To effectively navigate and work within the Civil 3D environment, it is essential to understand how to control the visual cues that highlight objects. These highlighted objects, often indicated by a blue or orange outline, can provide valuable information but can also become visually overwhelming, hindering productivity. Therefore, learning how to disable these object highlights is crucial for optimizing the Civil 3D workflow and maximizing efficiency.
One of the primary benefits of turning off object highlights is enhanced visual clarity. When working with complex models that involve numerous objects, the highlighted outlines can create a cluttered and confusing display, making it difficult to identify and select specific elements. By disabling the highlighting, users can simplify the visual environment, allowing for more precise and efficient navigation. Additionally, removing object highlights can improve performance by reducing the graphical overhead associated with rendering these visual cues, resulting in smoother panning, zooming, and object selection.
Furthermore, turning off object highlights empowers users to customize their Civil 3D experience to suit their preferences and specific project requirements. Some users may find the highlighted outlines to be beneficial for identifying objects quickly, while others may prefer a less cluttered display. By providing the option to disable these highlights, Civil 3D offers flexibility and adaptability, enabling users to tailor the software interface to their individual workflows and maximize productivity.
Accessing the Settings
To disable the object highlighting feature in Civil 3D, you need to access the program’s settings. You can do this by following these steps:
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Open the Settings Dialog Box
On the ribbon, go to the “Manage” tab and click on the “Settings” panel. In the “Settings” panel, click on the “User Interface” tab. This will open the “Settings” dialog box.
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Navigate to the “Selection” Tab
In the “Settings” dialog box, click on the “Selection” tab. This tab contains various settings related to object selection, including the object highlighting feature.
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Locate the “Object Highlighting” Section
In the “Selection” tab, scroll down to the “Object Highlighting” section. This section contains a checkbox that allows you to enable or disable object highlighting.
Option Description Highlight selected objects Selects all objects on the screen that are of the same type as the selected object. Enable Object Highlighting Turns on or off the object highlighting feature.
Disabling Object Selection Highlighting
Step 1: Access the Object Selection Settings
To disable object selection highlighting, navigate to the "Options" dialog box by clicking on the "gear" icon located in the upper right corner of the Civil 3D interface. From the left-hand navigation panel, select "User Interface" and then "Selection."
Step 2: Configure the Selection Display
Under the "Selection Display" tab, locate the "Highlight objects on selection" checkbox. Uncheck this box to disable the highlighting of selected objects.
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Highlight objects on selection | Enable or disable object highlighting upon selection |
| Highlight color | Set the color used for object highlighting |
| Highlight transparency | Adjust the transparency of the object highlighting |
Step 3: Modify Additional Selection Options
In addition to disabling object highlighting, you can further customize the selection behavior in the "Selection" settings tab:
- Selection transparency: Adjust the transparency of selected objects to improve visibility.
- Highlight color: Choose a custom color for object highlighting to make selected objects stand out.
- Use themes: Enable the use of themes to apply different highlight colors and transparency to different object types.
- Panes: Control whether the "Properties" and "Toolbox" panes are automatically activated upon object selection.
Modifying Object Snapping Options
Object snapping can be disabled for individual objects or for all objects in the drawing. To disable object snapping for an individual object:
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Select the object.
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Right-click and select **Properties**. The **Properties** dialog box will appear.
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In the **Geometry** tab, deselect the **Snap to Object** check box. The object will no longer be snapped to when object snapping is enabled.
To disable object snapping for all objects in the drawing:
1.
Click the **Application** menu and select **Options**. The **Options** dialog box will appear.
2.
In the **Selection** tab, deselect the **Enable Object Snapping** check box. Object snapping will be disabled for all objects in the drawing.
The **Object Snap** tab in the **Options** dialog box provides additional options for customizing object snapping. For example, you can specify the size of the snap box and the snap modes that are available.
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Snap Box Size | Specifies the size of the snap box. The snap box is the area around the cursor that is used to snap to objects. |
| Snap Modes | Specifies the snap modes that are available. The snap modes determine the types of objects that can be snapped to. |
You can also create custom snap modes. To create a custom snap mode:
1.
Click the **New** button in the **Snap Modes** dialog box.
2.
Enter a name for the new snap mode.
3.
Select the objects that you want to snap to.
4.
Click the **OK** button.
The new snap mode will be added to the list of available snap modes. You can now use the new snap mode to snap to the specified objects.
Adjusting Selection Color Settings
To customize the color of highlighted objects in Civil 3D, follow these steps:
- Click on the “Settings” tab in the Civil 3D ribbon.
