I need to delete lots of objects from various areas of my image.
I can select the objects using the Alt drag and scribble the red selection line through all the objects and then delete them.
Trouble is, there are hundreds of these objects and it takes ages to scribble through/select them all. It does work but would be much quicker if I could select them by dragging a rectangle over the objects to select them all at once.
I've tried doing this but the rectangle select options but it just doesn't work.
If the selection rectangle is black, objects don't get selected - unless I use a huge selection rectangle, big enough to select everything on a layer.
If the selection rectangle is red, objects crossed by it are selected but for some reason this action selects the whole layer rather than individual objects.
How can I use rectangle select to select objects rather than everything on that objects layer.
Don't understand why the Alt drag scribble selects objects but rectangle select doesn't.
That explodes all the groups into seperate objects so I can now use the rectangular selection to pick them.
However, all of the different layers info for the hundreds of objects has gone, leaving everything in 1 layer and I can't work out how to put them back. I'd made a delme copy of the file for this so phew😀
Any idea why the Alt scribble method works fine without having to explode all groups to select the objects within them but the rectangular selection requires a destructive action in order to do the same?
I'm gonna guess that you have a file that was not made in Inkscape.
You can retain (or create) the layer structure by using the right-click context menu in the Objects and layers dialog. Any group you prefer to have behave as a layer, can be converted with menu: Group to Layer*.
Then your window selections will be within the layer, similar to double-clicking to enter a group.
Out of curiosity - does Alt touch work when using the node tool? Doesn't seem to work correctly on Windows. Seems to only select the last node touched. Maybe I am doing it wrong?
I'm asking because with grids enabled, it is difficult to select a group of nodes. The start of the window select corner wants to snap to a grid. So, I am forced to do a SHIFT# to disable the grid temporarily - grab the nodes then enable the grid again
In this image, shapes are layered by colour, i.e. blue layer, green layer. etc. I used a rectangle as shape selector but any path would do. We want to remove all overlapping shapes.
[Edit > Select All in All Layers] or [ctrl+alt+a] [Edit > Duplicate] or [ctrl+d] [Path > Union] or [ctrl+shift+=]
Move the resulting shape to the top of the topmost layer. Break the resulting shape into pieces and delete all but the original rectangle and its new additions.
[Path > Break Apart] or [shift+ctrl+k] [shift+click] to deselect the main rectangle [backspace] to delete everything else
This is a cookie cutter with an intricate boundary enclosing the shapes to be removed.
[Edit > Select All in All Layers] or [ctrl+alt+a] [Extensions > Boolean Operations > Difference]
There might be some remnants to clean up around the boundary.
Beginners' Questions Selection problems, Alt touch vs window
Inkscape.org
Hiya
Not been using Inkscape long so please be gentle😁
I need to delete lots of objects from various areas of my image.
I can select the objects using the Alt drag and scribble the red selection line through all the objects and then delete them.
Trouble is, there are hundreds of these objects and it takes ages to scribble through/select them all. It does work but would be much quicker if I could select them by dragging a rectangle over the objects to select them all at once.
I've tried doing this but the rectangle select options but it just doesn't work.
If the selection rectangle is black, objects don't get selected - unless I use a huge selection rectangle, big enough to select everything on a layer.
If the selection rectangle is red, objects crossed by it are selected but for some reason this action selects the whole layer rather than individual objects.
How can I use rectangle select to select objects rather than everything on that objects layer.
Don't understand why the Alt drag scribble selects objects but rectangle select doesn't.
It sounds like objects are grouped. I'd try using Extensions>Arrange>Deep ungroup to ungroup everything, then try deleting selections.
Thanks for your reply.
That explodes all the groups into seperate objects so I can now use the rectangular selection to pick them.
However, all of the different layers info for the hundreds of objects has gone, leaving everything in 1 layer and I can't work out how to put them back. I'd made a delme copy of the file for this so phew😀
Any idea why the Alt scribble method works fine without having to explode all groups to select the objects within them but the rectangular selection requires a destructive action in order to do the same?
Yeah, I directed you to the big hammer.
I'm gonna guess that you have a file that was not made in Inkscape.
You can retain (or create) the layer structure by using the right-click context menu in the Objects and layers dialog. Any group you prefer to have behave as a layer, can be converted with menu: Group to Layer*.
Then your window selections will be within the layer, similar to double-clicking to enter a group.
* Layers in Inkscape are actually specially tagged groups. (SVG file don't actually support layers.) http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL/html/Groups.html
Thanks for your help Tyler.
I ended up using the Alt touch scribble like a madman technique as I didn't wanta to lose all my layers structure.
Just a shame the rectangular selection can't select the same objects that Alt touch scribble selection can. Would have save me a bunch of time.
Cheers
Out of curiosity - does Alt touch work when using the node tool? Doesn't seem to work correctly on Windows. Seems to only select the last node touched. Maybe I am doing it wrong?
I'm asking because with grids enabled, it is difficult to select a group of nodes. The start of the window select corner wants to snap to a grid. So, I am forced to do a SHIFT# to disable the grid temporarily - grab the nodes then enable the grid again
Yay! - I figured out how to use that ALT lasso (?) selection. lol - I was really doing it wrong.
Here's my suggestion.
First, you'll need this extension. https://gitlab.com/moini_ink/inx-pathops
In this image, shapes are layered by colour, i.e. blue layer, green layer. etc. I used a rectangle as shape selector but any path would do. We want to remove all overlapping shapes.
[Edit > Select All in All Layers] or [ctrl+alt+a]
[Edit > Duplicate] or [ctrl+d]
[Path > Union] or [ctrl+shift+=]
Move the resulting shape to the top of the topmost layer. Break the resulting shape into pieces and delete all but the original rectangle and its new additions.
[Path > Break Apart] or [shift+ctrl+k]
[shift+click] to deselect the main rectangle
[backspace] to delete everything else
This is a cookie cutter with an intricate boundary enclosing the shapes to be removed.
[Edit > Select All in All Layers] or [ctrl+alt+a]
[Extensions > Boolean Operations > Difference]
There might be some remnants to clean up around the boundary.