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Tools tab > Utilities group > Property filter, SIEVE |
With this function, you can filter objects with complicated filtering criteria or conditions. You can create a "selection set" using property filter, then launch a function i.e. modify and then enter the keyword "previous" to select these filtered objects. The filtered objects can also be set as selection for grip edit when you can modify their properties i.e. in properties window.
The filtering option lists are set according to active drawing. For example in the lists on the right only the object types found in active drawing are listed. Also only the layers, linetypes and symbols that are in active drawing are listed.
Property filter may be set to be exactly the same (select =) or completely different (select <>) than the defined condition. Also less than and greater than (< or >) can be used if the condition is numeric.
If the filtering condition is alphanumeric (text) you can use wild character (*). This wild character can be replaced by any text. For example expression "*" means that any text is suitable for this condition. Expression "A*" means that any text beginning with a letter 'A' is suitable. Filtering value can be empty too.
Select mode
Filtering may be set to have effect on all objects on current layout or only on selected objects (selection will be asked after you've clicked OK).
Check layers that are locked or turned off
This function checks also the objects that are on a layer that is locked or turned off. Selecting this may change the status of locked or turned off layers.
If the filter is on in the drawing it affects to selecting the objects. If you want to ignore filter setting select the option Ignore filter setting.
Reverse selection -option is used to select elements that doesn't match with filtering conditions instead of those that meets the filtering conditions.
Pick property filters
Using this function it is possible to pick one element which properties will be used as a filter settings. After picking element all available properties will be displayed in separate window. Selected properties will be then used automatically in property filter.
Use of the property filters
This defines whether all the filter conditions must match (select AND) or is it enough that anyone (select OR) of the filter conditions matches.
Use of the filtered objects
Objects filtered using property filter can be used in selection in the command launched right after the property filter command. For example it is easy to select all red objects with property filter and then delete them using ERASE command (erase previous).
The filtered objects can be used in next command as a previous selection set or as selection for grip edit when you can modify their properties i.e. in properties window. These options are Set objects to previous selection set and Set objects to grip edit.
How to use selected objects:
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Select objects using property filter
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Launch a function (command), for example Edit > Mirror.
If you selected Set objects to grip edit (see grip edit), no selection is required anymore. The mirror command mirrors the selected objects. -
If you selected Set objects to previous selection set, you can use the keyword Previous to select the filtered objects.