Set Selection Filter ( Model > press s f )

Tool summary :

Also see :

page 1 | contents | model > set selection filter | top


   Step-by-step instructions :

Selection filters can be used in Modeling to limit the types of items that can be selected in Select Items mode.

  the Selection filter toolbar item  
  • When you Model > Set Selection Filter > select one filter, the filter you select is automatically selected on the Selection filter toolbar item.
  • If you Model > Set Selection Filter > then select more that one filter, ' Custom ' is automatically selected on the Selection filter toolbar item, but ' Custom ' is not shown on the Set Selection Filter window. If you then press " OK ," that custom filter will be remembered during your current Modeling session, but it will not be saved for future Modeling sessions.
  • You can select more than one filter then press " Save " to save a custom filter for future Modeling sessions. When you save the custom filter, you give it a name of your choosing. See step 2b. The name that you give the filter is the name that is selected on the Selection filter toolbar item.
  • Construction lines and construction circles are only selectable if their filters or ' All ' are selected. Other types of items are selectable when ' Default ' is selected.
  • To use a selection filter, Select Items mode needs to be active. Selection filters do not work in Select One Item or Select Item(s) mode, which are for in-tool selection.
  • You can assign a keyboard shortcut to a selection filter. Doing this lets you apply a selection filter on the fly, with as little as a single keystroke. If you saved a custom filter (see step 2b), you need to exit Modeling and restart before assigning the shortcut.

1 . Open the Set Selection Filter window using any one (1) of the following methods:

Method 1 : Click the Set Selection Filter icon, which is pictured above. The icon can be taken from the group named ' Selection ' and placed on a toolbar (classic) or the ribbon (lightning).The Drawing Editor group is ' Tools '.

Method 2 : If " Modeling layout style " is ' Classic ' or you are you can use the menu system to choose Model > Set Selection Filter . In the Drawing Editor , choose Tools > Set Selection Filter .

Method 3, 4 or 5 : Set Selection Filter can also be configured to be invoked using a keyboard shortcut , the context menu , or a mode . For the lightning interface, this configuration is done using Customize Interface . The default keyboard shortcut s f stands for "set filter."

Method 6 : On the selection filter widget, select ' Custom '.

2 . On the Set Selection Filter window, select one or more filters. Drag or hold down the Shift key to select a range of filters. Hold down the Ctrl key to toggle filters on and off. Press the " Clear " button if you to use the ' Default ' filter. Steps 2a and 2b are optional. You can skip them and go directly to step 3.

The Set Selection Filter window . Most filters that you can select on the window are fairly self-explanatory. Programmable filters that have a steeper learning curve are ' By Expression ' and ' By Status Display ' ( ) .

2a (optional) : While the Set Selection Filter window is still open, you can optionally select items in the model using the filters you have set in order to test how those filters behave.

Select Items mouse bindings

Selection is done when you left-click ( Select ) an item or hold down the Shift key and left-click ( Select + ) a series of items, or when you draw an area box . The filters that you selected in step 3 limit the types of items that you can select.

2b (optional) : You can optionally press " Save " to open the Custom Filter Save window and give the custom filter a name.

Custom Filter Save
Custom filter name:
Con Lines & Circles
 

Possibility 1 : If you type a " Custom filter name " and press " OK ," please note the following:

  • Pressing " OK " closes both the Set Selection Filter window and the Custom Filter Save window and saves your custom filter. Do not continue to step 3.
  • The name you gave the custom filter is automatically selected on the Selection filter toolbar item. If you exit Modeling then start Modeling again, you will be able to select that custom filter again. The new filter will be available in Modeling for all jobs until you " Delete " it in the Selection Filter window.
  • You can edit or delete the custom filter saved by choosing Model > Edit Selection Filter . The name that you gave that custom filter when you saved it will be listed on the Edit Selection Filter window.
  • Custom filters that you save are saved per user . This means that they are only available to you and only when you use the same data directory in which you created them. However, when you open the Edit Selection Filter window, you can " Export " the filter. That way, other users can " Import " the filter. You yourself might choose to " Import " the filter when you update your SDS2 software to use a different data directory.

