Selecting Data

PointStudio selects objects () by default. This means clicking on an object in a view window selects the whole object.

Other selection types are: points (), edges (), facets (), cells () and blocks (). Use these specific selection types to select component points, edges, facets, cells, or blocks in spatial objects in a view window.

Tip

Use the following shortcuts to switch between selection types:

Type Shortcut   Type Shortcut
Objects 1   Facets 4

Points

2   Cells 5
Edges 3   Blocks 7

Note:   While selections in a view window are based on the active selection type, selections in the project explorer or report window always use object selection type.

The selection status bar at the bottom of the project explorer tells you how many objects and primitives are selected. The icons indicate the types of selected objects and primitives.

Note

  • The object type icon is blank when multiple types are selected.

  • The primitives count is not displayed if object selection type () is active.

  • The primitive type icon always matches the primitive selection type. It is not possible to select multiple primitive types at the same time.

Expand below for detailed instructions on selecting objects.

To select objects in the project explorer, either click a single object to select it, or click a container to select all the items in the container.

Tip

  • Hold Ctrl and click an item to add or remove that item from the selection.

  • Hold Shift and click an item to select the range of items from the last clicked item.

To select data in a view window:

  1. Choose the appropriate selection type.

  2. If selecting a region of data, choose the most suitable selection mode for drawing its boundary.

  3. Make your selections. Either pick a single object or primitive to select it or draw a boundary around a region to select all the eligible items within.

    Tip

    • Hold Shift and pick, or drag a boundary around items to add to the selection.

    • Hold Ctrl and drag a boundary around items to remove them from the selection.

Some panels require you to supply a selection.

  • To populate or add to a selection field in a panel, do one of the following:

    • Click the button above the field to add the current active selection.

    • Drag the selection from the project explorer onto the field.

    • Pick an object in a view window while the field is active (indicated by a red label).

      Tip:   You can add an object to a selection field in a panel without changing your active selection by dragging with the middle mouse button.

  • To remove an item from a selection field, select it in the list and click the button.

Need more detail? See Selecting Data in Common Tasks > Preparing data.