I am an industrial control engineer who uses graphic editing software to create user interfaces for industrial control systems.  A feature that is often included in professional software packages that it most useful would be a floating "sub-window" (like the PCB tools, or Layers tiny floating popups) that shows each footprint in a list tree view.  When the item is clicked on, it would refocus the screen on that object.  This tree view would also properly show the groups that have been created with the ability to drill into the group and select an object in a group.  I've provided a screenshot of a program called FactoryTalkView SE from Rockwell Automation that shows this feature: [https://imgur.com/a/NxDsh](https://imgur.com/a/NxDsh).  This feature would allow grouping to become very useful. The way they handle selecting is pretty good as well.  If you want to select something in a group, LEFT CLICK once to select the group.  then DOUBLE LEFT CLICK to "enter" the group, then LEFT CLICK to select the component in the group (or a sub-group).  This way groups can be embedded within groups.  In order to "drill down" without using the tree list, you would CLICK..DOUBLE CLICK...CLICK...DOUBLE CLICK...etc.  CLICK to select, DOUBLE CLICK to drill in one level.