Possibility 2 : If you press " Cancel " on the Custom Filter Save window, the Custom Filter Save window closes without saving a custom filter. The Set Selection Filter window remains open. Go back to step 2a or go on to step 3.

3 . When you are done using the Set Selection Filter window:

Alternative 1 : Press the " OK " button to close the window. The filter that is currently selected on the Selection filter toolbar item remains selected after the window closes.

Alternative 2 : Press the " Cancel " button to close the window, but without applying any of your changes. The selection filter that was active before you opened the Set Selection Filter window will be active again.

page 1 | contents | model > set selection filter | top


   Examples :

Example 1: With ' Default ' the selection filter in Select Items mode, you can double-click a member main material to open the review window for that member. If you double-click a connection material, bolt or weld, you open the Connection Component window for the item that you double-clicked.

Example 2: With ' Legacy Default ' the selection filter in Select Items mode, double-clicking a connection material opens the material window, not the Connection Component window. Similarly, double-clicking a connection bolt opens the bolt window, and double-clicking a weld opens the weld window.

Example 3: With the ' Material ' filter selected, double-clicking a member main material opens the review window for that material, while double-clicking a connection material opens the review window for that material. Unless other filters are also set, you will not be able to select items other than material.

Example 4: With the ' Member ' filter selected, you can double-click anywhere on a member to open the review window for that member. Unless other filters are also set, you will not be able to select items other than members.

Example 5: With the ' Bolts ' filter the only filter selected, you are limited to selecting bolts in Select Items mode.

Example 6: With the ' Columns ' and ' Beams ' filters selected, you are limited to selecting columns and beams when in Select Items mode. On the Selection filter toolbar item, the filter is named ' Custom '.

Example 7: With the ' Construction Lines ' and ' Construction Circles ' filters selected on the Set Selection Filter window, you press the " Save " button and name the custom filter ' Con Lines & Circles '. The new custom filter will be available in Modeling for all jobs until you " Delete " it in the Edit Selection Filter window.

page 1 | contents | model > set selection filter | top


   The ' Default ' selection filter :

VIDEO When the Modeling selection filter is ' Default ' or ' Legacy Default ' or ' All ," double-clicking a straight grid line opens the erection view that is associated with it. (Recorded in SDS2 Detailing , v2015.)

When ' Default ' is the selected selection filter, you can select 3D modeling objects other than construction lines and construction circles and grid lines (see tip 2 ). That is, you can select members, components, materials, bolts, holes or welds. Tip 3 explains how to select system connection materials, bolts and welds.

To select a user-added material when ' Default ' is the filter:
  selection filter
   
1 . Left-click ( Select ) a use-created material . 2 . The material (e.g., a shear stud ) turns the " Primary selection surface color " ( green in this example).

To select a connection component when ' Default ' or ' Components ' is the selection filter:
  selection filter
   
1 . Left-click ( Select ) any one connection material. 2 . The entire connection turns the " Primary selection surface color " ( green in this example).
To select a connection material when ' Default ' is the filter:
  selection filter
   
1 . Hover the material you want with your mouse pointer, right-click ( Menu ), then choose " Select Other " on the menu and select the material you want.   2 . The selected material turns the " Primary selection surface color " ( green in this example).

To select a member when ' Default ' is the selection filter:
  selection filter
   
1 . Left-click ( Select ) the main material of the member you want.   2 . The selected member turns the " Primary selection surface color " ( green in this example). 

To switch views when ' Default ' is the selection filter:
  selection filter
 
1 . Double-click the grid bubble (or name) of the straight grid line whose view you want to open. 2 . That erection view opens. This is a direct alternative to Open View .

Tip 1: You can use the context menu to select a member main material regardless of the filter. To do this, right-click ( Menu ) in Select Items mode.

Tip 2: If ' All ' is selected, you can select construction lines and circles and grid lines in addition to all of the other classes of items that are selectable when the ' Default ' filter is used.

