Using Selection Sets

You can use selection sets to group selections or to quickly select objects.

This task shows you how to:

Store Selections Using Selection Sets

You can put selections into groups that you can store and retrieve. Selection sets are saved with your documents. You can then use the Define selection Set command to add objects to the selection set, rename the selection set, or delete it.

Before you begin:
  • A selection set is associated to the part document it is created in. Adding an element from another part document would create an external link, which is forbidden by the Define selection Set command. Therefore, all the elements added to a selection set must be within the part document associated to the selection set. Note that this rule does not apply to selection sets created on a CATProcess level.
  • This functionality is not available in Product Structure Design.
  1. From the Tools section of the action bar, click Define selection Set .
  2. In the Selection Sets Edition dialog box, click Create Set.
    A selection set named "Set1" is created and for each new selection set, the number is incremented.

    When a selection set is created, you can:

    • Rename the selection set using the Name box at the bottom of the Selection Sets Edition dialog box.
    • Reuse a selection by double-clicking the corresponding line from the list.
  3. Point to the selected objects to be included in the set.
    Tip: You can use the selection traps to add or remove objects grouped in a selection set.

    The default mode is Add element which means that clicking an element in the geometry automatically adds it to the set.

    The information is given in the Size box and is intended to match the information given in the status bar as well as the number of highlighted elements in the work area. The number of geometries included in the set is also indicated when necessary (for example, when a pocket is created on a pad: the face onto which the pocket has been created, however still considered as a single element, is made of two geometries).

  4. To add more elements to your selection set, click the selection set name from the list, check that Add element is selected then continue selecting elements.
    Important:
    • You can add objects to any selection set.
    • To delete an element from a selection set, click Remove element, select the selection set then select the element to be deleted.
    • To delete selection sets that do not contain any element, click Delete Empty Sets.
  5. Optional: Click Find owning sets then select the desired element in the geometry to highlight the group the element belongs to.
  6. Click OK to close the dialog box.
  7. To find the set an element belongs to, click Find Owning Selection Sets... .
  8. In the Selection Sets Edition dialog box, select the desired element.
    The name of the owning set is displayed in the Selection Sets Selection dialog box.

Select Using Selection Sets

You can select groups of objects after they have been stored in selection sets. This is very useful to quickly identify a group of selected elements.

  1. From the Tools section of the action bar, click Selection Sets... (or press CTRL+G).
  2. Click one of the selection sets from the list or press Ctrl to select multiple selection sets from the list.
    The elements included in the selection set are highlighted in the 3D area and in the tree.
  3. Click Select or double-click the selection sets.
    The highlighted elements are selected and the number of selected elements is displayed in the status bar.
    Important:
    • To reset the filter, that is, deselect a selection set from the list, select the set to be deselected then click Reset. Note that elements stored in this set are still highlighted in the 3D and in the tree.
    • To reset the selection, click anywhere in the 3D area.
  4. Optional: In the Selection Sets Selection dialog box, right-click a set then select Hide/Show.
    The elements stored in the selected set are transferred to the No Show space .