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Overview of Selection

This section presents a brief summary of selection in XSI — enough to get you up and running quickly. There are many more nuances to selection, but these are described in later sections.

Overview of Selecting Objects

This is a brief summary of selecting objects in the 3D, schematic, and explorer views. When you select an object, the previously-selected objects become deselected unless you press the Shift key.

To select an object in the 3D views

• Use the space bar in supra or sticky mode and click on an object. Use the left mouse button for node selection, the middle mouse button for branch selection, and the right mouse button for tree selection.

For more details about using object filters, interaction models, and other options, see Selecting Objects.

To select an object in the schematic view

• Click on an object, or click and drag a rectangle around multiple objects. Use the left mouse button for node selection, the middle mouse button for branch selection, and the right mouse button for tree selection.

For more details about using object filters, interaction models, and other options, see Selecting Objects.

To select an object in an explorer

• Click on an object. Use the left mouse button for node selection, and the middle mouse button for branch selection.

For more details about using the explorer to select objects and other elements, see Selecting in the Explorer.

To select all objects

Do one of the following:

• Choose Select > Select All Objects.

or

• Press Ctrl+Shift+a.

Overview of Selecting Components

You can select components interactively only in the 3D views.

To select components interactively

1. Select one or more geometric objects.

2. Activate a component selection filter and a selection tool. Alternatively, you can use a component selection mode that sets the most frequent combinations of filter and tool automatically. See the next section, Selection Keyboard Shortcuts.

3. Use the mouse in the 3D views.

For more complete details, see Selecting Components.

Selection Keyboard Shortcuts

There are several keyboard shortcuts for selecting elements. The default keys are shown in this table:

Extending the Selection

No matter which interaction model you are using, you can always add elements to the selection by pressing the Shift key while you select them.

Deselecting

You can deselect specific objects and components, as well as deselect all elements (objects, components, and other things).

To deselect an object

• With a selection tool active, Ctrl+Shift+click on the object. This works with all interaction models.

Use the left mouse button to deselect nodes, the middle mouse button to deselect branches, and the right mouse button to deselect trees.

To deselect components

Do one of the following:

• If both Select > Softimage|3D Selection Model and Select > Extended Component Selection are off, Ctrl+Shift+click on the components.

or

• If either option is on, middle-click on the components.

To deselect all elements

Do one of the following:

• Choose Select > Deselect All.

or

• Press Ctrl+Shift+a.

or

• With a selection tool active, click in an empty area of a 3D view. This works for deselecting objects with all interaction modes. This also works for components if both Select > Softimage|3D Selection Model and Select > Extended Component Selection are off.

When you are using either the Rectangle or Lasso tools, the Click to deselect option in your Tools > Selection preferences controls whether you need to simply click or click and drag slightly in an empty area of a 3D view to deselect.

Activating the Last-used Selection Tool and Filter

Certain combinations of selection tool and filter are not available as a single selection mode. However, you can still activate the last-used tool and filter without the need to activate each one separately.

To activate the last-used selection tool and filter

Do one of the following:

• Click the Select icon.

or

• Press Alt+space bar.

SOFTIMAGE|XSI v.6.01     <     >