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    Quick select edges using the eraser tool!

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    • J Offline
      justry
      last edited by justry

      I posted this before, but looks like it got lost because of that server backup restore problem thing, so here it is again:

      You know when you want to select some edges, and the shift-clicking is just taking too long? Don't you wish there was a selection tool that works like the eraser tool, so you can select the edges you want just by dragging along them? Well you can! And using the eraser tool too! Choose the eraser tool, and start dragging along the edges you want to select. Done? WAIT!! Don't release that mouse button yet! Right click any of the edges you selected (while still holding down the left mouse button [and make sure you're right clicking an edge, not a face]). The context menu will pop up. Move the mouse away from the menu, and you can now saftely release the left mouse button. Press Esc to close the context menu and...Volia! Your edges are still selected!

      I know it seems complicated, but once you get the hang of it it becomes very easy, and it's much better than all the shift-clicking!

      Note: You can then right-click > select > connected faces, to select faces as well.

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      • T Offline
        tomsdesk
        last edited by

        And a big WELCOME! aboard to you Justry: with such a slick trick, thank you very much...yahoo! I will use this all the time.

        http://www.tomsdesk.moonfruit.com/
        2.5D Trees & Shrubs!

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        • GaieusG Offline
          Gaieus
          last edited by

          @justry said:

          I posted this before, but looks like it got lost because of that server backup restore problem thing...

          Yes, sorry about that.
          And yes; a big welcome with such a nifty tip! 👍

          Gai...

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          • J Offline
            justry
            last edited by

            Thanks a lot guys, and the forum is really great, I love it!

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            • J Offline
              justry
              last edited by

              Go ahead man, it's all yours!

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              • S Offline
                StarWarsKnower
                last edited by

                Hey, great trick!

                Nobody made a big welcome like this when I started. 😢 😞 😢 😢 😠 😢 😢

                Just Kiddin.

                Mike

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                • J Offline
                  justry
                  last edited by

                  Update: instead of all the right click thingy, you can just press any shortcut key (e.g. space for the select tool) before releasing the LMB. That'll still keep your edges selected.

                  I saw this in a thread somewhere in the forums, but by the time I thought I'd add it here, I'd forgotten where I saw it, so if you know who it was please post his name here ☀ .

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                  • simon le bonS Offline
                    simon le bon
                    last edited by

                    Very useful. Thanks Justry

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                    • S Offline
                      shopdude
                      last edited by

                      That IS a great trick, learning learning...
                      There is so much in this forum, now I'll spend all my time w/ SU and never actually build anything!
                      Thank you, Shopdude

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                      • simon le bonS Offline
                        simon le bon
                        last edited by

                        As I was trying to explain this so usefull tip to a friend, I decided to produce out a small screencast of it. Here is the result:(Remind: press spacebar before release EraserTool and that's it!)

                        [flash=475,436:x99jiuz8]http://www.viddler.com/simple/204a6c16/[/flash:x99jiuz8]

                        😉 simon

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                        • A Offline
                          August
                          last edited by

                          Thanks to all contributors for this.

                          Using the Spacebar makes it even easier and a bit intuitive. The Eraser first selects but does not actually erase until you release the mouse button. Think of pressing the Spacebar as changing the Erase selection to a Selection selection. "Opps, I didn't mean to erase, I meant to select; I'll just change tools in mid-action."

                          You can, of course, make the reverse change, in a way. "Opps, I didn't mean to select, I meant to erase." Just hit Delete.

                          But to collect the selection in the first place, dragging the Eraser tool is a LOT faster than Shift-Click, Shift-Click, Shift-Click, Shift-Click.

                          The Eraser is the only tool that I can think of that collects a selection before it actually operates. Anybody got any others?

                          I hope this adds something to the discussion,
                          August

                          “An idea, like a ghost, must be spoken to a little before it will explain itself.”
                          [floatr:v1mcbde2]-- Charles Dickens[/floatr:v1mcbde2]

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                          • GaieusG Offline
                            Gaieus
                            last edited by

                            @august said:

                            The Eraser is the only tool that I can think of that collects a selection before it actually operates. Anybody got any others?

                            No,although there are other tools that autoselect (like the PushPull or Move or Rotate), they can only select one entity at a time.

                            On another note, the Eraser can only select edges (not faces) so the autoselect function of say the PP tool can be used for other tricks like reversing faces quickly - you only need to set up a shortcut key for the function itself and "browse through" the faces with the PP tool while hitting the shortcut like a madman.

                            Every tool has its own, little "side effect" 😄

                            Gai...

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                            • simon le bonS Offline
                              simon le bon
                              last edited by

                              excellent 👍 👍 . Works also of course with "del"
                              😉s

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                              • simon le bonS Offline
                                simon le bon
                                last edited by

                                Dear all,

                                It seems fredo has developed the perfect tool which makes the tip of the Eraser Tool unnecessary:

                                [Plugin] HoverSelect 1.1d - Multi-selection of Edges

                                SketchUp is in the way to become a Fredoogle product 😆
                                *s

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