DesignSpark Mechanical Online Help

Free form selection

The Using Lasso mode is found in the menu under the Select tool in the Edit ribbon group on the Design2D or 3D model that contains at least one top-level component. tab, and also in the radial menu. You can access this menu while almost any tool is active. For example, if you want to change selection modes while the PullTool used to distort or deform geometry. Use the Pull tool to offset, extrude, revolve, sweep, draft, and blend faces; or to round, chamfer, or extrude edges. When converting a sketch to 3D, pulling a line creates a surface and pulling a surface creates a solid. tool is active, just click the arrow under Select. The PullTool used to distort or deform geometry. Use the Pull tool to offset, extrude, revolve, sweep, draft, and blend faces; or to round, chamfer, or extrude edges. When converting a sketch to 3D, pulling a line creates a surface and pulling a surface creates a solid. tool will remain active.

This select mode enables you to draw a free form shape in the Design windowArea in the user interface that displays your model or assembly. Also known as Workspace. to select objects for most tools. As you draw, objects are highlighted (after a slight delay) to help you see exactly what will be selected.

In the animation below, lasso mode is used with the selection filter set to Smart (the default) to select the entire part. You can see vertices, edges, and faces highlighted for selection as the shape is drawn. You can release the mouse button at any time and a straight line is drawn from the beginning point to the current point to complete the shape, and everything within the shape will be selected.

To select by drawing a freeform shape

1. Click the arrow beneath the Select tool and click Using Lasso, or click and hold in the Design windowArea in the user interface that displays your model or assembly. Also known as Workspace. to activate the radial menu and then select Lasso.

2. (Optional) Use the Selection Filter in the status bar to change the type of objects that will be selected.

   The Smart option is enabled by default and whenever you switch to another tool. Select Smart to select the highest checked item in the list that is found in the boxed, lassoed, or painted area. Drawing a box or freeform shape selects objects in the following order:

   • In a Design2D or 3D model that contains at least one top-level component. Window: BodyA solid or surface., FaceSide or other surface of a solid. Some examples are the inside surface of a hole or the six sides of a rectangular solid. See Surface., Edge3D object composed of a single outside boundary of a feature. A line sketched in 2D becomes an edge when you pull your sketch into 3D., Sketch, AnnotationInformation you can add to a drawing, such as notes, dimensions, geometric tolerances, center marks, and Bills of Materials., PlaneConstruction geometry consisting of a flat surface. Planes can be used for a 2D sketch, section view of a model, a neutral plane in a draft feature., AxisStraight line that an object rotates around or that objects are regularly arranged around. See Alignment axis., PointSingle location in the sketch grid. 2-D object that has no height, width, or length. The origin, an axis, and a vertex are examples of points. Use the Point tool to sketch a point on the sketch grid. Points are useful as a dimensional reference, for splitting, and for creating a point on a line or curve through which you want to draw a three-point circle.

   • In a Drawing Window: AnnotationInformation you can add to a drawing, such as notes, dimensions, geometric tolerances, center marks, and Bills of Materials., Sketch, BodyA solid or surface., FaceSide or other surface of a solid. Some examples are the inside surface of a hole or the six sides of a rectangular solid. See Surface., Edge3D object composed of a single outside boundary of a feature. A line sketched in 2D becomes an edge when you pull your sketch into 3D., PlaneConstruction geometry consisting of a flat surface. Planes can be used for a 2D sketch, section view of a model, a neutral plane in a draft feature., AxisStraight line that an object rotates around or that objects are regularly arranged around. See Alignment axis., PointSingle location in the sketch grid. 2-D object that has no height, width, or length. The origin, an axis, and a vertex are examples of points. Use the Point tool to sketch a point on the sketch grid. Points are useful as a dimensional reference, for splitting, and for creating a point on a line or curve through which you want to draw a three-point circle.

   Deselect Smart to select all the selected object types. Click to select or clear the types of objects you want to select.

3. Start drawing a shape in the Design windowArea in the user interface that displays your model or assembly. Also known as Workspace.. Click and hold the left mouse button at the spot where you want to start drawing the shape.

4. Hold the mouse button and draw a shape in the Design windowArea in the user interface that displays your model or assembly. Also known as Workspace..

   You can make multiple loops, like drawing a figure 8.

5. Release the mouse button to complete the shape.

   The shape will be closed by a straight line between your starting and ending points when you release the mouse button.

   Everything except inserted images is selected when you release the mouse button.

You can activate Lasso mode by holding the Alt key while the Select tool is active. This hotkey only works when you are using the Select tool, and not when another tool is active.

Example

Selecting three surfaces by drawing multiple loops