Selecting Images in AutoCAD

The most common way to select an image in AutoCAD is to pick the image frame. This works well most of the time. However, if there are other lines over the frame or if you have turned the image frame off it can be difficult to select the image. The good news is there’s an easier way to select the image. If you hold down the Shift key and click anywhere over the image it will be selected. It’s that easy.

This command actually comes from AutoCAD Map 3D so it works in Civil 3D, and now that AutoCAD Map 3D is included with AutoCAD when you subscribe as one of the Toolsets it will work in AutoCAD as well. Giving you another reason you should install that AutoCAD Map 3D Toolset.

If for some reason the Shift + Left Click on the image is not working for you there is a setting to check. Type MAPIOPTIONS at the command line to bring up the Rater Extension Options dialog box.

On the General tab be sure to have Shift + Left Click Image Select Enabled.

So just remember Shift + Left Click and you will be selecting your images like a pro.

Author

Rick Ellis, president of CADapult Software Solutions, Inc, has worked with and taught Autodesk Civil 3D, along with Map 3D and other Autodesk products since the mid-90s. He is the Author of several critically acclaimed books on Autodesk Civil 3D, AutoCAD Map 3D, Land Desktop and Carlson Software; including the Practical Guide series.

Rick continues to use Autodesk Civil 3D on projects in a production environment, in addition to teaching classes to organizations both large and small around the country, helping them get the most out of their design software investment.

This practical background and approach has made him an award winning speaker at Autodesk University and a sought after instructor by organizations around the world.