Selecting Using the Preselection Navigator

The preselection navigator (or the keyboard arrows) lets you select hidden, superposed, coincident elements, or elements located elsewhere in the tree.

This task shows you how to:

Before you begin: You cannot use the preselection navigator with selection filters.

Display the Preselection Navigator

You can use two different methods to display the preselection navigator.

Click anywhere in the 3D area to give the focus back to the geometry.

You must do so even after deactivating a command icon. Otherwise, you cannot display the preselection navigator.

  1. Position your pointer over the element you want to select.
  2. Press any keyboard arrow.

    Tip: You can also:
    • Press Alt + left mouse button.
    • Press Ctrl + F11 to give the focus to the 3D area and use the preselection navigator when a dialog box is open.

The preselection navigator appears as soon as you press a keyboard arrow.
Important: To display the preselection navigator after a specific time delay, access the Selection section, click Preselection navigator after... seconds(s), and then define the appropriate time delay.

Use the Preselection Navigator

You can use the keyboard arrows to navigate in the object and, depending on the options you specify, you can also use the immersive list and the immersive viewer.

  1. Click the up arrow of the immersive viewer, or press the up arrow key, to navigate "in-depth" (from the front to the back of the object).
    This method is particularly useful for large parts because it lets you select, for example, edges or faces that are not visible or accessible near the front of the part.

    The cursor shape changes according to the type of the preselected element.

    Point Face Edge






    The identity of the preselected element is displayed at the bottom of the tab.

    Tips:
    • When you navigate with the keyboard arrows, or when you point at a too long element name in the immersive list, a tooltip shows the full name of the preselected element. The name is truncated in the immersive list. If the name is short enough and can be fully displayed, there is no tooltip.
    • You can navigate between different objects, not only inside single objects. When one object hides another, the preselection navigator also lets you select elements belonging to the hidden object.
  2. Click the down arrow to navigate in the opposite direction, toward the front of the object.
  3. Position your cursor over the circle, and then click with the middle mouse button to navigate inside the object.
    As you click, the corresponding element path is highlighted in the list that is displayed to the right.
  4. Move the mouse over the list of element paths.
    The element corresponding to each path you point at is prehighlighted in the circle. You can then click the required path to select the corresponding element.
    Important:
    • When you point at an element in the circle, or at a path from the list, you can right-click to display the context menu.
    • The navigation is cyclic. When you reach the end of the selection path using the up and down keys, the preselection navigator automatically goes back to the starting point. That is, you go back to the highest element in the hierarchy, and you can then navigate again.
  5. Click the left and right arrows to navigate up and down in the object's hierarchy.

    You can also press the left and right keys to achieve the same effect, and validate your selection by pressing Enter, or using the left mouse button.

    When preselecting an edge, a prehighlight is also provided, which is especially useful for overlapped elements.

  6. Click Display auxiliary viewer for preselection navigator and Display immersive list for preselection navigator.
  7. Click anywhere in the 3D area, position your pointer over the object, and then click the up or down arrow to navigate.
    An additional panel opens and displays the object with the element you have preselected. The list of all the elements you can preselect is also displayed in the background.

    To hide the viewer, access the Selection section, and then clear Display auxiliary viewer.

  8. To validate your selection and exit the preselection navigator, use one of the following methods below, depending on the display options that you have selected:
    • Click the circle in the center of the immersive viewer.
    • Click the required item in the immersive list.
    • Click the element directly on the object.
    The item is selected.

    If you select an object, or if you point or click outside the selection activation area around the selection tool, then the selection tool disappears, in any case.