Select objects
Select objects
Many Tekla Structures commands require to select objects. You can make single selections and area selections. Tekla Structures highlights the selected objects. The number of selected objects and handles is displayed in the bottom right corner of the status bar. For example:
Use the different commands and methods to select the objects. To control which type of objects can be selected, use the selecting toolbar and the selection switches.
Select single objects
- Ensure that the correct selection switches are active.
- Click an object to select it.
Tekla Structures displays dimensions and dimension lines for column, beam, reinforcing bar group, and for rebar set. If you want to hide the dimensions, use the advanced options XS_DISPLAY_DIMENSIONS_WHEN_SELECTING_OBJECTS and XS_DISPLAY_DIMENSIONS_WHEN_SELECTING_REBARS.
When direct modification is switched on, the object dimensions and dimension lines are always hidden. Only the direct modification dimensions are then shown. This makes it easier to know which dimensions can be edited.
Select multiple objects using area selection
You can select multiple objects using area selection. By default, the dragging direction affects the selection of objects.
- Ensure that the correct selection switches are active.
- To select all objects that are completely within a rectangular area, hold down the left mouse button and drag the mouse from left to right.
- To select all objects that are at least partly within a rectangular area, hold down the left mouse button and drag the mouse from right to left.
- If you want to change how area selection works, click File menu > Settings and select or clear the Crossing selection check box. By default, the option is switched off. When the option is off , the dragging direction affects the selection of objects. When the option is on , all objects that fall at least partially inside the rectangular area are selected, regardless of the dragging direction.
Select all objects
To select all objects at once, do one of the following:
- On the ribbon, click the small down arrow next to the arrow button, and then click Select all objects.
- Press Ctrl+A.
Select previous objects
Sometimes you need to select again the same objects that you selected previously but have then deselected. To select previously selected objects, do one of the following:
- On the ribbon, click the small down arrow next to the arrow button, and then click Select previous objects.
- Press Alt+P.
Select objects by identifier
If you know the GUID (globally unique identifier), or the ID of an object, or the IFC GUID of a reference object, you can use the Select by identifier command to locate the objects in a model or in a drawing.
You can often find information about the object GUID or ID, for example, in reports and log files. By using the Select by identifier command you can quickly find the objects in a model or in a drawing, instead of defining a view filter or a selection filter with the specific GUID or ID. You can use IFC GUIDs to find IFC reference objects. This is useful if you need to track updates and changes in IFC reference models.
Additionally, you can use the Select by identifier command to inquire the GUIDs of selected objects, instead of using the traditional inquiry.
To | Do this |
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Find objects based on the object GUID, ID, or IFC GUID identifier |
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Find a model object in a drawing | You can select an object in a model, get its identifier, and then find it in a drawing based on the identifier.
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Find a drawing object in a model | You can select an object in a drawing, get its identifier, and then find it in a model based on the identifier.
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Select handles
Sometimes you need to select only the handles of a part, for example when moving the part.
Before you start, make sure that Crossing selection is switched off. Ensure that the Direct modification switch is not active.
- On the File menu, click Settings and make sure that Crossing selection is switched off. If the Crossing selection is not switched off, selecting the handles with the Alt key does not work.
- Ensure that the correct selection switches are active.
- Hold down the left mouse button and drag the mouse from left to right to include the entire part.
The part becomes selected:
- Hold down the Alt key and drag the mouse from left to right again.
Now only the part handles are selected:
When direct modification is switched on, Tekla Structures also displays the direct modification handles for reference points, corners, segments, and segment midpoints of the selected part. These handles are blue.
Modify the selection
You can add objects to the current selection, or remove objects from the selection.
- To add objects to the current selection, press the Shift key and select more objects.
- To switch the selection of an object on or off, press the Ctrl key during the selection. Tekla Structures deselects the objects that were already selected and selects those that were previously not selected.
- To clear the selection of all objects and handles, click somewhere else. For example, click on the empty background of the current view.