Skip to content

Entity Input

This page explains how to select entities (lines, arcs, circles, polylines, text, blocks, etc.) in VektorCAD. You can build selection sets before starting a command (pre‑selection) or when the command prompts for objects (post‑selection). Use the mouse for direct picking and windows, and the keyboard for precise/filtered selection.

Selection workflow

  • Pre‑selection: click/drag to select, then start a command (e.g., Move). The command uses the current selection set.
  • Post‑selection: start a command first; at the Select entities prompt, pick with mouse and/or use keyboard options.
  • ESC once clears the current selection; ESC again usually cancels the command.

Selected entities highlight; grips appear if the command allows grip‑editing.

Mouse selection

Single pick

  • Click an entity to add it to the selection set.
  • Shift+click removes from the set (toggle). (You can change this behavior in Settings → Drafting → Selection.)

Window vs Crossing (rectangular)

  • Window (Left‑to‑Right drag): selects only entities entirely inside the rectangle.
  • Crossing (Right‑to‑Left drag): selects entities inside or touching the rectangle border.

Tip: The cursor or frame color/style indicates whether you’re creating a Window or a Crossing area.

Polygon windows

  • Polygon Window: draw a multi‑segment closed shape; selects entities entirely inside.
  • Polygon Crossing: draw a polygon; selects entities inside or crossing the boundary.
  • Use this to isolate complex regions more precisely than rectangles.

Lasso (press‑drag freehand)

  • Press and hold the left button and drag to lasso.
  • Direction determines type: L‑to‑R for Window, R‑to‑L for Crossing.

Fence

  • Draw a single polyline (“fence”). Any entity intersecting the fence is selected.
  • Best for selecting many edges along a path without enclosing large areas.

Selection cycling (overlaps)

  • When multiple entities overlap at the cursor, hover briefly; then press TAB to cycle through candidates and click when the desired one highlights.
  • Zooming in also helps separate close geometry.

Add / remove / invert

  • Click adds; Shift+click removes; Ctrl+click toggles (if enabled).
  • Use the context menu for Invert Selection (selects everything except current picks) and Clear Selection.

Non‑selectable items

  • Entities on locked/hidden layers, or frozen in the current view, cannot be selected.
  • External references/underlays may require enabling “Allow selection of underlay” in settings.

Keyboard selection (during “Select entities” prompt)

Type these shortcuts and press Enter (or follow the on‑screen command line prompts). Most options then ask for points—enter them by mouse or by coordinates (x,y or @dx,dy) just like Point Input.

  • ALL — selects every visible, selectable entity.
  • L (Last) — selects the most recently created entity(ies).
  • P (Previous) — re‑selects the previous selection set.
  • W (Window) — then pick/type first corner and opposite corner.
  • C (Crossing) — then pick/type corners; selects inside or touching.
  • WP (Window Polygon) — pick polygon vertices, Enter to finish.
  • CP (Crossing Polygon) — polygon that selects inside or touching.
  • F (Fence) — pick fence vertices, Enter to finish.
  • G (Group/Named Selection, if enabled) — type group name to select.

You can mix keyboard windows with precision: e.g., W then type 0,0 and 100,50 to define an exact rectangular window.

Selection filters

Use Select Similar and Selection Filter to quickly build sets by properties.

Select Similar

  • Right‑click on a picked entity → Select Similar to add all entities with matching properties (e.g., type, layer, linetype, color, block name; configurable).
  • Great for selecting all dimensions, all walls on a layer, etc.

Selection Filter (property query)

  • Open Selection Filter from the status bar or context menu.
  • Build rules such as:
  • Type = Polyline AND Layer = Walls
  • Type = Circle AND Radius ≥ 10
  • Color = ByLayer AND Closed = True
  • Apply to current drawing; optionally Save as a named filter and Reuse later.

Grips and preview

  • Selected entities show grips. Hover a grip to see the action (Move, Stretch, Rotate, Scale depending on grip type).
  • Click‑drag a grip to perform quick edits without starting a command.
  • Many commands display a rubber‑band/preview while you pick points, distances, and angles.

Context menu (while selecting)

Right‑click during selection to access common actions (availability may vary by command and selection size):

  • Select Similar
  • Selection Filter…
  • Invert Selection / Clear Selection
  • Isolate Layer / Hide Others / Unisolate
  • Add to Group / Remove from Group (if groups are enabled)
  • Lock/Unlock Layer (for the picked entity’s layer)
  • Properties (open properties panel for the selection)

Quick reference

Goal Mouse/Keyboard action Notes
Select a few specific objects Click each; Shift+click to deselect TAB to cycle if overlapping.
Select an area only inside Window (drag L→R) or W → two corners Excludes partially crossing entities.
Select area inside or touching Crossing (drag R→L) or C → two corners Faster for dense selections.
Select along a path F then pick fence vertices Anything touching the fence is selected.
Repeat a prior set P (Previous) Handy for iterative edits.
Grab the last created L (Last) Newly drawn items.
Select by properties Select Similar / Selection Filter… Match type/layer/props; save filters.

Tip

Build sets in passes: use Crossing to get most, Shift+click to remove extras, then Select Similar to sweep the rest.

Note

Can’t pick something? Check if its layer is locked/hidden, or if the entity is part of a protected block or external reference. Enable appropriate selection options in Settings → Drafting → Selection.