Default Operator: QSELECT (Quick Select)

[DEckel-GWAL]

Is there a way to change the default Operator for QSELECT??

As you can see, when the QSELECT tool opens, the default operator is set to "= Equals" with an associated value of "ByLayer". I have to change it to "select All" every time I use it, or else it imposes the unwanted filter (colour = Equals ByLayer). It is tedious and irritating for me to have to manually remove this imposed filter to select ALL objects of a certain type (which is my main use for the QSELECT tool).

I would like the Operator field to default to "Select All", because I rarely filter by anything other than object type.

From a logical standpoint, it makes more sense to start from a fully "non-filtered" slate, and then refine the selection conditions as you progress down the options, ONLY if/when you intentionally want further conditions. ie. it does not make logical sense to start with a conditional filter already imposed.

Can somebody PLEASE save me from these frequent & unnecessary mouse-clicks!! I can't be the only one who finds this irritating. LOL

(Product Version: S.51.0.0 AutoCAD 2022)

[cheryl.buck · Accepted solution]

Hi @DEckel-GWAL,

I see that you are visiting as a new member to the AutoCAD forum. Welcome to the Autodesk Community!

That is a great question. Although there does not seem to be a way to change the Quick Select default settings, I agree this would be a great addition to the program and encourage you to submit the suggestion to the Product Feedback for future consideration. 

All the best, 

[AVCPlugins]

It is obvious that you do not need a complex tool for selecting objects by properties. Try to simply select the reference object and use commands to select similar objects. For example, the standard _SELECTSIMILAR command, or the smarter Avc_SelectSame plugin.

[DEckel-GWAL]

Thanks @cheryl.buck,

I'll take your advice and submit it as product feedback.

[DEckel-GWAL]

@AVCPlugins 

Thanks for the recommendation. I configured SELECTSIMILAR to ignore all its property filters, and now it does almost exactly what I wanted. I hadn't ever used that command before, so it stumped me at the beginning.

As for your other suggestion, Unfortunately, since I use AutoCAD in a corporate environment, I cannot simply add plugins whenever I please... so, I can't take you up on trialing your custom tool that you've shamelessly plugged. Thanks tho.

[Kent1Cooper]

Have you looked into the FILTER command?  It starts with no filtering, and you add whatever filtering elements you need.  It may take a little getting used to, and have its own version of what seem unnecessary clicks to you, but you may find it more suited to your workflow than QSELECT.  And, it has the option to Save defined filter combinations for re-use, so if you have a repeated need, you don't need to construct the filter list every time.

[pendean]

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@DEckel-GWAL wrote:

For my own curiosity, are you confidently stating that you know the QSELECT default options are definitely not assignable? 

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You got the answer. No. Try using Action Recorder and see if that can help (I have not tried it), or hop over to one of the customization boards that can help you create a custom solution just for you, take it as far as you wish https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/autocad-customization/ct-p/AutoCADTopic1

FWIW the person you are quizzing is with Autodesk focused on all thing AutoCAD and knows what they are talking about 😉

[DEckel-GWAL]

thanks @pendean 

I see that now. I'm still getting used to the environment here in the forums, and I now see that Cheryl is with AutoDesk, and she provided a knowledgeable answer.

again, not trying to come up with a plugin or custom solution, just asking for the definitive answer to whether the QSELECT feature could be reconfigured with user-defined defaults. As you said, it appears I've got my answer. Thanks!

[cheryl.buck]

Hi @DEckel-GWAL,

Thank you for clarifying, I would say I am fairly confident. I am very familiar with the Quick Select functionality, but have not found much in the way of available settings for it. 

That being said, I know the program is quite involved and could have easily missed it, so I also reviewed the product documentation for the Quick Select function and searched the Knowledge Base. I also didn't see any registry keys that control this default value. 

I did see that @Kent1Cooper and @Kent1Cooper provided a couple alternate suggestions that might work well for you. I hope they help.  

All the best, 

[DEckel-GWAL]

thanks @Kent1Cooper - I'll dabble with FILTER to acquaint myself more with it. It looks useful, but on first glance I think QSELECT is closer to my perfect solution. 

[Kent1Cooper]

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@DEckel-GWAL wrote:

.... I want to ignore all "properties" filters, layers, etc, and simply select ALL objects of a type across the entire model, with as few mouse clicks as possible. (ie. select ALL hatches + [ENTER], and it returns all the hatches of any layer, any colour, any linetype, etc.) ....

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There are settings in SELECTSIMILAR to limit what properties it pays attention to, so you can have it ignore those if you want.

But if you have a limited number of that kind of need, you can define little command names for them, and/or put them in Tool Palette items.  For your example, put this in a Tool Palette button:

^C^C(sssetfirst nil (ssget "_X" '((0 . "HATCH"))))

Pick on that button -- one click, and all Hatches will be selected/highlighted/gripped, to do with what you want.

Or define a command name, and you can type it in if you'd rather do that than find a button or menu item.  This defines a SAH command for Select All Hatches [but call it whatever you prefer in place of that]:

(defun C:SAH (); = Select All Hatches

  (sssetfirst nil (ssget "_X" '((0 . "HATCH"))))

)

With a little editing, you can make the same for other things -- SAL for Select All Lines, SAT for Select All Text, etc.