Picking refers to selecting objects in the scene for use with other tools. For example, to move a CV, you must pick the CV, then use the Move tool on the picked CV.

Picking objects in the scene is a fundamental part of modeling with Alias. Because it is so important, Alias provides several different tools for picking.

To pick all and pick nothing

1. In the Pick palette, choose Object Types > All Objects/Lights .

2. All the objects in the scene highlight to show they are picked.

   

   Unlike most selection tools, Pick > Object Types > All Objects/Lights does not stay selected, since you never need to use it twice in a row.

   When these momentary types of tools finish, the current tool reverts to the last continuous tool you selected.

3. In the Pick palette, choose the Nothing tool.

4. The Pick > Nothing tool unpicks every object, leaving nothing picked.

   

   Like the Pick > Object Types > All Objects/Lights tool, the Pick > Nothing tool does not stay selected. The current tool reverts to the last tool you used.

To pick and unpick individual objects

NoteIn step 5 of the workflow below, you must first assign the Pick mode to the Middle mouse button through Preferences > Selection Options . Due to a last minute change, the middle mouse button now uses the Add mode by default.

1. Choose the Pick > Object tool.
2. Click the cone primitive in the view windows with the .

   

   The cone highlights to show it is picked.

3. Click the other objects with the . They also become picked.

   

4. With all the objects picked, click one of the picked objects with the .

   

   The object you clicked becomes unpicked.

   The left mouse button toggles objects between picked and unpicked.

5. Now click one of the primitives with the .

   The object you clicked is picked and the other objects are unpicked.

   

   The middle mouse button picks only the object you click.

6. Click the picked primitive with the .

   

   The object is unpicked.

   The unpicks objects. This is most useful with pick boxes, as you will see in the next procedure.

To use pick boxes to pick and unpick several objects at once

NoteIn step 3 of the workflow below, you must first assign the Pick mode to the Middle mouse button through Preferences > Selection Options . Due to a last minute change, the middle mouse button now uses the Add mode by default.

1. With the Pick > Object tool still selected, click one of the primitive objects with the .

   

2. Press the and drag a box around all the primitive objects.

   

   All the objects inside the pick box toggle between picked and unpicked.

   

3. Now drag a pick box with the around some objects.

   

   Now only the objects inside the box are picked.

4. Now drag a pick box with the around some of the picked objects.

   

   Any objects inside the pick box are unpicked.

A fourth picking behavior called Add can be assigned to any of the mouse buttons through Preferences > Selection Options . In this mode, all objects that you click or select with a pick box are picked. This mode never unpicks anything.

To pick by name

1. Use the to pick only the sphere.
2. On the Windows menu, choose Information > Information Window.

   The Information window appears.

   

   The information window allows you to adjust parameters for objects in the scene.

3. Find the Name field. The name of the object should be sphere or something similar.
4. Close the Information window.
5. Click in empty space with the .

   All objects in the scene are unpicked.

   • Remember, the middle mouse button picks only what you click. If you pick “nothing” (empty space), then the tool acts as if you had chosen Pick > Nothing .
6. Type sphere, then press (Windows) or (Mac). The text appears as you type in the promptline at the top of the workspace window.

   When you press (Windows) or (Mac), the sphere is picked.