SELECT (Command)

Places selected objects in the Previous selection set.

A small box, called the object selection target or pickbox, replaces the crosshairs on the graphics cursor.

At the Select Objects prompt in a subsequent command, use the Previous option to retrieve the previous selection set.

For products that support 3D solid modeling, you can also press and hold the Ctrl key to select original individual forms that are part of composite solids or vertices, edges, and faces on 3D solids. You can select one of these subobjects, or create a selection set of more than one subobject. Your selection set can include more than one type of subobject. Subobject selection is not available in AutoCAD LT.

To view all options, enter ? at the Command prompt.

The following prompts are displayed.

Select objects
Selects the objects that you click.
Window

Selects all objects completely inside a rectangle defined by two points. Specifying the corners from left to right creates a window selection. (Specifying the corners from right to left creates a crossing selection.)

Last

Selects the most recently created visible object. The object must be in the current space, that is, model space or paper space, and its layer must not be set to frozen or off.

Crossing

Selects objects within and crossing an area defined by two points. A crossing selection is displayed as dashed or otherwise highlighted to differentiate it from window selection.

Box

Selects all objects inside or crossing a rectangle specified by two points. If the rectangle's points are specified from right to left, Box is equivalent to Crossing. Otherwise, Box is equivalent to Window.

All

Selects all objects in either model space or the current layout, except those objects on frozen or on locked layers.

Fence

Selects all objects crossing a selection fence. The Fence method is similar to CPolygon except that that the fence is not closed, and a fence can cross itself. Fence is not affected by the PICKADD system variable.

WPolygon

Selects objects completely inside a polygon defined by points. The polygon can be any shape but cannot cross or touch itself. The last segment of the polygon is drawn so that it is closed at all times. WPolygon is not affected by the PICKADD system variable.

CPolygon

Selects objects within and crossing a polygon defined by specifying points. The polygon can be any shape but cannot cross or touch itself. The last segment of the polygon is drawn so that it is closed at all times. CPolygon is not affected by the PICKADD system variable.

Group

Selects all objects within one or more named or unnamed groups. When you specify an unnamed group, be sure to include the asterisk (*). For example, enter *a3. You can use the LIST command to display the names of groups.

Add

Switches to the Add method: selected objects can be added to the selection set by using any of the object selection methods. Auto and Add are the default methods.

Remove

Switches to the Remove method: objects can be removed from the current selection set using any object selection method. An alternative to Remove mode is to hold down Shift while selecting single objects or use the Automatic option.

Multiple

Selects objects individually without highlighting them during object selection. This speeds up object selection for highly complex objects.

Previous

Selects the most recent selection set. The Previous selection set is cleared by operations that delete objects from the drawing.

Note: The Previous selection set is ignored if you switch spaces.
Undo

Cancels the selection of the object most recently added to the selection set.

Auto

Switches to automatic selection: pointing to an object selects the object. Pointing to a blank area inside or outside an object forms the first corner of a box defined by the Box method. Auto and Add are the default methods.

Single

Switches to the Single method: selects the first object or set of objects designated rather than continuing to prompt for further selections.

Subobject (not available in AutoCAD LT)

Allows you to select original individual forms that are part of composite solids or vertices, edges, and faces on 3D solids. You can select one of these subobjects, or create a selection set of more than one subobject. Your selection set can include more than one type of subobject.

Pressing and holding the Ctrl key is the same as selecting the SELECT command’s Subobject option.

Object (not available in AutoCAD LT)

Ends the ability to select subobjects. Allows you to use object selection methods.