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Michael BeallFrom: AutoCAD Productivity Articles #129
Originally published: September 2013

When Picking ‘Air’ Isn't Working

by Michael Beall

Selecting objectsWhen you have a ‘Select Objects’ prompt—or when no command is active—by default, if you pick ‘air’ and go left, a Crossing window is created. Anything the dashed line crosses as well as whatever is within the window is selected.

If you pick ‘air’ and go right, a Window (solid box) is created. Only those objects which are completely within the window are selected.

But what if things are so tight you can't avoid picking with the small cursor or pickbox?

Enter W for the Window option (as shown in the figure, resulting in a simple crosshair), or C for the Crossing option which results in the same simple crosshair.

Very simple and elegant, and much less frustrating than trying to find an open area where you can pick ‘air’.

See all the articles published in September 2013

See this article in the September 2013 Corner

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