Creating Custom Selection Scripts

Custom selection scripts allow objects in the current file to be selected or deselected according to user-specified criteria. The wide array of options in the command allows for very specific filtering and selection according to the defined selection requirements. No scripting knowledge is necessary.

The layer options must be set to Show/Snap/Modify Others to select objects on another layer.

To create a custom selection script:

1. Select Tools > Custom Selection.

The Custom Selection dialog box opens. Choose the desired options for the selection operation.

Click to show/hide the parameters.

Parameter	Description
Select	Selects the objects matching the specified criteria without affecting the existing selection status of other objects
Select Only	Deselects all objects prior to performing the selection operation
Deselect	Deselects any objects matching the specified criteria without affecting the selection status of other objects in the file
Execute Immediately	Performs the specified selection operation immediately upon exiting the Criteria dialog box; the operation criteria are not saved for future use
Create VectorScript	Saves the criteria and command options as a VectorScript that can be executed later
Create Python Script	Saves the criteria and command options as a Python script that can be executed later

2. Click Criteria to specify the selection criteria for the operation.

The Criteria dialog box opens.

 

3. Choose the desired criteria options.

The available operators depend on the type of parameter. Text parameters can use the * symbol to represent any set of characters, and the ? to represent any single character.

4. The number of objects in the file that meet the criteria displays.

Specify additional options, adding a new row of filter choices by clicking More Choices. To remove the most recently added row, click Fewer Choices.

Specify whether to also include objects that are part of symbols, plug-in objects, or viewport annotations.

5. Click OK.

If the Execute Immediately option is chosen, the selection operation is now performed. If one of the create script options is chosen, when prompted, name the script palette (if none exists) or select an existing script palette, and name the selection operation script. The script is saved in the script palette, and can be run as described in Running Scripts.

Click here for a video tip about this topic (internet access required).

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Entering Formulas in Worksheet Cells

Using Scripts

Running Scripts

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