Object Selection For Complex Stock Image Vectors

[DjsDjs]

I download stock image vectors that I sometimes need to edit.

Adobe stock only provides *.ai files.

I like that Affinity Designer allows editing these.

However, when imported, most "visually distinct" objects are composed of an impossible multitude of vector shapes that are not grouped.

I wish to select the visual object to be able resize, duplicate, remove certain visual objects.

Drag selection does not work because the first click simply selects the object under the click and the drag starts moving it.

It would be very useful if there was a way to tell affinity designer "Marquee Only Selection" - so that the first click does not count. It would be important that the same rule applies to CTRL-Drag selection so as to accumulate multiple "marquee only" selections together.

Another one that would be helpful is after selecting an existing vector shape to be able to pick "Select all objects within the boundary of existing selection". This way, by multi-selecting a few key shapes I could select all vector shapes (in all layers when that switch is on) within them which define the "visual object" on the screen.

As an example, attempt to select and group one of the containers or just the ship in this graphic when downloaded and editted as an Adobe Illustrator file: https://stock.adobe.com/ca/images/marine-port-concept-ship-with-multicolored-metal-containers-delivery-of-goods-by-sea-international-trade-and-globalization-shipping-poster-or-banner-for-website-cartoon-flat-vector-illustration/556579255?prev_url=detail

[Old Bruce]

Have you tried using the Node tool to drag select? Granted, you have to start out with nothing selected but I seem to have luck with it.