MACROMEDIA FLASH 8-USING FLASH Use Manual page 155

You can specify the Selection, Subselection, and Lasso tool contact-sensitivity options when
you create shapes using the Object Drawing model. By default, objects are only selected when
the tool's marquee rectangle completely surrounds the object. By deselcting this option in the
Preferences dialog box, you can select entire objects when they are only partially enclosed by
the selection marquee of the Selection, Subselection, or Lasso tools.
To learn more about the Object Drawing model, see
on page 131.
To set Selection, Subselection, and Lasso tool contact options:
1. Select Edit > Preferences (Windows) or Flash > Preferences (Macintosh).
The Preferences dialog box is displayed.
2.
In the General category of the Preferences dialog box, do one of the following:
Deselect Contact-Sensitive Selection and Lasso tools if you want to select only objects
and points that are completely enclosed by the selection marquee. Points that lie
within the selection area will still be selected.
Select Contact-Sensitive Selection and Lasso tools if you want to select objects or
groups that are only partially enclosed by the selection marquee.
The Subselection tools use the same contact-sensitive setting.
"About Flash drawing models"
Specifying drawing settings 155