Most commands in AutoCAD require the selection of objects. When you need to select objects, the command line will prompt Select objects:. When you are at this prompt, your next step will be to create a selection set. While creating the selection set, the prompt Select Objects: repeats and you can continue to select objects until you press the Enter key, at which time the command you are using will continue and use the objects selected. If you are selecting object for an Eagle Point Software command, the objects selected will be then used for that command.
There are several ways to create a selection set from the Select objects: prompt. With all selection methods, the number of objects selected will be displayed in the command line along with any objects that were duplicated. Following are the most commonly used methods for creating a selection set:
A single selection is made when you move the object selection target to an object on the screen and click on it. The selected object will highlight and the select objects prompt will return. The cursor changes to a small square when the command line displays Select objects:.
A Window will select all objects completely inside of the rectangle drawn. Create a window by selecting a point on the view screen and then moving the cursor right. The window will display as a solid rectangle. You can also create a window by typing W at the select object prompt. In this case you can move the cursor to the left to create the window.
After you select several objects, they will be temporarily stored as a selection set. Should you want to re-use the same objects that were selected by the last command, you can type P at the Select objects: prompt.
If you select incorrect objects, you can type R to remove objects from the selection set. When you are in Remove mode, the prompt will be Remove objects:. Click on the objects that you do not want to include in your selection. To return to select or add mode, type A at the command line.
Objects may also be selected before issuing the command and receiving the Select objects: prompt. This selection will turn on AutoCAD “grips.” Grips appear as small blue squares in the drawing. All objects with grips will be used when a command is issued. Grips are turned on similar to selecting objects as described in the previous section, but with the command line at the Command: prompt, not the Select Objects: prompt. You can select single objects by clicking on an object with the standard cursor or you can select multiple objects by clicking in the view where there are no objects, then creating the window (right) or crossing (left). To remove grips, press the Esc key twice.
Grips can also be used to edit or change the location of objects in the drawing. Move your cursor to a grip and click. You should notice the cursor “snap” to the grip. The grip will turn from blue to red. The object grip is now attached to the cursor so you can move the object to the desired location and release it by clicking again.