[CS4] Free Transform doesn't work in some situations

Question

Hello,
I have found a limitation in Photoshop CS4:
Trying to use the free transform tool on an unselected "substracted" vector shape with the move tool will not work and will always display the alert "Could not transform because the initial bounding rectangle is empty".
There are some workarounds to this (using the Path selection tool, or activating the vector mask), however they won't apply if you are trying to transform several layers at once.
Steps to reproduce:
1) Create a new empty document
2) Select the rectangle tool (U) and create a vector mask layer with a single rectangle shape
3) Cmd-click the rectangle to select it
4) In the Options bar, click the 'substract' button to reverse the shape
5) Deselect the shape in the layers panel
6) Select the move tool (V)
7) Invoke the free transform tool (cmd-T)
(MBP 2.8, 10.5.5)

Answer 1

It's because you've got a reversed shape and nothing highlighted so your document edges are truncating the color fill rather than a clearly defined edge. Simply highlight the vector mask in the layers panel then you CAN use Free Transform.