May 26, 2013

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I can’t select objects then press del in AutoCAD!

November 29, 2010 by 14 Comments

Have you ever find your AutoCAD doesn’t feels right when you select objects? You select them, press delete, move, mirror, etc the objects still stay. You select the objects, the layer toolbar still showing current layer. And after you select objects, the properties palette may still showing no selection.

I see this problem occurs many times, and I’m not sure how, even AutoCAD LT users also have this problem. It is not common that system variables just changed like that. Usually some poor programming routines change the system variables and don’t restore it back. AutoCAD LT doesn’t support programming, and I’m sure the user doesn’t use any macro, so it must be something else cause it.

It is a very simple problem. What’s described above is showing that you are using noun/verb selection. You select the object first, then you activate the modify tool. The system variable that control this has changed, so it won’t allow you to do that. The only way you modify object is activating the modify tool first, then select the object(s).

To restore the system variable, you only need to type PICKFIRST in command line then change it to 1. Or you can open AutoCAD option, in selection tab, activate noun/verb selection.

Noun_Verb_Selection

If your AutoCAD working fine now, I strongly suggest you to backup all system variables and use it in emergency situation. Have you done it?

Read how you can backup AutoCAD system variables here.

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Filed Under: AutoCAD Troubleshoot Tagged With: ,
About Edwin Prakoso

Edwin works as an Application Engineer in Jakarta, Indonesia. He has 4 years experience in building industry, then start to work for Autodesk reseller.
He is certified as Revit Architecture 2010 certified professional and AutoCAD 2013 certified professional.
He loves sharing his experience and starts to blog on CAD notes. Now using CAD is more to a lifestyle for him than working.
You can reach him on twitter @CADnotes. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn. If you prefer email, reach him at edwin.prakoso@cad-notes.com.

  • Ward_man7

    This did not work on my autocad 2009.

    • http://cad-notes.com Edwin Prakoso

      What about PICKADD variable? Have you set it to 1?

  • Muskyfins

    This has been driving me absolutely crazy for about a month and this fix worked.  But I can’t figure out how it got screwed up in the first place.

    Running Autocad 2011 from a server with 2 seats.

  • N1446-w0963

    Wow. This has been driving me nutty at the office thank you.

  • Stonepillar

    Thanks.  This really bothered me for whole day.  Sincerely,

  • Malikakbar

    its not working … please tell me other solution

  • Jonathan Sears

    Hello, I assume this is the same problem as not being able to select objects while using the move function. Shown in the picture is what happens after i select the move function, and first select just one object, then try and select the whole object. Thanks

  • Pingback: 3 ways to move AutoCAD objects to other layer | CAD Notes

  • altinay

    thanks. It worked. :)

  • missyaicz

    A HUGE help. Thank you. I have been trying to figure out why i can’t select an object first and then move. This also bothered me almost half of my day.

  • brandin reynolds

    My autocad 2013 randomly did this. Looked this up and solved the problem. Thanks!

  • nguyen

    you made my day!!!!!

  • RAJESH

    thanks sir, i got it

  • aadya

    thank you this really works. i was facing the above problem. thank you so much now my cad files are working well.