Is it correct that if a shape is create & shaded say red, and then another shape is created, the second shape automatically takes on the same shading as the first shape?

I have found that if I want to create any other shapes after the first one then none of them can be shaded individually. If I try to change the shading of any particular shape of say four shapes, they all take change to the same colour.

It is correct but it will change and probably needs some explanation. Each object you create uses the shading of the last object that you clicked on. In that way, your page becomes a palette of shadings. Click on an object that has the shading you want then create a rectangle or ellipse: It will have that shading. If you don't want shading, click on a place in the page with no object first.

The sharing of attributes by default is a bit problematic. That is what causes all object to change shading at the same time. To prevent that just select [no shading] in the quick editor for the object you want to change, then choose new shading settings.

In the next release, each object will get a unique shading attribute (set to the same values as the last clicked object) so it will be simpler to change one object without affecting the other. (but will require an extra step if you want to share the same shading)

The sharing can be very powerful though. Say you want all the title elements to be the same color, you can give them all one shading. Then, if you decide to change the colour or tiled picture, you just change it in one place.

Ok... I see the reasoning for such objects having the same shading by default.... Not a problem when you know how to get round it for a diferent shade... although not obvious to a new user. Thanks