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AutoCAD

LT On-line: Lesson 14

30 Apr, 2001 By: Mark Middlebrook


More command-first editing

Page 1: Object selection for command-first editing

Last month's lesson familiarized you with the different editing styles in AutoCAD and object selection basics. In this lesson, we'll cover some of the finer points of command-first editing: its mind-boggling (and command line-boggling) 16 object selection options and how to make the most of the Move and Copy commands.

Before you work through this lesson, make sure that you're familiar with the differences between command-first editing and selection-first editing and with implied windowing object selection. The previous lesson covers these concepts.

The procedures described here work with AutoCAD 98-LT 2000i and AutoCAD Release 14-2000i.

Object selection for command-first editing
One benefit (or confusion, depending on your point of view) of command-first editing is that it provides you with a slew of additional selection methods, as you can see by typing ? and pressing <Enter> at any Select objects prompt:

Window/Last/Crossing/BOX/ALL/Fence/WPolygon/CPolygon/Group/
Add/Remove/Multiple/Previous/Undo/AUto/SIngle

In order to use any of the additional selection methods, type the uppercase letters in the option's name, press <Enter>, and follow the prompts. The following table describes the most useful methods.

Selection MethodDescription
Window All objects within a rectangle that you specify by picking two points. Duplicates the implied windowing Window functionality.
LastThe last object you drew that's still visible in the drawing area.
Crossing All objects within or crossing a rectangle that you specify by picking two points. Duplicates the implied windowing Crossing functionality.
ALLAll objects on layers that aren't frozen.
FenceAll objects touching an imaginary polyline whose vertices you specify by picking points.
WPolygonAll objects within a polygonal area whose corners you specify by picking points. (Similar to the implied windowing Window object selection method, except that the selection area can be bounded by any polygonal shape).
CPolygonAll objects within or crossing a polygonal area whose corners you specify by picking points. (Similar to the implied windowing Crossing object selection method, except that you can bind the selection area by any polygonal shape).
PreviousThe previous selection set that you specified.


When you finish selecting objects, press <Enter> to indicate that you completed the selection and are ready to continue with the command. Follow the additional prompts for the particular editing command that you chose.

If you're curious about the other command-first object selection methods, look up Select command in the AutoCAD on-line help system.

Note: With some commands, such as Offset, Lengthen, and Break, AutoCAD prompts you to select a single object (or two objects one at a time in the case of the Chamfer and Fillet commands). In other words, you won't see the Select Objects prompt and won't have the chance to build up a selection set with multiple picks, implied windowing, or the command-first selection options described in this section. In these cases, AutoCAD always tells you that it's looking for a single object instead of one or more objects:

Select object:
Simply point and click to pick a single object.

More command-first editing
  Page 1: Object selection for command-first editing
  Page 2: Move and copy: How far and in what direction?


About the Author: Mark Middlebrook


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