SELECTION METHOD IN AUTOCAD

Before you learn how to use modifying tool bar in Autocad.You need to know something about object          selection.As your drawing grows in complexity and contains more objects, you need to use different  selection methods to select these objects efficiently.

Before You start use AutoCAD modify commands you need to know something about object selection methods.All of the modify command require that you make one or more object selections.

The different methods are:-

1.Pick Single

You can pick single object when AutoCAD ask you to select objects.

2. Window

one can define a window selection by clicking at two points. Click first point on the left side, and 2nd point on the right side. This will select all elements inside the window.

3. Cross Window

   Basically if your window selection defined from right to left, then it will be cross window selection. It will select all elements inside and touching the window.

4. Fence

  You can select drawing elements by defining ‘a fence’ that touched objects you wanted. Just type F then [enter] to activate it. After you finish defining your fence, press [enter] to select.

5. Window Polygon

This option behaves as window selection, but you can define unlimited points for that window. Just type WP then [enter] to activate it. All elements inside the window will be selected.

6. Crossing Polygon

 Similar to cross window selection.Activated by entering CP command.

7. Touching Objects

 When AutoCAD ask you to select object, type ‘FS then [enter]. We use ‘for transparent   use.Pick your object, and then all objects touching it will be selected.

8. Cycle Overlapping Objects

  If you have many overlapped drawing elements or close to each other, and you are too lazy to zoom in, you can cycle between them by pressing [shift] + [space]. Hold your [shift] key, and press [space] several times until you found your object. Release your keyboard key, and then click your mouse.

9. Select Previous or Last Objects

Did you ever want to select your previous selection?  Easy, just type P then [enter] when AutoCAD ask you to do selection.

What about last object created? Either the last drawn or result from modify operations such as copy. Type L then [enter].

10. Remove/Add

    Sometimes it’s easier to select all elements then remove some of them from your selection    set. You can do this by holding [shift] and select object you want to exclude. OR, you can type R  then [enter] to switch to remove mode.

To activate add objects, type A then [enter].

11. Lasso selection

This feature is introduced in AutoCAD 2015. You can click and hold your left mouse then drag the pointer to make a lasso selection. Similar to window and crossing polygon, but you don’t need to type anything to activate this mode. If you drag your pointer first to the right, it will be a window selection. But if after the first click you drag it to the left, it will be crossing window selection. Like you see below.

  Selecting the objects by picking

 

The most obvious way to select an object in AutoCAD is simply to pick it.Generally all you have to do is place your cursor over an object, click the mouse button and the object will be selected.

 

 Using a Window to Select Objects

 

 Selection sets are useful when you want to modify a number of objects. You can create a selection set
either before or after activating the pertinent command.

 

 Implied Window Selection

 

 
An implied window is a method of selecting objects by creating a selection window around those
objects. To select objects using an implied window, click in a blank area of the drawing then drag
the cursor from left to right and click the opposite corner of the selection window. Objects enclosed
completely within the implied window will be selected.

•  Only objects that are entirely within the rectangular window are selected.

•  If any part of an object is outside the window, that object is not selected.

•  Although the drag movement must be from left to right, it can also be up and across, or down and across the drawing area. The drag movement shown here is up and across.

•  The window selection area has a solid outline and a differently colored shading to distinguish it from that used in a crossing selection.

•  The shaded area indicates the points in space used to define the corners of the rectangular Window.

   Manual Window Selection

You can define a selection window by using the Window selection method. In response to any Select
Objects prompt, enter W and press ENTER. This enables you to create a regular selection window in
which you are not restricted as to the direction of the cursor movement when defining the points.
When you specify the Window option, you can define the window from left-to-right or right-toleft,
and it always results in a regular selection window. Only objects that are completely within the
selection window will be included in the selection set.

  Implied Crossing Selection

Implied crossing means that you have not manually specified a specific selection method. To make a
crossing selection, you specify opposite corners that define a rectangular area. The first corner point
must be in your drawing area, but cannot be touching any existing objects. After specifying the first
corner point, you drag the cursor from right to left to create a crossing selection that is in the opposite
direction of the previous Window selection.

• All objects that are within or touched by the rectangular crossing window are included in the   selection set.

• Although the drag movement must be from right to left, it can be up and across or down and across the drawing area.

• The crossing window has a dashed outline and a differently colored shading to distinguish it from that used in a window selection.

•  The shaded area indicates the points in space that were used to define the corners of the rectangular window.

    Manual Crossing Selection

You can define a non-implied Crossing Window by using the Crossing Window selection method.
In response to any Select Objects prompt, enter C and press ENTER. This enables you to create a
Crossing selection window where the direction of the cursor movement is not restricted when you
define the points. When you specify Crossing Window, you can define the window from left to right or
right to left, and it always results in a Crossing selection window.