-EntityGroup

Use the -EntityGroup command to create and control user-defined selection sets of entities. It is the command window variant of the EntityGroup command.

Creating an EntityGroup

To create an EntityGroup, first determine a unique name. The name will be required to identify the group later for a number of command options. In addition, specify whether the group should be selectable or not (see below).

To define a new group:

  1. Issue the -EntityGroup command using the New option.
  2. Specify a unique group name.
  3. If desired, enter a description.
  4. Determine whether the group should be selectable or not (the default is Yes).

    Note: If the group is selectable, selecting one entity in the group selects the entire group. Entities on locked or frozen layers are not selected.

  5. Specify the drawing entities that should belong to the EntityGroup.
Exploding an EntityGroup

EntityGroup definitions may be abolished by using the Explode option. When a group definition is dissolved the EntityGroup is deleted in the drawing. The only way to abolish an EntityGroup definition is by abolishing its name.

To explode a group:

  1. Choose the -EntityGroup command with its Explode option.
  2. Specify the name of the group, to be exploded.

Because a single entity may belong to multiple EntityGroups and EntityGroups may be part of other EntityGroups, the option does not allow you to pick an entity within a EntityGroup to explode the EntityGroup.

Renaming an EntityGroup

You can change the name of a group by using the Rename option. It is useful to employ this method when anonymous groups that have been created by copy commands exist. The system will automatically apply anonymous names to copied groups (**A1, **A2, etc.) that exist through the use of one of the Copy, Mirror, or Pattern commands.

To rename a group:

  1. Issue the -EntityGroup command with its Rename option.
  2. At the prompt to enter a current group name specify the name of an existing group (for example "*A0").
  3. At the prompt to enter a new group name specify the name of the specified group (for example "Screw_Copy1").
Adding / Removing Entities

Two other options of the -EntityGroup command are provided to allow you to integrate additional entities into an existing group or to remove entities that are currently in the group.

After a group name is specified, the entities that belong to the group are highlighted.

Note: Should all entities be deleted from a group, remember that the group will still exist as long as it has a name!

Changing the order of entities in a group:

You can reverse the order of all entities of a group or change the position number of each entity of the group.

To reverse the order of entities in a group:

  1. Issue the -EntityGroup command with its Order option.
  2. At the prompt to enter a current group name specify the name of an existing group (for example "*A0").
  3. Specify the Reverse order option.

To change the position number of entities in a group:

  1. Issue the -EntityGroup command with its Order option.
  2. At the prompt to enter a current group name specify the name of an existing group (for example "*A0").
  3. Specify the current position number of the entity to reorder.
  4. Specify the new position number of the entity to reorder.
  5. Specify the number of entities to reorder.

Specifying the EntityGroup behavior on selection

You can specify whether selecting one entity in the group selects the whole group or just one entity.

Note: Entities on frozen or locked Layers are not selected.

To specify the EntityGroup selection behavior:

  1. Issue the -EntityGroup command with its SelectionSet option.
  2. Specify the name of the group.
  3. To specify whether you want to select the entire EntityGroup when you select one entity in the group, type Yes or No. Press Enter.

Access

Command: -EntityGroup

Related Topics

Creating and Editing EntityGroups

Working with EntityGroups