How Do I Filter Text in AutoCAD?

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AutoCAD is a powerful software tool used for creating 2D and 3D designs. One of its many features is the ability to filter text.

Filtering text allows you to search for specific words or phrases within your AutoCAD drawings and make changes accordingly. In this tutorial, we will explore how to filter text in AutoCAD using various methods.

Using the ‘Quick Select’ Command

The ‘Quick Select’ command in AutoCAD is a handy tool that allows you to select objects based on specific properties, such as text style, color, or layer. To filter text using this command:

  1. Open the drawing that contains the text you want to filter.
  2. Type ‘QSELECT’ in the command line and press Enter.
  3. In the ‘Quick Select’ dialog box, select ‘Text’ from the ‘Object type’ dropdown menu.
  4. Select the desired properties you want to filter by. For example, if you want to filter all bold text, select ‘Bold’ under ‘Format’. You can also specify other criteria such as height, rotation angle, or content.
  5. Click OK to apply the filter and select all the filtered objects.

Using the ‘Find’ Command

The ‘Find’ command in AutoCAD allows you to search for specific words or phrases within your drawing. To filter text using this command:

  1. Type ‘FIND’ in the command line and press Enter.
  2. In the ‘Find and Replace’ dialog box, enter the word or phrase you want to filter for in the ‘Find’ field.
  3. Select the desired options such as match case, whole word, or wildcards.
  4. Click ‘Find All’ to display a list of all instances of the filtered text.
  5. Select the text objects from the list and make changes as needed.

Using the ‘Filter’ Command

The ‘Filter’ command in AutoCAD provides a more advanced way to filter objects, including text. To filter text using this command:

  1. Type ‘FILTER’ in the command line and press Enter.
  2. In the ‘Select Filter’ dialog box, click on ‘Add Criteria’ to define the filtering criteria.
  3. In the ‘Add Criteria’ dialog box, select ‘Text’ from the ‘Object type’ dropdown menu. You can specify criteria such as content, style, color, or layer.
  4. Click OK to apply the filter and create a new filter group.
  5. Type ‘FILTER’ again in the command line and press Enter.
  6. In the ‘Select Filter’ dialog box, select your newly created filter group from the list.
  7. Select all filtered objects and make changes as needed.

Tips for Filtering Text in AutoCAD

  • If you want to select all instances of a specific word or phrase, use the ‘Find’ command and choose ‘Select All’ instead of ‘Find All’ in the ‘Find and Replace’ dialog box.
  • Remember to save your drawing before making any changes to avoid losing your original data.
  • Experiment with different filtering criteria to refine your search and find exactly what you’re looking for.

Now that you know how to filter text in AutoCAD using various methods, you can easily locate and modify specific text elements within your drawings. This can greatly enhance your productivity and efficiency when working with large, complex designs. Happy filtering!