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E E Select Objects: Topics Covered in This Lesson

AutoCAD uses selection sets to group objects together so they can be modified at the same time. Objects can be added to a selection set by selecting them individually, using crossing or box windows, or other methods like FENCE or CYCLING. Crossing windows select objects that cross the window boundary, while box windows only select objects fully within the window. Practice selecting objects in drawings using these different selection techniques.

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38 views

E E Select Objects: Topics Covered in This Lesson

AutoCAD uses selection sets to group objects together so they can be modified at the same time. Objects can be added to a selection set by selecting them individually, using crossing or box windows, or other methods like FENCE or CYCLING. Crossing windows select objects that cross the window boundary, while box windows only select objects fully within the window. Practice selecting objects in drawings using these different selection techniques.

Uploaded by

joel
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Topics covered in this Lesson:

Creating Selection Sets

By now you have probably seen a coloured rectangle appear on your screen when you left-click and
the move the crosshairs around. You'll learn all about these in this lesson. AutoCAD uses what's
called a selection set to allow you to group objects together and then modify them. For example, if
you want to erase several lines, you could press E <ENTER>, pick on the line, press <ENTER> again
and repeat until you're done. Another way would be to press E <ENTER>, and then pick the lines one
by one until they are all selected, and press <ENTER>. By selecting a group of objects, you have
created a selection set. Whenever you want to modify an object, and are asked by AutoCAD to
"select objects" you can create a selection set and then apply the command.

REMEMBER TO PRESS ENTER WHEN YOU ARE FINISHED SELECTING THE OBJECTS

There are also a few other ways to create a selection set. The most common way is to use a window.

There are two very different types of windows you can use.

One is a 'crossing window' and the other is a box. If you create the window from right to left, you
make a crossing window. This means that any object that crosses the border or is surrounded by the
window is added to the selection set. This is shown as a green rectangle with a dotted outline on the
screen. If you create the window from left to right, you create a box. Using this method you'll add
only the items that are completely within the box. This is shown as a blue box on the screen. The

difference is very important.

To summarize:

DIRECTION CALLED DISPLAY EFFECT

GREEN
SECLECTS ANY OBJECT THAT
RIGHT TO CROSSING (with a
EITHER CROSSES THE
LEFT SELECTION dotted
BOUNDARY OR IS INSIDE IT
outline)

SELECTS ON OBJECTS THAT


LEFT TO WINDOW
BLUE ARE COMPLETELY WITHIN THE
RIGHT SELCTION
BOX

There are other ways to select objects and here a few of the more common ways. These can also be
used in combination.

REMOVE - by typing R when asked to select objects, AutoCAD will select change to allow you to
Remove objects from the selection set. You can also remove individual objects by pressing the Shift
Key when selecting (known as a 'shift-select')
LAST - by typing L when asked to select objects, AutoCAD will select the last object that you created.
This is handy if you create something and want to move or modify it right away.

PREVIOUS - by typing P when asked to select objects, AutoCAD will select the previous selection
set. This is used if you select a few objects, modify them and then want to modify them again.

FENCE - by typing F when asked to select objects, AutoCAD allows you to draw a series of lines
(called a fence) to select objects. This is convenient if you want to select a group of lines to be
trimmed to a single cutting edge.

CROSSING POLYGON - typing CP when you are selecting objects give the ability to create a
crossing polygon for object selection. This is similar to a crossing box, but you can pick points on the
screen to create a polygon. By default, this is a crossing polygon, therefore any objects that cross the
polygon will be added to the selection set.

CROSSING WINDOW - typing CW when you are selecting objects give the ability to create a crossing
window for object selection. This is similar to a crossing box, but you can pick points on the screen to
create a polygon. This is a crossing window, therefore any objects that are completely within the
polygon will be added to the selection set. Newer versions of AutoCAD allow you to use your cursor
to create a crossing window without typing in the 'CW'.

CYCLING - When are ready to select objects, hold down the Shift key on your keyboard and then
press the Space Bar when your mouse is on top of overlapping objects. Repeatedly press the Space
Bar until the one object you want to modify is highlighted. Then pick with the mouse. This is a good
approach if you have many objects in a small area.

To unselect everything you have selected, you just press the escape key on your keyboard or right-
click and choose "Deselect All" from the menu.

TIP: Zoom in when selecting in tight spaces. Make sure you are 100% sure you are selecting the
correct object. Imagine the difference of offsetting an interior wall instead of the exterior wall - the
resulting object would be off by over 6 inches! Get used to zooming in, then zooming out quickly.

You need to quickly select objects in AutoCAD to be a good operator.

For practice, open one of your previous drawings and try selecting objects using all of the methods
described above. Notice that as you move your cursor over an object the object will highlight.

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