- In the “Display” panel, click on the “Selection” dropdown menu.
- Choose the desired color from the available options.
- Click on “Apply” to save your changes.
Customizing Selection Colors for Different Object Types
Civil 3D allows you to assign different colors to different object types, providing a more intuitive and organized visual hierarchy. To achieve this:
- Right-click on the “Selection” dropdown menu.
- Select “Customize…” from the context menu.
- In the “Selection Color Settings” dialog box, use the “Layer Filter” dropdown menu to specify the object types you want to customize.
- Choose the desired color for each object type.
- Click on “OK” to save your changes.
Below is a table summarizing the default selection colors assigned to different object types in Civil 3D:
| Object Type | Selection Color |
|---|---|
| Civil Objects | Blue |
| Survey Objects | Green |
| Grading Objects | Yellow |
| Surface Objects | Red |
Customizing Snapping Display
The Snapping Display tab in the Object Snaps dialog box allows you to customize the appearance of objects that are highlighted when you snap to them. You can change the color, size, and shape of the highlight, as well as the opacity and the display mode.
To customize the snapping display, follow these steps:
- Click the Object Snaps button on the Status bar.
- In the Object Snaps dialog box, click the Snapping Display tab.
- Use the Color drop-down list to select a color for the highlight.
- Use the Size drop-down list to select a size for the highlight.
- Use the Shape drop-down list to select a shape for the highlight.
- Use the Opacity slider to adjust the transparency of the highlight.
- Use the Display Mode drop-down list to select a display mode for the highlight. The available display modes are:
| Display Mode | Description |
|---|---|
| Highlight | The object is highlighted with a solid color. |
| Outline | The object is outlined with a solid color. |
| Center | A small crosshair is displayed at the center of the object. |
| Endpoint | A small arrow is displayed at the endpoint of the object. |
| Midpoint | A small circle is displayed at the midpoint of the object. |
| Perpendicular | A small perpendicular line is displayed at the point where the cursor is perpendicular to the object. |
| Tangent | A small tangent line is displayed at the point where the cursor is tangent to the object. |
Click OK to save your changes and close the Object Snaps dialog box.
Restoring Default Highlighting Options
To restore the default highlighting options in Civil 3D, follow these steps:
- Click the “Options” button on the Quick Access Toolbar.
- In the “Options” dialog box, select the “Display” tab.
- Expand the “Selection” section and ensure that the “Reset Highlight Options” checkbox is selected.
- Click the “OK” button to save your changes and restart Civil 3D.
- When Civil 3D restarts, the default highlighting options should be restored, which means that you should see a red box around selected objects while hovering over them in the drawing area.
- If the red box is not visible, you can manually enable it by right-clicking in the drawing area and selecting “Select Object” from the context menu. In the “Select Object” dialog box, ensure that the “Red Box and Grips (Quick Select)” option is selected.
Here is a table summarizing the steps to restore default highlighting options in Civil 3D:
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Click the “Options” button on the Quick Access Toolbar. |
| 2 | In the “Options” dialog box, select the “Display” tab. |
| 3 | Expand the “Selection” section and ensure that the “Reset Highlight Options” checkbox is selected. |
| 4 | Click the “OK” button to save your changes and restart Civil 3D. |
| 5 | When Civil 3D restarts, the default highlighting options should be restored. |
| 6 | If the red box is not visible, you can manually enable it by right-clicking in the drawing area and selecting “Select Object” from the context menu. In the “Select Object” dialog box, ensure that the “Red Box and Grips (Quick Select)” option is selected. |
Enhancing Selection Visibility
In Civil 3D, enhancing the visibility of selected objects can streamline your workflow and make it easier to identify and modify specific elements in your design. Here are some best practices:
**Use the Selection Preview Window**
The Selection Preview Window provides a quick preview of the selected objects and their properties. Hovering over an object in the preview window highlights the corresponding object in the drawing area, making it easy to locate.
**Adjust the Selection Color**
Customizing the selection color can enhance visibility, especially when working with large or complex drawings. To change the selection color, go to Options > Display Settings > Highlight Selection Color.
**Enable Selection Silhouettes**
Selection silhouettes create a 3D outline around selected objects, making them stand out from the background. This feature is particularly useful for visualizing objects in complex intersections or cluttered areas.
**Use the Selection Group Manager**
The Selection Group Manager allows you to group selected objects and assign custom colors to each group. This helps organize and differentiate objects based on their purpose or category, improving readability and identification.
**Manage Selection Filters**
Selection filters enable you to limit the selection to specific object types or properties. By excluding unwanted objects, you can focus on the relevant elements and enhance their visibility.
