Object Selection Filters

It may sometimes happen that you need to create a selection set of objects based upon one or more of their properties. For example, you may want to select all objects on a particular layer or more particularly, you may even want to select all circles on that layer. This type of selection is relatively easy with the Quick Select command discussed above. However, what if you wanted to select all green circles and lines on a particular layer? As good as Quick Select is, it cannot create selections from so many parameters. Fortunately AutoCAD provides a method to filter objects based upon a wide range of selection criteria.

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Keyboard	FILTER or FI

An AutoCAD drawing is simply a database of objects and their properties. Using the Filter command you can define a query just like you would in a database. If you look at the Object Selection Filters dialogue box, shown above, you will see that a filter has been defined that will select all circles on the "Construct" layer.


To create a filter, click the arrow on the drop-down list in the Select Filter area and select the object type or property you would like to add to the filter list. Click on the "Add to List" button. You can add as many object types or properties to the list as you like. Having defined a filter list you can either use it as a one-off or you can save it as a named filter by typing a name in the Save As edit box and then clicking the "Save As" button. Your named filter will then be added to the Named Filters drop-down list and you can use it again at any time.
Although you can create filters using the Filter command from the command prompt, you will mostly want to use it during the course of a selection operation. Fortunately, the Filter command can be used transparently. This means that it can be used whilst another command is still running. To get an idea how this might work, follow the example below.