Tip 3: To select or review system connection bolts, welds or materials instead of their connection, right-click ( Menu ) then choose " Select Other ..." or " Review Other ..." on the context menu .

page 1 | contents | model > set selection filter | top


   The ' Legacy Default ' selection filter

VIDEO How various selection filters affect the selection of a connection component in a full-featured SDS2 program. In Site Planning, connection components, members and materials are reviewable, but not editable. (Recorded in SDS2 Detailing , v2015.)

VIDEO When the Modeling selection filter is ' Default ' or ' Legacy Default ' or ' All ," you can double-click a straight grid line to open the erection view that is associated with it. (Recorded in SDS2 Detailing , v2015.)

The ' Default ' and ' All ' filters do not allow you to select/review individual materials, bolts or welds that are parts of a connection component or custom component . If you want to select/review individual elements (e.g., materials) of a component in the model, you can use the ' Legacy Default ' filter or right-click and choose ' Select Other ' or ' Review Other ' on the menu . Also, you could use the ' Material ' or ' Bolts ' or ' Welds ' or ' Holes ' filters.

When ' Legacy Default ' is the selection filter:

page 1 | contents | model > set selection filter | top


   To select items ' By Expression '

1 . Select ' By Expression ' as the selection filter, or choose Model > Selection Filter by Expression .

Possibility 1 : If this is the first time in your current Modeling session that you set the ' By Expression ' filter, the Selection Filter by Expression window opens. The Selection Filter by Expression window always opens if you chose Model > Selection Filter by Expression . Go to step 2.

Possibility 2 : If you previously set the ' By Expression ' filter in your current Modeling session, skip steps 2 and 3. Go to step 4.

2 . On the Selection Filter by Expression window, you can do combinations of the following:

Press the " Open ... " button to load a selection script that has already been created.

Enter new code to the " Code " text-entry area.

Press the " Save... " button to save any script you have defined on the Selection Filter by Expression window under a file name of your choosing.

3 . After you are satisfied that the Selection Filter by Expression window defines the script the way you want it to be run, press the " OK " button to close that window. Note that if the script launches a dialog, you will have to make appropriate entries on that dialog.

4 . Draw an area box to select items in the model (or select items in some other way). Only those items that meet the selection criteria in the script can be selected when this filter is set. Please note the following:

The selection count tells you how many items are selected.

Items that are selected are displayed in the " Primary selection color ."

To review the selected items, right-click ( Menu ) then choose " Revoew " on the context menu . Be aware that the selected items need to be alike if you want to review multiple members of the same type or review multiple materials or review multiple bolts or review multiple holes or review multiple welds .

page 1 | contents | model > set selection filter | top


   ' Group Members ' and ' Members in Groups ' selection filters :

  • Selecting the ' Group members ' selection filter limits selectability to group members. Options on the context menu that are available for group members include Show Detail . Group members can also be selected when ' Default ' is the selection filter.
  • Selecting the ' Members in Groups ' selection filter limits selectability to individual members that are parts of groups.
  • To select/review members in groups with the ' Default ' or ' All ' or ' Group Members ' filter selected, hover a group member, invoke the context menu , then choose " Select Other " or " Review Other " and select the desired member.

page 1 | contents | model > set selection filter | top


   The ' Material Construction Lines ' selection filter :

VIDEO This is mostly about deleting material construction lines . Toward the end of the video, the ' Material Construction Lines ' selection filter is discussed in the context of the Drawing Editor . (Recorded in SDS2 Detailing , v7.3.)
  • Material construction lines are construction lines ( or construction circles ) that have been added using Model > Construction Lines > Construction Line Add Material . They are marked internally to be distinct from other construction lines. Selecting the ' Material Construction Lines ' selection filter limits selectability to material construction lines.

page 1 | contents | model > set selection filter | top


   The ' Model Dimensions ' selection filter :

VIDEO The selection filter toolbar item is set to ' Model Dimensions '. An area box is drawn to select dimensions. Model > Dimension > Save is invoked. On the File Explorer window that opens, the user types in a file name then presses the " Save " button. (Recorded in SDS2 Detailing , v2017.)

