Select all objects in multiple layers

[Anonymous]

I want to select all objects in several layers (let's say 4 layers).

Why is something utterly straightforward like this so stunningly complicated in AutoCAD?

FILTER does not show any options or a dialog. Not sure why not. 

QSELECT only allows me to select all objects in the entire drawing. Not sure why the hell that's useful. 

[Alexander.Rivilis · Accepted solution]

(sssetfirst nil (ssget "_X" '((8 . "Layer1,Layer2,Layer3,Layer4"))))

Try this code in commandline. Only change bold string with your layers delimited with comas.

[Victoria.Studley · Accepted solution]

Hi @Anonymous,

Welcome to the Autodesk Community, and thank you for posting your question here in the AutoCAD Architecture forum!

I'm just checking in to see if you need more help with this. Did the suggestion that @Alexander.Rivilis provided work for you?

If not (or if you don't want to use code to accomplish this), you could also use the QSELECT command to select all objects on one layer, then use it again to add to the selection set all of the objects on another layer.

If one or more of these posts helped answer your question, please click Accept as Solution on the posts that helped you so others in the community can find them easily.

[Vinayv4v · Accepted solution]

Hello,

Use LAYERISOLATE & LAYERUNISOLATE.

LAYI > Select one object from each layer you need

LAYUN to restore back.

Or use SELECTSIMILAR 

[dbroad · Accepted solution]

You've gotten several good answers.  Your assertion about qselect though is incorrect.  You can filter by layer with qselect and can build a selection by several executions of qselect. 

You can also use the layer manager to isolate whatever combination of layers you want. Beginners should note that nested objects cannot be selected except by ncopy.

[Anonymous]

This is the solution that makes the most sense from a UX and task logic standpoint. 

Still, I find it infuriating and baffling that something so simple requires any procedure beyond a single click. It would be easy to add such a thing to the layer manager. 

Thank you for all the help, community!

[stevenXGGTQ]

Yes, for any CAD developers, please see Rhino's "Select Objects" and "Select Sublayer Objects" Layer manager functionality 

[ziga_volavsek]

Another way to do it:

1. Hide or freeze layers with objects you don't want to select
2. Select all remaining objects (ctrl+A)

[jskalaXDDX5]

I agree that Filter options seem to me to be a bit limited.  At one point I wanted a way to create a CUI macro that would Erase everything on a chosen Layer.  I tried Filters but ended up having better luck using Layer States.

But my workflow only requires a hand full of Layers and I always assumed Layer States might not be convenient for drafters using many Layers.

But @ziga_volavsek 's post on Ctrl A made me re-evaluate that.  I think a reasonable approach could be:

Layer Properties Manager, Ctrl A to select all Layers, Lock Icon to Lock all Layers 

Layer States Manager, create and save New Layer State (with all Layers Locked)

Edit Layer State to unlock the Layers you want to select

Double click to set the Layer State current and use Ctrl A to select the content on those Layers.

Not one click, but faster than Filter and the Layer State can be updated and edited...

Thanks for posting, @ziga_volavsek!