Working with grouped and collective elements in the Layers palette

Illustrator provides several ways to collect components in your artwork together: you can create groups, compound shapes, compound paths, pathfinder paths, and envelopes. The Layers palette is particularly useful for working with collective elements because it allows you to view their contents.

Groups

Appear as <Group> items in the Layers palette. You can use the Layers palette to move items in and out of groups. (See Changing the stacking order of artwork using the Layers palette.)

Compound shapes

Appear as <Compound Shape> items in the Layers palette. You can use the Layers palette to show and manipulate the contents of a compound shape--for example, change the stacking order of its components. (See Changing the stacking order of artwork using the Layers palette.)

Compound paths

Appear as <Compound Path> items in the Layers palette. You cannot show the contents of a compound path in the Layers palette.

Pathfinder paths

Appear as <Group> items that contain individual paths or as <Path> items.

Envelopes

Appear as <Envelope> items in the Layers palette.