When you select objects, you specify what type of object you want to select (lines, parts), and how you want to select it (point, rectangle). In addition, the <Shift> and <Ctrl> keys can be used to adjust the selection method (add, toggle, subtract).
You set the type of object to select under SelectionSelect. You can also find the same commands under Quick Access Toolbar
Select.
Options available in all environments
Options available in FEA Editor environment
Options available in Results environment
How you select objects is set from SelectionShape. You can also find the same commands under Quick Access Toolbar
Select.
Combination selection mode—click a single object or use a rectangle to select multiple objects:
This mode will suit the vast majority of selection tasks. Click to select the object at the cursor location. Alternatively, hold down the left mouse button, drag to draw a selection rectangle, and release the button. In the FEA Editor, objects fully enclosed within the rectangle will be selected. In the Results environment, objects that the rectangle intersects will also be selected.
Use a rectangle to select multiple objects:
Use a polygon to select multiple objects:
Use a circle to select multiple objects:
Use Reset To Point:
When active, Reset To Point resets the selection shape to Point or Rectangle after you perform a selection. The command functions as a toggle—click it to activate the option and click again to deactivate it. The option highlights when active.
If you typically use the Point or Rectangle selection shape, you may find it convenient to use Reset To Point. For example, when Reset To Point is active and you perform a Polyline selection, the selection shape reverts to Point or Rectangle once you close the polygon. If you want to make multiple selections with other shapes, such as Polyline or Circle, deactivate Reset To Point.
You can use four methods when you select objects with the selection shapes:
The following commands are similar to the selection methods but operate on the entire model:
Use the filter to control the items you select.
Select Neighbors
You have two neighbor selection modes available in the FEA Editor environment. With Selection Mode
Select Neighbors active, the vertex or line you select and all vertices or lines immediately next to it are selected, respectively. For example, if you select a line in the middle of a square grid, all lines in contact with the line are also selected:
Use SelectionExpand
Neighbors after you select one or more vertices. The command adds all the vertices or lines, immediately near the current selections, to the current selection set of vertices or lines, respectively. Use this command several times to quickly select vertices or lines in a specific area of a model.
Select Chain Border
In line select mode, use SelectionExpand
Chain Border to select a chain of lines beginning and ending with the line you select. The chain also ends when it runs into a previously selected line. This command is useful when you select the perimeter of a part or hole.
The SelectionExpand
Chain Border
Largest Chain setting determines which chain of lines you select. If the selection is not appropriate, try toggling the Largest Chain option. In general, to select the outside perimeter, use this option. To select an internal perimeter with sharp corners, do not use this option.
You can right-click in the display area and click Subentities to change the type of objects selected. You can also click SelectionSubentities. For example, if you select a part, but want to apply pressures to all the surfaces on the part, right-click and click Subentities
Surfaces. All surfaces on the part are selected.
The following list displays the geometry object hierarchy. You can change the selection set object type to any subentity of the select parent. For example, if your selection set is Elements, you can down-select to Faces, but you cannot up-select to Surfaces.