Edit Menu

This 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: This command is usually followed by the name of the last command performed—for example, Undo Move, or Undo Rotation Change. Choosing this menu item restores the project to the state before that action was taken. If the menu item is dimmed, you cannot undo. (Command-Z)
• Redo: This command is usually followed by the name of the last command performed such as Redo Move or Redo Rotation Change. It is only active if one or more actions have been undone. Choosing this menu item performs the exact action that was just undone. (Command-Shift-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). Additional options are available. (Command-Option-V)

  For more information, see Paste Special.

• 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 only use Insert Time after selecting a time region in the Timeline ruler. For more information on regions, see Working with Regions.
• 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. (Command-Shift-T)

  For more information, see Transforming Multiple Control Points.

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

  For details about the Properties Inspector, see Project Properties.

• Spelling and Grammar: This submenu contains spell-checking controls that allow you to search through the selected text for spelling and grammatical errors.

  For more information on using the spelling checker, see Adding Text with the Text Editor.

  • 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). For more information, see Mac OS X Help. (Command-Colon)
  • Check Document Now: When text is selected in the Text editor (the text-entry area in the Format pane) in the Text Inspector, this command turns on the spelling checker for the selected text. 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: Available when text is selected in the Text editor in the Format pane of the Text Inspector, turns automatic spell checking on and off. 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: Available when text is selected in the Text editor in the Format pane of the Text Inspector, turns automatic grammar checking on and off. 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: Available when text is selected in the Text editor in the Format pane of the Text Inspector, corrects misspelled words that do not begin with a capital letter or that appear on a line of their own. This command functions only on text in the Text editor, not in the Canvas.
• Find and Replace: Opens the Find and Replace dialog, which allows you to locate and change a word (or any set of characters) that you’ve used in a Motion project. For more information, see Finding and Replacing Text.
• Special Characters: This command is part of Mac OS X. It opens the 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.