Criteria Selections

The Criteria Selection button lets you select items based on a wide range of criteria such as coordinates, labels and many other conditions. When the Criteria Select button is clicked, you will be presented with the Criteria Selection Dialog with options grouped by tabs across the top. Each tab represents groups of criteria that you may use to refine your selection.

The options are numerous, making it easy to quickly achieve complicated selections. This is a powerful tool so it is worth taking the time to experiment with the options so that you will know how to use it to your advantage. The various tabs in the window are described in the sections that follow.

Nodes

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You can Select or Unselect joints as follows.

Node Label – Specify a range of node labels. Specifying only one label selects just that one node.
Boundary Codes – Specify boundary condition criteria in all six degrees of freedom.
Diaphragm (Primary Node or Detach From) – When checked, and you’ve chosen (from the dropdown menu) for either Primary Node or Detach From, it lets you select the nodes that currently define diaphragms or nodes that currently have their “Detach From Diaphragms” flag set.
Overwrite Lock - When checked, it applies the specified criteria to be selected or unselected regardless of any part of the model being locked.
Overwrite previous selection - When checked, it overwrites the previous selection shown in the 3D View.

Note: If no criteria are specified, all the nodes will be selected/unselected.

Members

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You can Select or Unselect members based on the following criteria.

Member Label – Specify a range of member labels. If only one label is entered, only that one member will be selected.
Parallel – Select members that are parallel to a certain member, whose label you enter, or parallel to a global axis.
Member Properties – Specify a Section Set/Shape, Design List, Materials, Member Type, Design Rule, Function, Seismic Design Rule, Tension/Compression-Only, or Connection Rule to be applied when selecting members.
Overwrite Lock – When checked, it applies the specified criteria to be selected or unselected regardless of any part of the model being locked.
Overwrite previous selection – When checked, it overwrites the previous selection shown in the 3D View.

Note: If no criteria are specified, all the members will be selected/unselected.

Plates

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You can Select or Unselect plates based on the following criteria.

Plate Label – Specify a range of plate labels. If only one label is entered, only that one plate will be selected.
Parallel – Select plates that are parallel to certain plate, whose label you enter, or parallel to a global plane.
Plate Properties – Specify a minimum and maximum Thickness and Material to be applied when selecting plates. You may also select only the plane stress plates. You also may select plates that are currently inactive. Using this criterion will make these plates active. To make them inactive once again you can then use ModifyPlates.
Overwrite Lock – When checked, it applies the specified criteria to be selected or unselected regardless of any part of the model being locked.
Overwrite previous selection – When checked, it overwrites the previous selection shown in the 3D View.

Note: If no criteria are specified, all the plates will be selected/unselected.

Wall Panels

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You can Select or Unselect panels based on the following criteria.

Wall Panel Label – Specify a range of panel labels. If only one label is entered, only that one panel will be selected.
Parallel – Select panels that are parallel to certain panel, whose label you enter, or parallel to a global plane.
Wall Panel Properties – Specify a Material Type (Wood, Masonry, etc) and/or Material Set (Larch, Clay, etc). You also may select panels that are currently inactive. Using this criterion will make these panels active. To make them inactive once again you can then use ModifyPanels.
Overwrite Lock – When checked, it applies the specified criteria to be selected or unselected regardless of any part of the model being locked.
Overwrite previous selection – When checked, it overwrites the previous selection shown in the 3D View.

Note: If no criteria are specified, all the panels will be selected/unselected.

Solids

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You can Select or Unselect solids based on the following criteria.

Solid Label – You may specify a range of Solid labels. If only one label is entered, only that one Solid will be selected.

Material Properties – Select or unselect solid elements base on their material. You also may select solids that are currently inactive. Using this criterion will make these solids active. To make them inactive once again you can then use ModifySolids.

Overwrite Lock – When checked, it applies the specified criteria to be selected or unselected regardless of any part of the model being locked.

Overwrite previous selection – When checked, it overwrites the previous selection shown in the 3D View.

Note:

If no criteria are specified, all the solids will be selected/unselected.
The ONLY way to make an inactive solid active again is to use this criteria select dialog.

Loads

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You can Select or Unselect loads based on the following criteria.

Basic Load Case – Specify a Basic Load Case for which to select or unselect loads.
Load Type – Select or unselect loads based on the load type. You also may select a direction or min/max magnitude.
Select Elements used to define load – Choose to select elements which are used to define a load. These can be nodes, members, wall panels, etc.
Overwrite Lock – When checked, it applies the specified criteria to be selected or unselected regardless of any part of the model being locked.
Overwrite previous selection – When checked, it overwrites the previous selection shown in the 3D View.

Note: If no criteria are specified, all the loads will be selected/unselected.

Coordinates

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You can select or unselect elements based on coordinate criteria and combine this with the criteria on the other tabs.

Coordinate Range– Specify minimum and maximum bounds in the global directions. Items within these bounds AND meeting the criteria in the other groups will be selected/unselected.
Nodes – Specify that nodes in the coordinate range be selected or not.
Members – Specify that one or both member end nodes be within the bounds. You may also specify that no members be selected within the range.
Plates – Specify that one or all plate corner nodes be within the bounds. You may also specify that no plates be selected within the range.
Wall Panels – Specify that one or all panel corner nodes be within the bounds. You may also specify that no panel be selected within the range.
Solids – Specify that one or all solid corner nodes be within the bounds. You may also specify that no solid be selected within the range.
Also Consider Members/Plates/Walls/Solids Tab – Lets you include selection criteria from the other pages Members, Plates, Wall Panels, Solids and combine it with the coordinate range specified on this page.

Note: If the Also Consider ... Tab checkbox is checked, all criteria will be applied together so that the affected items will meet all of the criteria. For example if you specify a range of node labels and coordinates, only the nodes within the coordinate bounds and within the label range will be selected/unselected.