To deselect an object or an entire selection in Revit, the quickest methods are to press the ESC key on your keyboard or click in an empty area of the drawing background.
Effectively managing selections, including deselection, is a core skill for efficient work in Autodesk Revit. Whether you're working with a single element or a complex group, knowing how to quickly clear your selection prevents unintended modifications and streamlines your workflow.
Deselecting Elements in Revit
Revit offers straightforward ways to deselect objects:
- Pressing the ESC Key: This is the most universal and frequently used method.
- Action: Simply press the ESC (Escape) key once on your keyboard.
- Result: All currently selected elements will be deselected immediately. If you press ESC a second time, it typically cancels the active command (e.g., if you were in the middle of drawing a wall).
- Clicking the Drawing Background: An equally effective and often intuitive method.
- Action: With elements selected, move your cursor to any empty space within your drawing area (where there are no objects or elements) and click once with your left mouse button.
- Result: All elements that were part of your selection will be deselected.
Advanced Selection Management: Adding and Removing Elements
Beyond full deselection, Revit provides essential tools for refining your selections, allowing you to add or remove individual elements from an existing selection set.
Adding to a Selection
When you need to include more elements in your current selection without starting over:
- Hold the CTRL Key: Press and hold down the CTRL key on your keyboard.
- Click New Elements: While holding CTRL, click on the additional elements you wish to add to your selection.
- Visual Cue: A small plus (+) sign will appear next to your cursor, indicating that you are in "add to selection" mode. This allows you to compile a diverse group of objects into a single selection set.
Removing from a Selection
If you've accidentally selected too many items or need to exclude specific ones from your current selection:
- Hold the SHIFT Key: Press and hold down the SHIFT key on your keyboard.
- Click Selected Elements: While holding SHIFT, click on the elements that are currently selected but you wish to remove from the selection.
- Visual Cue: A small minus (-) sign will appear next to your cursor, signifying that you are in "remove from selection" mode. This is particularly useful for fine-tuning complex selections.
Quick Reference Guide for Selection Actions
| Action | Keyboard Shortcut | Mouse Action | Cursor Indication |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deselect All Elements | ESC | Click an empty area of the drawing background | Normal |
| Add Elements to Selection | CTRL (hold) | Click on new elements | (+) Plus Sign |
| Remove Elements from Selection | SHIFT (hold) | Click on already-selected elements | (-) Minus Sign |
Practical Tips for Efficient Selection in Revit
- Using Filters: For large and complex selections, especially when dealing with various element categories, utilize the "Filter" tool (accessible in the Modify tab of the Ribbon after making an initial selection). This powerful feature allows you to quickly deselect or isolate specific types of objects within a broad selection.
- Selection Boxes: In any view, you can drag a selection box to select multiple elements. To add to or remove from an existing selection using a selection box, hold CTRL or SHIFT respectively while drawing the box.
- Element Pinning: To prevent critical elements from being accidentally deselected, moved, or deleted, consider pinning them in place. Pinned elements remain locked until they are deliberately unpinned.
Mastering these selection and deselection techniques is fundamental for an efficient and accurate workflow in Revit. For more comprehensive information on selection tools, refer to the official Autodesk Revit Help documentation.
