When trying to select multiple controls at a place on the page (say 8") it is better to select them by going (in design view) by placing the cursor in the ruler. When the dotted line appears you can click to select all the controls at that spot or even drag further right to get any strays at other positions (9, 10 " etc.) This is downright necessary for those that are so small that you can't see them or might otherwise be missed like lines that have been placed in group headers or footers that are not readily visible. Also, if the only controls so selected are lines and you want to go from 8" to 7.5 " you can simply size them all at once that way as well.

tol