will help any future ads that I export.

There was a portion of the ad I experimented with that was grouped. Not the entire ad, but part of it. Draw retained that grouping upon import - even with the .cmx files. This made me experiment around a bit and conclude the following...

Whatever groupings exist on export will be retained on import. I suppose that does make sense (though in my case it would be easier if everything was grouped, while still retaining sub-groupings). So the best fix for future ads, the solution appears to be to group them upon export.

For older ads, I could open them, group them, and re-save.

I just haven't figured out which solution will be easiest.. Learning to hit CTRL-G, unchecking maintain layers and pages upon import, or going through and grouping all my old files.

To Corel's credit, and as usual, at least there are many options here. And to those of you who have offered your input, I very much thank you.