Why no options for the direct selection tool?

did you try using the keyboard shortcut (A)??

When I create a shape it's automatically creating a

"vector mask thumbnail"

That's what I see in the layers panel.

Why?

Here's a screen shot of what I'm doing:

http://tinypic.com/m/ily9f7/2

http://tinypic.com/m/ily9ft/2

Notice the vector mask in the layers panel. That was automatically created when I made the shape.

Note that the Direct Selection tool is selected.

Note that there are no options for it.

I've been trying to figure this out since last night. I can't see what I'm doing wrong.

It has something to do with the fact that it's automatically creating a vector mask from the shape.

How do I turn that off?

Well....mine is working exactly like this guy's:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1am1LWbHPKY

...so I don't know exactly what the instructor is doing in the video. It's not at all clear. She's adding stroke

I'm using CS5.

Perhaps it's because she's using CS6. That must be it.

hmm i think you're getting the mask because you're drawing the circle on the colour fill....try creating a new layer and then draw the circle on that. I did a quick google search and found this forum post that might be of some benifit to you: http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/forum/forum/graphic-design/general/24694-no-options-for-the-direction-selection-tool . One option you can try is checking to see that your ellipse tool is set to shape layer and not to fill pixels!!

It is set to the shape layer.

I think the problem is the PS version.

The guy in the video on YouTube is using CS5 and so am I. The instructor is using CS6.

I think this should be made clear at the start of the course...that some things may work a bit differently or not be available at all.