How to use efficient select tool in CATIA

The select tool in CATIA is very easy to use and save you a huge time when you need to select multiple type of parts (points, lines, curves, etc.) because this tool can make selection by multiples criteria’s like color, type of parts, name of parts from tree and more.

I will try to be explicit, and I’ll show you how easy is to make custom selection. To do that we have two methods: the first method takes less time and have a simple interface, you only need to type few commands and it called Status bar. The second method is called Search and can be accessed using the combination CTRL+F.

Method 1 – Status bar

This method allows you to:

• Launch commands: “c:open” launches the “Open” command;
• Select objects (using a simple language) based on color, type, name and set criteria;
• Input data more productively, replacing certain dialog boxes.

In order, to make a selection just put the cursor on the dedicated area and type a simple syntax. I will show you some commands that you need to type here.

• Color=blue;all – select all elements colored in blue;
• Name=sol;all – select all elements with the exact name “sol”
• Type=*;all – select all elements from tree;

Tip – If you want to select by name more elements which begin or end in some characters you should type:

• Name=point*;all – to select all elements that begins with point;
• Name=*int;all – to select all elements that ends with int;

Method 2 – Search (CTRL + F)

The second method looks more user friendly, and has also more useful functions to select elements with more accuracy. I recommend to activate the more button to expand the list of select options. As before, we have now the possibility to make same selections but using the mouse now without typing.

The best function of this method is the Look Function, where you can select the location of elements where you want to select (Everywhere, Visible on Screen, From current section, etc.) After you made all criteria’s, now you must launch the selection with two commands available Search and Search and Select.

I like to use this method for lines, because we can select types of lines (dashed, weight) and also the Symbol of Points.

Both methods are very useful when you have a lot of elements and you want to eliminate the one-by-one selection.

Personally, I use frequently this method to change for example the representation of points and color, to make some lines and curves more visible and others less visible, to group Lines and Points in different geometrical sets and more.

Think for a moment, how hard is to select 100 points to make a geometrical set from these? Personally, I need some time, to change the name of 30-40 the points from standard names to other formats like that Q9xxx. When I created the point I redefine also the name, but I needed also to change the color, the representation of point from x to asterisk. I make a selection using name=Q9*;all and I make both changes in one for all points. Nice, isn’t it?