Entity-selection methods

When you choose a command that requires you to select entities (when you're deleting or changing entity properties, for example), you can use any of the following selection methods, which are displayed in a prompt box:

• Select all entities Selects all entities in the current drawing.
• Add to set Adds one or more entities to the selection set.
• Subtract from set Removes one or more entities from the selection set.
• Previous selection Selects entities included in the previous selection set.
• Last entity in drawing Selects the entity most recently added to the drawing.
• Window-Inside Selects entities contained entirely within a rectangular selection window.
• Crossing window Selects entities contained within or crossing the boundary of a rectangular selection window.
• Outside window Selects entities falling completely outside a rectangular selection window.
• Window polygon Selects entities contained entirely within a polygon selection window.
• Crossing polygon Selects entities contained within or crossing the boundary of a polygon selection window.
• Outside polygon Selects entities falling completely outside a polygon selection window.
• Window circle Selects entities contained entirely within a circular selection window.
• Crossing circle Selects entities contained within or crossing the boundary of a circular selection window.
• Outside circle Selects entities falling completely outside a circular selection window.
• Point Selects any closed entities that surround the selected point.
• Fence Selects entities crossing a line or line segments.

In addition to these methods, you can select entities that match a particular set of properties—for example, all entities on a particular layer or drawn in a certain color.

You can also use a few selection methods automatically, without displaying the prompt box. For example, you can simply click to select entities, or you can use a Window-Inside or Crossing Window by defining the opposite corners of a rectangular selection window. The direction in which you define the points of the rectangle (left-to-right or right-to-left) determines which type of window you create.

How do I...

Create a Crossing Window

Create a Window-Inside

Select entities using Fence

Select entities using Window Polygon