Automatically select elements with mouseclick?

Hi Daniel,

I don't quite understand where the problem is, but it's probably because I have not worked with AutoCAD for very long time.

I recommend to don't try to use MicroStation in the same way as AutoCAD, because it's not the same program and even though many tools are similar and worklfows very close, it can easily leads to a confusion.

Some basic concept in MicroStation are different, especially it's strictly "event driven" when one tool is active at time and when you start a tool, it will be active until another tool is chosen. There is a default tool, which is Element Selection by default, but it's activated in specific situations only.

I do not see any reason why you should select an element at first. Simply start a tool you want to use (using mouse/icon or key-in) and when the tool will need the element, you will be asked to select it. It's not necessary to choose anything in advance.

You should be aware MicroStation can be confifigured and customized widely. What you can do (I have never used it) is to user preferences (Workspace > Preferences...), and to allow ESC key to cancel current command (category Input > Allow ESC key to stop current command). Normally every tool is active until another tool is started, but when ESC stops current command, the defeault one (which is Element Selection) is started.

With regards,

  Jan

Hi,

AutoCAD is always in a null state of selection until you choose a command. MSTN works in that you are always in a command and selection is just one of them. Most MSTN tools remain active once you have used them. MSTN you can select (Selection being the first command here) what you are working on then choose a command eg move, move what you wanted and it should return you to Selection (the first command) with the prior elements selected. You can then select more or different elements to work on. If you use it where you pick the command before selection it will return you to that command (the first command) not the selection. For example pick the command move, select the elements to move from to, it returns you to move waiting for a selection.

I hope this helped.

Microstation originally performed everything as a "verb-noun" operation. With the addition of the select element tool we can use "noun-verb", which is quite handy. Autocad does everything "noun-verb". If you set your preferences as shown below you'll have Select most of the time, when it's not active it's the first entry on the reset-hold list, very easy.

I recommend you look at learn server Microstation for autocad users, or google that, meanwhile in help under autocad there is a fair bit of explanations that will help acclimate you to using  microstation and make you life easier... especially the DWG Alias... lets you use acad commands in key in window.. or command line