Also, don't forget the elegant refinements on the universal "Select All" command that Graphisoft implemented in a previous century. 😀
In most applications, you simply use Ctrl+A (Windows) Cmd+A (Mac) to select everything. In Archicad, that is how it works too, if you have the Arrow Tool active. But, Graphisoft took this simple standard and turned it into something far more powerful without adding a dialog, menu, or complex steps!
- Simply choose the tool that makes the stuff you want before using Ctrl+A/Cmd+A. If the Window tool is active, then this selects all windows, etc. This works in 3D too, so you can select all the windows in the whole building, just as easy.
- Use the Marque to draw a fence around an area where you want to Select All before selecting the relevant tool. Remember that the Marquee doesn't need to be rectangular and the Bold Marquee considers all stories and the light Marquee is limited to the current story. You can even use the Marquee to limit what you see in the 3D window, and then use the Select All in the 3D Window using the Tool of choice.
- Another reason to use a tool other than the Arrow tool for selecting anything is when you simply want to select a single item amongst the clutter of other things made with other tools. Just use the Shift Key to make your cursor switch to Select mode. For example, two walls and a Slab and a cabinet Object might have selection nodes in the corner of a room. If you want to edit the slab, just activate the Slab tool and use Shift to click on the corner and it will prefer to select the slab instead of the other elements. This also works with the magnetic selection mode that you can toggle on or off by holding down the Space bar at the same time.
- While we are on the topic, don't forget that the Arrow tool selection mode that allows selection by drawing a section box that is sensitive to a left-to-right motion vs. a right-to-left motion to control whether you want to select stuff that is entirely inside the selection box, or just partially in the selection box. This Arrow tool setting holds for using Shift while any other tool is active to get the smart selection capability described above.
- And lastly, another advantage of using specific tools with Shift to select rather than the Arrow tool, is that usually the thing you want to do after selecting something, is edit that something. If you have the Tool already active that made the thing that is selected, you can get better Pet Palette options for editing that particular thing.
Learning to avoid the Arrow Tool for most selection operations is often one of those habits that former Revit users have the most trouble with as new Archicad users.
But it's worth it! 😀
Ransom Ratcliff
RATCLIFF CONSULTING LLC
Charrette Venture Group
ArchiCAD 4.55 - 28
Apple M3 Max + Dell Precision Workstation
