How Do I Turn Off Multiple Selections in AutoCAD?

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How Do I Turn Off Multiple Selections in AutoCAD?

When working with AutoCAD, you may find yourself in situations where you need to turn off multiple selections. This can be useful when you want to focus on a specific object or group of objects without accidentally selecting additional elements. In this tutorial, we will guide you through the steps to turn off multiple selections in AutoCAD.

Method 1: Using the Selection Cycling Option

The easiest way to disable multiple selections is by using the Selection Cycling option. Here’s how:

  1. Open AutoCAD and navigate to the “Selection” tab in the ribbon.
  2. Look for the “Selection Cycling” button and click on it.
  3. A drop-down menu will appear. Click on “Off” to disable selection cycling.

Note: When selection cycling is turned off, only one object will be selected at a time, regardless of how many objects are overlapping.

Method 2: Using the SELECTIONMODE System Variable

If you prefer using command-line options, you can also turn off multiple selections by modifying the SELECTIONMODE system variable. Here’s how:

  1. Type “SELECTIONMODE” into the command line and press Enter.
  2. The current value of SELECTIONMODE will be displayed. If it is set to “1” (normal selection), proceed to step 3. Otherwise, skip step 3 and go directly to step 4.
  3. Type “0” into the command line and press Enter to change SELECTIONMODE to normal selection mode.
  4. To disable multiple selections completely, type “-1” into the command line and press Enter.

Note: When SELECTIONMODE is set to “-1,” you will only be able to select one object at a time, even if selection cycling is turned on.

Method 3: Using the Quick Select Tool

The Quick Select tool allows you to create complex selection filters to precisely control which objects can be selected. Here’s how you can use it to turn off multiple selections:

  1. Type “QSELECT” into the command line and press Enter.
  2. A dialog box will appear. In the “Object Type” section, click on “All” to select all object types.
  3. In the “Properties” section, click on “None” to disable any property filters.
  4. Click on the “OK” button to apply the Quick Select settings.

Note: By using specific criteria in the Quick Select tool, you can limit your selection to a single object or a group of objects that meet certain conditions.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we have explored three different methods to turn off multiple selections in AutoCAD. Whether you prefer using the Selection Cycling option, modifying the SELECTIONMODE system variable, or utilizing the Quick Select tool, these techniques will help you focus on specific objects without accidentally selecting additional elements.

Experiment with these methods and choose the one that suits your workflow best. Happy designing!