topic Re: Disable/Prevent XREF Selection in AutoCAD Forum

Disable/Prevent XREF Selection

LuisMCosta — Mon, 13 Mar 2017 11:38:19 GMT

Hello everyobdy,

Is there a way to disable/prevent selection of XREF elements? I want to have it in my drawing but unable to be selected.

Thx in advance

Re: Disable/Prevent XREF Selection

imadHabash — Mon, 13 Mar 2017 12:03:20 GMT

HI,

since your xref appeared at your screen this means that it will be selectable item. BUT if you lock the xref layers,this will help some how on your work.

Re: Disable/Prevent XREF Selection

rkmcswain — Mon, 13 Mar 2017 12:00:25 GMT

Put the Xrefs on one or more unique layers, and lock those one or more layers.

Re: Disable/Prevent XREF Selection

Kent1Cooper — Mon, 13 Mar 2017 14:06:04 GMT

Putting XREFs on locked Layers will prevent altering them [Erasing, Moving, etc.], but as @imadHabash mentioned, will not prevent them from being selected. [You could, for example, still select them to view their Properties, whether in the Properties box or a LIST command, or use elements in them as EXTEND or TRIM or HATCH boundaries.]

If you want them to be entirely unselectable for any reason, there is one way I know of to do that, but it's a rather weird workaround, and you may have several good reasons not to do it. But if not, it "works": put them on the DEFPOINTS Layer, and turn off or freeze Layer 0. For some reason, when Layer 0 is off or frozen, things on the DEFPOINTS Layer are still visible, but can't be either selected or Osnapped to.

Re: Disable/Prevent XREF Selection

Anonymous — Tue, 12 Dec 2017 18:27:12 GMT

Sorry for bumping this but this thing has been driving me mad, I keep selecting the xref and it throws me off my flow 😉

I'm _very_ new to the whole AutoCAD thing and I'm having some trouble figuring out how to move the xref to the DEFPOINTS layer.

Where and how do I do that?

Think it's kind of odd that this thing isn't default or easier to change, cause why would you like to be able to select the "background"? Or am I completely missing the point and use of the xref?

Oh, I forgot, hi all! 😉

Re: Disable/Prevent XREF Selection

rkmcswain — Tue, 12 Dec 2017 18:33:32 GMT

sutnoppontus wrote:

.... how to move the xref to the DEFPOINTS layer.

Where and how do I do that?

It's actually no different than changing the layer of any other entity. Select the entity and then in the Properties palette, change the layer.

Re: Disable/Prevent XREF Selection

Anonymous — Tue, 12 Dec 2017 19:03:01 GMT

Thanks for a quick answer!

But I'm afraid it didn't help, cause even if I do like that the thing I have in xref only reacts to if I make the xref layer visible or not, nothing happens when I do the same for defpoints and the xref is still possible to select in the drawing. 😞

Re: Disable/Prevent XREF Selection

Patchy — Tue, 12 Dec 2017 19:07:13 GMT

Turn OFF layer zero too

Re: Disable/Prevent XREF Selection

Kent1Cooper — Tue, 12 Dec 2017 19:12:40 GMT

@sutnoppontus wrote:

.... the xref is still possible to select in the drawing. 😞

... or Freeze Layer 0 -- either Off or Frozen works [see the end of Post 4].

Betreff: Disable/Prevent XREF Selection

cadffm — Tue, 12 Dec 2017 19:27:22 GMT

Guys, please not propulate this scary way.
Crying loud, Sebastian.

Re: Disable/Prevent XREF Selection

Anonymous — Tue, 12 Dec 2017 19:52:16 GMT

Yes I did so before my previous post but maybe I'm experiencing a different issue than what's talked about in this thread. Kind of difficult to keep track on all of these new expressions. Think I'll need to try getting help a little more "hands on" or something.

Betreff: Disable/Prevent XREF Selection

Kent1Cooper — Tue, 12 Dec 2017 19:53:32 GMT

I agree that it's not advisable to either user the DEFPOINTS Layer for things that are not Definition Points, or turn off or freeze Layer 0. But I don't know of any other way for something to be visible but neither selectable nor Osnappable. If that's what they really need, this may be the only way. But I would also encourage them to find another way to control what's happening, if possible.

Betreff: Disable/Prevent XREF Selection

cadffm — Tue, 12 Dec 2017 20:40:12 GMT

Yes, there is no other ootb solution.
Only (other) way for fullversion-user is small a program extension to controle the selection.

---
20-30 lines for basic Lisp code. Should possible to find working code. Keyword for sourcecode: vlr-miscellaneous-reactor and ssgetfirst.

Re: Disable/Prevent XREF Selection

Haider_of_Sweden — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 08:49:33 GMT

@Kent1Cooper wrote:
If you want them to be entirely unselectable for any reason, there is one way I know of to do that, but it's a rather weird workaround, and you may have several good reasons not to do it. But if not, it "works": put them on the DEFPOINTS Layer, and turn off or freeze Layer 0. For some reason, when Layer 0 is off or frozen, things on the DEFPOINTS Layer are still visible, but can't be either selected or Osnapped to.

Oldie but goldie.

This trick works, thank you @Kent1Cooper , but I am trying to understand why. I also try to understand if I can put the Xref in another layer with the same result.

Any new info on this one?

Re: Disable/Prevent XREF Selection

ВeekeeCZ — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 11:06:01 GMT

I love THIS free app, made by R. Stima. One of the must-have apps on my list.

The app allows you to set for each XREF whether it would be selectable or/and snappable.

Re: Disable/Prevent XREF Selection

Haider_of_Sweden — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 20:28:16 GMT

@ВeekeeCZ wrote:
I love THIS free app, made by R. Stima. One of the must-have apps on my list.
The app allows you to set for each XREF whether it would be selectable or/and snappable.

Thanks for the tip. I will try it out soon. But for the sake of my curiosity, I'd like to know if there is a built in method as well.

Or: if someone knows the reason why the previously mentioned workaround with Defpoints works.

Re: Disable/Prevent XREF Selection

Haider_of_Sweden — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 07:03:48 GMT

Coulldn't edit my post, to I'll reply instead.

"Xref Tools Extra" by Richard Stima is really cool. However, you need to have the tool installed for eg "Selectable" to work.

If you only need this feature while you're working on your project, then it should be fine. If however you want the effect to be present in the project the whole time, then the workaround (defpoint) is the option you have today.

Therefore, if anyone could provide another solution or explanation, it would benefit the community.

Re: Disable/Prevent XREF Selection

RobDraw — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 12:36:53 GMT

There is no direct way to make anything unselectable.

Re: Disable/Prevent XREF Selection

susanne.mirsoyanH9BD2 — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 09:39:34 GMT

1. Go to Options

2. Choose Selection (at the end)

3. Under Preview, click Visual Effect Settings...

4. Under Selection Preview Filter check the Xrefs under Exclude.

Re: Disable/Prevent XREF Selection

RobDraw — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 11:37:19 GMT

@susanne.mirsoyanH9BD2 wrote:
1. Go to Options
2. Choose Selection (at the end)
3. Under Preview, click Visual Effect Settings...
4. Under Selection Preview Filter check the Xrefs under Exclude.

That's visual settings. It does nothing to prevent selection.