• Home
  • Training Books
  • Subscribe to Our Email Newsletter
  • About
    • Contributors
    • Feedback
    • Contact
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookie Policy

CADnotes

CAD Tutorials and Best Practices for professionals and students

  • Featured
  • AutoCAD
    • AutoLISP
  • Revit
    • Revit Architecture Basic
    • Revit MEP Basic Tutorial
  • Inventor
  • MicroStation
    • MicroStation Basic Tutorial
You are here: Home / AutoCAD / I can’t select objects then press del in AutoCAD!

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

November 29, 2010 by Edwin Prakoso 45 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.

About Edwin Prakoso

I work as a Sr. Consultant in PT Cipta Satria Informatika. I've been using AutoCAD since R14 and Revit since Revit Building 9. I occasionally write for AUGIWorld magazine and I am also active in Autodesk discussion forum. I'm a member of Autodesk Expert Elite, an appreciation for individuals who give contributions to the Autodesk community.
Connect with me on twitter or LinkedIn.

Filed Under: AutoCAD Tagged With: noun-verb selection, pickfirst

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Login
Notify of
guest

guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

45 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
nguyen
nguyen
12 years ago

you made my day!!!!!

0
Reply
brandin reynolds
brandin reynolds
12 years ago

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

0
Reply
missyaicz
missyaicz
12 years ago

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.

0
Reply
altinay
altinay
12 years ago

thanks. It worked. :)

0
Reply
Jonathan Sears
Jonathan Sears
13 years ago

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

0
Reply
Malikakbar
Malikakbar
13 years ago

its not working … please tell me other solution

0
Reply
Stonepillar
Stonepillar
13 years ago

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

0
Reply
N1446-w0963
N1446-w0963
13 years ago

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

0
Reply
Muskyfins
Muskyfins
13 years ago

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.

0
Reply
Ward_man7
Ward_man7
13 years ago

This did not work on my autocad 2009.

0
Reply
Edwin Prakoso
Edwin Prakoso
Reply to  Ward_man7
13 years ago

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

0
Reply
Lway Khaing Khaing Oo
Lway Khaing Khaing Oo
Reply to  Ward_man7
11 years ago

Thank sir, you made my day.

0
Reply
1 2 3 4 Next »
wpdiscuz   wpDiscuz

Featured

5 Reasons Why You Should Use AutoCAD Block (Infographics)

Here are the reasons why you should use AutoCAD blocks. If you haven’t used it, this perhaps can encourage you.

Recent Articles

  • Autodesk Construction Cloud Activity Log
  • Exporting AutoCAD Plant 3D Model to Navisworks
  • Autodesk Data Connector for Power BI is Now Available

Advertisement

New on CADnotes

  • Autodesk Construction Cloud Activity Log
  • Exporting AutoCAD Plant 3D Model to Navisworks
  • Autodesk Data Connector for Power BI is Now Available
  • Autodesk Forma Design Contest
  • Revit 2025: Toposolid Enhancements

Meet the Authors

avatar for
avatar for
avatar for
avatar for
avatar for
avatar for

Get Connected

CADnotes on FacebookCADnotes on InstagramCADnotes on TwitterCADnotes on YouTube

© 2009 – 2025 CADnotes · Feedback · Privacy Policy · Become an affiliate

wpDiscuz