  • The ' Model Dimensions ' filter limits selectabilty to model dimensions, which are dimensions that have been added to the model using Model > Dimension > Add or Model > Dimension > Load or Dimension Clearance or Dimension Members .
  • The filter was designed specifically for use with Model > Dimension > Save .
  • To delete model dimensions one at a time, you can select them using the ' Model Dimensions ' filter, then hit the Delete key.

page 1 | contents | model > set selection filter | top


  The ' Connection Components ' and ' Custom Components ' selection filters :

The ' Connection Components ' filter limits selectability to connection components .

  • A connection component is an SDS2 member end connection which is created during connection design .
  • With the ' Connection Components ' filter active, you can double-click any connection material , connection bolt or connection weld that makes up a system end connection in order to review that connection on its own Connection Component window.
  • The Connection Component window also opens if you double-click a connection material, connection bolt or connection weld using the ' Default ' or ' All ' filter. If you single-click one connection material, connection bolt or connection weld, the entire connection is selected.

The ' Custom Components ' filter limits selectability to custom components .

  • A custom component is parametrically generated when it is added to a member in Modeling in a full-featured SDS2 program.
  • With the ' Custom Components ' filter active, selecting any material, bolt or weld that is part of a custom component selects the entire custom component (all of its materials). Double-clicking a material of that custom component opens the custom component window.
  • The custom component window also opens if you double-click a custom component material, bolt or weld using the ' Default ' or ' All ' filter.
VIDEO Custom components can be selected when ' All ' or ' Default ' or ' Custom Components ' is the selection filter. However, components such as Safety Holes , which does not generate a material, must be selected in the Model Tree . (Recorded in SDS2 Detailing , v2015.)

Also see:

  • The Model Tree can also be used to select components.
  • If you want to select/review individual elements of a connection component or custom component, you can use the ' Legacy Default ' filter.

page 1 | contents | model > set selection filter | top


  The ' Grid Lines ' selection filter :

VIDEO Double-clicking a grid line when the selection filter is ' Grid Lines ' or ' All ' opens the Erection View window. The " Finite " option on that window is then turned on and off. (Recorded in SDS2 Detailing , v2015.)

VIDEO When you set the selection filter to ' Grid Lines ' and have User and Site Options > Modeling > " Show balloon description " turned on, balloon help on the centers of curved grids is displayed when you hover them. Unchecking " Center of curved grid lines " in Display Options turns off the markers for those centers. (Recorded in SDS2 Detailing , v2015.)
  • Both curved grid lines and straight grid lines are selectable with this filter. They are not selectable using the ' Default ' filter.
  • With the ' Grid Lines ' filter active, you can select grid lines then hit the Delete key to delete them. You can also double-click a grid line (straight or curved) to open the Erection View window.
  • Multiple grid lines can be reviewed simultaneously by first selecting them, then doing a right-click and choosing " Review " on the context menu .
  • Related behavior in other filters:

    • When ' Default ' is the active selection filter , double-clicking the name of a straight grid line opens the view associated with that grid line -- a direct alternative to Open ( Ctrl + o ).
    • When the ' All ' selection filter is active, then double-clicking the grid line opens the Erection View window, whereas double-clicking the name of the grid line opens the view.

page 1 | contents | model > set selection filter | top


  The ' By Status Display ' selection filter :

VIDEO ' By Status Display ' is selected as the selection filter and configured to permit only stairs to be selected. (Recorded in SDS2 Detailing , v2017.)

VIDEO ' By Status Display ' is selected as the selection filter and configured to select holes that are in the specified range of diameters from 1 1/6 to 1 1/16. (Recorded in SDS2 Detailing , v2018.)

VIDEO ' By Status Display ' is selected as the selection filter and configured -- using Status Display > Member status > Member type -- to select handrail members. (Recorded in SDS2 Detailing , v2017.)

1 . The Status Display window opens when you select this filter. On that window, enter one or more conditions by which you want to select items.

2 . Draw by area box around an area in your model.

3 . Of all of the items that are within that area box that you drew in step 2, only those items that satisfy the condition(s) you specified in step 1 are selected.

Note: User and Site Options > Modeling > " Level of detail " must be sufficient if you want to be able to select items such as bolts or holes using the ' By Status Display ' selection filter.

Also see: Model > Status Select ( )

page 1 | contents | model > set selection filter | top