What Is Selection Cycling in AutoCAD?

What Is Selection Cycling in AutoCAD?

Selection cycling is a powerful feature in AutoCAD that allows you to easily select objects that are overlapping or hidden from view. This feature proves to be extremely useful, especially when working with complex drawings or when dealing with multiple objects that are closely located.

How does Selection Cycling work?

When you enable Selection Cycling in AutoCAD, a visual indicator appears near the cursor whenever there are multiple objects available for selection at a given point. This indicator is represented by a small colored box, and it helps you identify the different objects that are stacked on top of each other.

Enabling Selection Cycling:

  • To enable Selection Cycling, you can either click on the corresponding button located on the status bar at the bottom of the AutoCAD window, or you can type “SELECTIONCYCLING” in the command line and press Enter.
  • Once enabled, a checkmark will appear next to the Selection Cycling button, indicating that it is active.

Selecting Objects:

To select an object using Selection Cycling, follow these steps:

  1. Move your cursor over an area where multiple objects overlap or are closely located.
  2. The colored box indicator will appear near your cursor. Press the spacebar to cycle through the available objects under your cursor.
  3. Observe how each object gets highlighted as you press the spacebar. When the desired object is highlighted, click on it to select it.

Tips for Using Selection Cycling Effectively:

1. Adjusting Selection Cycling Settings:

You can customize the behavior of Selection Cycling by adjusting its settings.

To do this, type “OPTIONS” in the command line and press Enter. In the Options dialog box, go to the Selection tab and find the Selection Cycling section. From here, you can modify parameters such as the color of the cycling box or the cycling order.

2. Utilizing Keyboard Shortcuts:

To speed up your workflow, consider using keyboard shortcuts instead of clicking on buttons or typing commands in the command line. For example, you can press “SC” followed by Enter to toggle Selection Cycling on or off.

3. Combining with Other Selection Methods:

Selection Cycling works well alongside other selection methods in AutoCAD. You can combine it with methods like window selection or crossing selection to refine your object selection process.

In conclusion, Selection Cycling is a valuable feature in AutoCAD that enhances your ability to select objects efficiently and accurately. By leveraging this feature, you can save time and effort while working on complex drawings or dealing with overlapping objects.