A way to select overlapping objects

[raradek]

It is often desirable to select multiple overlapping objects. An example could be a hole object in a solid. In complex layouts it can be difficult to find a camera angle in which we can click the hole object.

I suggest the following:

• First click on the overlapping objects selects the first visible one (current behavior)
• second click on the overlapping objects goes through to the next not selected object and selects it / adds it to selection ( with or without using a modifier key, maybe?)

For targetting the "hidden" object we could also consider to check whether we click close to its center.

[VZ-studios]

Under visibility, there is an Objects list. lt lets you see every object and select them from the list.

[henmedia]

@raradek thank you for the idea and the picture. @VZ-studios is right that the Objects list under Visibility selects any object, however deeply it is hidden. Two more ways for a hole inside a body: make the body transparent (T) so you can see and click the hole, or hide it for a moment (Ctrl+H). A second click on the same spot to reach the next object behind is a good idea; I will think about how it fits with dragging.

[ssmeier-gmail]

Onshape handles selecting an object that is overlapped several ways.
One way is to make the "overlapping/blocking/in the way" objects hidden. This is already available in layerling.

Onshape also has two other ways: keyboard shortcut ~ (tilde); or right-click context menu.
There is already a right-click context menu in layerling.

Here is an Onshape screen shot of the context menu after after a right-click on the front wheel.
I know there is a front axle object I want to select "overlapped/blocked" by the front wheel.

This screen shot is after I have clicked "Select other...".
In the popped-up Select other menu, I have scrolled down to "Front axle" and the 3D workspace has highlighted the part with an orange outline. If I click the "Front axle" entry, the Front axle will be selected as the active object.

I am not sure if all keyboards have the ~ (tilde) key.

How to Select Overlapping Objects in Onshape summary:
• Visibility Toggles (Hide/Show): If overlapping parts or sketch entities are in the way, click the eye icon next to the part in the Feature List on the left side of the screen to temporarily hide distracting components.

• Context Menu (Right-Click): Position your mouse over the object, right-click, and choose Select Other from the dropdown menu to open a list of everything located behind the cursor. Click the desired item from the list.

• Keyboard Shortcut ( ~ ): Hover over the overlapping or intersecting area and press the Tilde/backquote key ( ~ )
(located below the Escape key on US keyboards).
• Use the up and down arrow keys to navigate through the list of entities in the small pop-up box.
• Press Shift + ~ to cycle through the options in reverse.
• Press Enter or left-click to select the bolded entity.
-Steve

[ssmeier-gmail]

I was curious how Fusion handles selecting overlapped/obscured objects, so I did a search:

In Autodesk Fusion, selecting an object that is obscured or overlapped by other geometry is handled primarily through the Select Other loop (also known as the long-click menu).
Here is exactly how it works and how to use it:

1. The "Select Other" Menu (Left-Click and Hold)
   When multiple objects or faces overlap from your camera's perspective:
2. Click and hold your left mouse button over the overlapped area for about 1 second.
3. A small "Select Other" menu will pop up at your cursor.
4. Hover over the items in the list (labeled as Depth, Parents, etc.). Fusion will highlight the corresponding geometry in canvas so you can see exactly what you are choosing.
5. Left-click the correct item from the list to select it.
   -Steve

[henmedia]

@raradek @ssmeier-gmail thank you both, the Onshape and Fusion examples made the choice easy. The right-click menu now has the same: when more than one shape lies under the pointer, it offers Select other…. That lists every shape under the pointer from front to back. The one you point at in the list is outlined in the view, even through the body in front of it, and a click selects it; with Shift it is added to the selection. On a tablet a long press opens the same menu.

So a hole inside a block is now one right-click away, without turning the view. I tried it with a bore in a block: the list shows "Block" and "Bore", and the bore is outlined through the block while the pointer is on it.

I left out the second click on the same spot to step to the next shape, as it would get in the way of dragging. It will be in the next release.

[henmedia]

@raradek @ssmeier-gmail it's in 1.108.0: a right click where several shapes lie under the pointer offers Select other…, which lists them from front to back, outlines the one you point at even through the body in front of it, and selects it with a click (Shift adds it). On a tablet a long press opens the same menu.