& Construction

Integrated BIM tools, including Revit, AutoCAD, and Civil 3D
& Manufacturing

Professional CAD/CAM tools built on Inventor and AutoCAD
Integrated BIM tools, including Revit, AutoCAD, and Civil 3D
Professional CAD/CAM tools built on Inventor and AutoCAD
Effortlessly select objects to edit and customize with a simple click and drag window.
Type:
Tutorial
Length:
2 min.
Transcript
00:03
In AutoCAD, you can select one or more objects.
00:07
This option is available whenever the program prompts you to select an object.
00:12
With a drawing open, and with objects already in place, from the ribbon, Home tab, Modify panel, select Erase.
00:21
Select a single object by clicking on it.
00:24
As soon as you do, the object highlights.
00:26
To deselect the option, from your keyboard, hold SHIFT and click the object again.
00:32
The object highlight turns off.
00:34
You can also select objects with a window selection or crossing window.
00:39
These types of selections make it quick and easy to select multiple objects at once that are close together in a drawing.
00:48
Choose a location in the drawing area away from a few objects you want to select.
00:53
Then, click and drag your cursor toward the right.
00:58
The rectangular window highlights blue, indicating a window selection.
01:03
With window selections, only the objects that are completely enclosed in the rectangle are selected.
01:09
Now, while you are still holding down the mouse button, move the cursor in the opposite direction.
01:15
This creates a crossing window that highlights in green.
01:19
Objects that are both enclosed in and crossed by the window are selected.
01:24
Click to specify an opposite corner to create the crossing window.
01:29
Once the selection is made, notice that the Command line displays the number of selected objects.
01:35
With the Erase command still active, make another crossing window.
01:39
This time, practice creating a crossing window that does not include any object fully.
01:45
The Command line updates with the additional selection count, displaying the number of objects from both selections.
01:51
Again, because these are both crossing windows,
01:54
the count includes objects that are both enclosed in and crossed by the border of the crossing window.
02:01
Create a window selection this time.
02:03
Include objects that are not fully within the window selection boundary.
02:08
Notice that the additional selection count does NOT include the objects not fully within the boundary.
02:14
The program also ignores any objects selected previously.
02:18
In this example, the command line displays that 2 objects were found and 1 was a duplicate.
02:23
Thus, the program only adds a single new selection to its count.
02:29
While you can easily create window selections or crossing windows by moving your cursor in specific directions from the initial point,
02:36
you can also override this behavior.
02:39
To create a crossing window,
02:40
no matter the direction you move your cursor,
02:44
before picking your first point, on your keyboard, press C and then ENTER.
02:48
Now, you can move your cursor in any direction to specify the second point and still create a crossing window.
02:56
To do this with a window selection, you would pick a first point and then press W and then ENTER.
03:02
Knowing the ins and outs of how AutoCAD handles object selection makes it easy to modify several objects at once.
Video transcript
00:03
In AutoCAD, you can select one or more objects.
00:07
This option is available whenever the program prompts you to select an object.
00:12
With a drawing open, and with objects already in place, from the ribbon, Home tab, Modify panel, select Erase.
00:21
Select a single object by clicking on it.
00:24
As soon as you do, the object highlights.
00:26
To deselect the option, from your keyboard, hold SHIFT and click the object again.
00:32
The object highlight turns off.
00:34
You can also select objects with a window selection or crossing window.
00:39
These types of selections make it quick and easy to select multiple objects at once that are close together in a drawing.
00:48
Choose a location in the drawing area away from a few objects you want to select.
00:53
Then, click and drag your cursor toward the right.
00:58
The rectangular window highlights blue, indicating a window selection.
01:03
With window selections, only the objects that are completely enclosed in the rectangle are selected.
01:09
Now, while you are still holding down the mouse button, move the cursor in the opposite direction.
01:15
This creates a crossing window that highlights in green.
01:19
Objects that are both enclosed in and crossed by the window are selected.
01:24
Click to specify an opposite corner to create the crossing window.
01:29
Once the selection is made, notice that the Command line displays the number of selected objects.
01:35
With the Erase command still active, make another crossing window.
01:39
This time, practice creating a crossing window that does not include any object fully.
01:45
The Command line updates with the additional selection count, displaying the number of objects from both selections.
01:51
Again, because these are both crossing windows,
01:54
the count includes objects that are both enclosed in and crossed by the border of the crossing window.
02:01
Create a window selection this time.
02:03
Include objects that are not fully within the window selection boundary.
02:08
Notice that the additional selection count does NOT include the objects not fully within the boundary.
02:14
The program also ignores any objects selected previously.
02:18
In this example, the command line displays that 2 objects were found and 1 was a duplicate.
02:23
Thus, the program only adds a single new selection to its count.
02:29
While you can easily create window selections or crossing windows by moving your cursor in specific directions from the initial point,
02:36
you can also override this behavior.
02:39
To create a crossing window,
02:40
no matter the direction you move your cursor,
02:44
before picking your first point, on your keyboard, press C and then ENTER.
02:48
Now, you can move your cursor in any direction to specify the second point and still create a crossing window.
02:56
To do this with a window selection, you would pick a first point and then press W and then ENTER.
03:02
Knowing the ins and outs of how AutoCAD handles object selection makes it easy to modify several objects at once.
Industry:
Site Development (General civil engineering), Aerospace and defense equipment
Role:
Interior designer, Product designer, Civil engineer (Hydrology / hydraulics), Technical and engineering manager, Geotechnical Engineer, Civil engineer (Land and site design), Environmental Engineer, Civil engineer (Geotechnical), Civil engineer (Tunnels and bridges), Civil engineer (Roads and highways)
How to buy
Privacy | Do not sell or share my personal information | Cookie preferences | Report noncompliance | Terms of use | Legal | © 2025 Autodesk Inc. All rights reserved
Sign in for the best experience
Save your progress
Get access to courses
Receive personalized recommendations