11.01.03 Selecting Takeoff Objects - Context (or Right-Click) Menu and Keyboard Shortcut

Last Updated: 2022-03-15 09:00

Sometimes, you need to use a "broader stroke" to select takeoff on a Page. Maybe you want to select all the takeoff for one or more Takeoff Items, or even every piece of takeoff on the Page. Using the context menus and keyboard shortcuts, you can do just that easily and quickly.

Selecting Objects Using the Takeoff Items Pane Context Menu

If you want to select every takeoff object on the current Page for one or more specific Takeoff Item(s),

Select the Takeoff Item(s) in the Takeoff Items Pane (use SHIFT or CTRL to select multiple Takeoff Items)
Next either:

Right-click (if you are left-handed, left-click) and select "Select Objects", or
Press <Ctrl>+T on your keyboard, or
Click the button at the bottom of the Takeoff Items window

Every object drawn with the selected Takeoff Item(s) is selected (highlighted) on the Active Page, however takeoff on other Pages in the Bid, even if those Pages are open in other Takeoff Windows, is not selected.

Once the objects are selected, you can do whatever you like with them (delete, reassign, copy, move, etc.).

Deleting Objects - Warning

Be careful not to click the Delete button in the Takeoff Items Pane toolbar if you are trying to delete takeoff objects. The delete button in the Takeoff Items Pane deletes the selected Takeoff Items(s) which deletes all takeoff objects on every Page in the Bid.

If you want to delete the takeoff objects that are selected, click the Delete Takeoff button in the main toolbar, or right-click within the Takeoff Window and select "Delete".

Using Ctrl+A to Select Objects

If you want to select everything on the current Page (every piece of takeoff and annotation) quickly,

Click within the Takeoff Window (where you see your plans, takeoff, and Annotations)
Press Ctrl+A on your keyboard

Every takeoff object and Annotation is selected (highlighted) on the Active Page, however takeoff and Annotations on other Pages in the Bid, even if those Pages are open in other Takeoff Windows, is not selected.

Caution - Active Window

Ctrl+A works in whichever Window or Pane has focus - for example, if you clicked in the Takeoff Items Pane and then pressed Ctrl+A, every Takeoff Item is selected. If a Takeoff Window has focus, all takeoff and annotation objects within that Takeoff Window are selected.

What does "has focus" mean? It means the last place you clicked or hovered over long enough for the program to place the cursor there.

Be sure you are aware of what has focus before using Ctrl+A. - if your focus was on the Takeoff Items Pane or on a different Takeoff Window, you may be deleting Takeoff Items or takeoff objects you do not intend to delete.

Warning - DELETE VERIFICATION

Most takeoff edits (even deleting takeoff or most Annotation) are "undoable", meaning if you do something to a takeoff object that you did not intend, you click the Undo button to return to previous state, at least until you switch to a different Page.

However, deleting a Takeoff Item is permanent and immediate and affects the entire Bid. All takeoff drawn with the selected Takeoff Item(s), on every Page in this Bid, is permanently deleted - there is no 'Undo' available. Any time you delete a Takeoff Item, you are required to confirm the action - please consider what you are doing before you click "Delete Takeoff Item(s)" in that confirmation prompt. You (or a coworker who may have been using that Takeoff Item without you knowing) can lose days or weeks of work if you click the button without considering the consequences.

Delete Takeoff Item confirmation prompt

As a rule of thumb, when in doubt, DON'T!

Deleting Named Views, Punch Items, and Typical Group Frames are permanent actions also - you are warned about the deletion, do not confirm the action without considering the consequences - you can lose a lot of work if you click "Delete All".

Delete object confirmation prompt

Selecting Takeoff Objects - Using Roping

Selecting Takeoff Objects - Vertices and Grab Handles