Paste Attributes to multiple shapes - another way

A little feature that I could of used sometimes...

When you copy a shapes attributes and paste it to more than one shape, the attributes will be applied to each shape individually.

Grouping the shapes, then applying the attributes will treat the shapes as one - But when you group shapes together, what happens is the shapes when originally placed on different levels in the illustration, will be pulled to the top shape's level.

What I would like to be able to do is select more than one shape and without the need of grouping them, paste the attributes and have the same results as if the shapes were grouped.

What I sometimes have to do now is group the necessary shapes, paste attributes, ungroup the shapes then move them back to their original levels.

The attached graphic shows the effect I'd like - but with out the need of grouping shapes as the way it is done now.

There have been times with I could have used the effect you are talking about Bob.