User of Version 6 confused with Version 8

Hello Larry,
 
yes, you have to learn a lot about the many improvements of version 8. Please read the manual.
One of the great new things is working with elements and layered objects.
While in v6 you could only edit one object once, having no chance to re-edit without simply undoing all steps, you can copy and insert many objects onto the canvas (the original picture). They float above it and are not affected by operations you do with the canvas. You can manage one or more objects individually and repeatedly without changing the canvas.
Concerning your selections, please try the following:
In EDIT-ribbon select the Select-icon, right to the UNDO-icon. Draw a rectangle on the canvas. Press DEL. The part of the picture disappears and - depending on your settings - the background is visible. Often looks like a checkerboard.
Instead of deleting the selection, you can right click and change things with it, move it, copy it and more.
It still does not affect the objects, still floating.
On the other hand, you dan do a lot of things with selected objects, that does not affect the canvas.
There are quite a lot of examples and explanations to the ribbons and the functions in the manuals.
Far to much to explain all the new functions here.
Best
Thomas
The Lesser Admin