Substract command not working for a practice scenario

[evrod20]

Hey guys,

I am learning Autocad 3D. I am using a MAC. I am practicing using a course on Linkedin and everything was working fine until I got to the substract part. I'll sum up my process (file attached).

1. I used the command region to "fill" the circles.
2. I used extrude to create the solid object. I had to use selection cycling.
3. I need to use substract now to create the final "design".

1. Just to clarify, those are the steps the instructor gave us. Might seem like a weird practice, but it is just an exercise to learn the boolean options. Can anyone help me understand what I am doing wrong?

2. Second question. How do I set up the "selection cycling" to stay on my menu bar instead of using CTRL + W all the time? Couldn't find the option. Only for selection filtering.

[paullimapa · Accepted solution]

For Selection Cycling Setting:

https://help.autodesk.com/view/ACDMAC/2024/ENU/?guid=GUID-08FA6975-49A7-4029-A3F3-ABDA3B2A7122

For Subtract:

You're doing everything right. For visual effects I created a Layer called Circles & assigned it a Green color.

Then I changed all 3 Circles to that Layer.

Then I entered the following:

Command: Subtract

At the Select solids... prompt I selected the overall 3d Object (Red color) which is what you want to subtract from

And then press Enter to complete that selection.

Now with the previous selected 3d Object (Red color) unhighlighted select the 3 Circles (Green color):

Again press Enter to complete that selection

Now the original 3d Object (Red color) has those 3 Circular areas subtracted:

[maxim_k · Accepted solution]

Hi @evrod20 ,

I think you have problem with SUBTRACT command because you turn on Selection Cycling.

On Mac there the Selection dialog box:

never appears when Selection Cycling is on and you select overlapping objects. And this is "by design" on Mac.

So when Selection Cycling is on and you pick the object you need to subtract (the second selection set inside SUBTRACT command), it actually doesn't get selected. You need to pick it for the second time and then hit Return to subtract it from the first object.

So when Selection Cycling is on the sequence of actions will be like this:

1/ Start SUBTRACT command

2/ Select object(s) you want to subtract from

3/ Hit Return

4/ Select object you want to subtract from the first selection in step #2

5/ If the object you want to subtract in step #4 overlaps with some other object - pick it again, you should see "Select objects: 1 found" in the Command window

6/ Now hit Return - object selected in step #4 will be subtracted from the object you selected in step #2

You see that such a way is very complex.

But if Selection Cycling is off the steps for SUBTRACT command will be:

1/ Start SUBTRACT command

2/ Select object(s) you want to subtract from

3/ Hit Return

4/ Select objects you want to subtract from the selection set in step #2

5/ Hit Return

The conclusion is the following - do not activate Selection Cycling when you use SUBTRACT command in AutoCAD for Mac.

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@evrod20 wrote:

........

2. Second question. How do I set up the "selection cycling" to stay on my menu bar instead of using CTRL + W all the time? Couldn't find the option. Only for selection filtering.

---

There is no way to show "Selection Cycling" toggle on the Status Bar on Mac, you can use only CTRL + W shortcut to toggle Selection Cycling on and off.

[evrod20 · Accepted solution]

wow such a clear explanation and all because of a command turned on... thank you so much!

[evrod20]

Great Thank you so much for your help.

[paullimapa]

glad to have helped...cheers!!!