**Set the Selection Proximity**
Adjusting the Selection Proximity setting allows you to control the distance that surrounding objects are highlighted when an object is selected. This feature can help reduce visual clutter and isolate the desired object.
**Additional Tips**
Enhance the contrast between the selection color and the background by inverting the selection color setting. Consider using a light selection color on a dark background or vice versa. Additionally, adjust the display brightness to improve overall visibility.
| Property | Default Value | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Highlight Selection Color | Dark Blue | Customizes the color of selected objects |
| Silhouette Depth | 0.05 | Defines the thickness of the 3D silhouette outline |
| Selection Proximity | 0.25 | Controls the distance for highlighting surrounding objects |
| Selection Display Mode | Previous | Determines the behavior of the selection display |
Optimizing for Large Drawing Files
When working with large drawing files, performance can be a major concern. One of the most effective ways to improve performance is to turn off objects that are not currently being used.
Here are the steps on how to turn off objects highlighted in Civil 3D:
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Select the objects you want to turn off.
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Right-click and select "Object Properties" from the context menu.
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In the Object Properties dialog box, click on the "Display" tab.
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Under the "Visibility" section, uncheck the "Highlight" box.
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Click "OK" to save your changes.
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Repeat steps 1-5 for each object you want to turn off.
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Zoom Extents to see the changes.
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Advanced Options for Large Files:
For exceptionally large files, you may need to use additional strategies to improve performance. Consider the following:
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Disable Dynamic Display: Navigate to the "Drawing Settings" tab in the Options dialog box, locate the "Dynamic Display" section, and uncheck the "Enable Dynamic Display" option. This will disable the automatic display of objects as you zoom and pan, significantly reducing processing time.
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Reduce Object Display Quality: Open the "Object Display Options" dialog box from the "Tools" menu. Under the "Display Options" tab, adjust the "Object Display Quality" slider to a lower value. This will decrease the graphical detail of objects, further improving performance.
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Purge Unused Elements: Regularly purge unused elements from your drawing file using the "Purge" command in the "Drawing Utilities" tab. This removes unnecessary objects and data, reducing the file size and improving performance.
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Troubleshooting Highlighting Issues
If objects remain highlighted after pressing Esc, try the following troubleshooting steps:
1. Verify Object Selection
Ensure that no objects are still selected in the drawing. Check the Selection Info palette or use the Select Similar tool to confirm.
2. Disable Object Isolation
Turn off Object Isolation mode by clicking the “Isolate Objects” button in the Toolspace or typing “ISOLATEOFF” in the Command line.
3. Reset System Variables
Reset the PICKBOXCOLOR and PICKBOXSIZE system variables to their default values. Use the “SETVAR” command in the Command line.
4. Check Graphics Card Drivers
Ensure that your graphics card drivers are up to date.
5. Disable Hardware Acceleration
Turn off hardware acceleration in AutoCAD options (Options > System > Display > Disable Hardware Acceleration).
6. Disable Background Plotting
Disable background plotting by turning off the “Plot in Background” option in the Plotting dialog box.
7. Remove Temporary Files
Delete temporary files by typing “*.*” in the File Explorer search bar and clearing the “Temp” folder.
8. Restart AutoCAD
Close and restart AutoCAD to refresh the application.
9. Advanced Troubleshooting:
If the above steps do not resolve the issue, consider the following advanced measures:
| Troubleshooting Step | Details |
|---|---|
| Roll Back Feature Update | If a recent Windows or AutoCAD feature update caused the issue, rolling back to a previous version may help. |
| Reset Windows User Profile | Creating a new Windows user profile and reinstalling AutoCAD can resolve software conflicts. |
| Clean Reinstall AutoCAD | Uninstall AutoCAD and reinstall it after removing all related files and folders. |
How to Turn Off Objects Highlighted in Civil 3D
When working in AutoCAD Civil 3D, it can be helpful to highlight objects to make them easier to select and manipulate. However, there may be times when you want to turn off the highlighting to improve the visibility of your drawing or to avoid accidentally selecting the wrong objects.
Tips for Efficient Selection
Here are some tips for efficiently selecting objects in Civil 3D:
- Use the Object Selection window to select objects by type or property.
- Use the Quick Select tool to quickly select objects that meet certain criteria.
- Use the Selection Filter to narrow down the selection of objects.
- Use the Select Similar tool to select objects that are similar to a selected object.
- Use the Select Connected tool to select objects that are connected to a selected object.
- Use the Select by Region tool to select objects that are within a specified area.
- Use the Layer Isolation tool to isolate objects on a specific layer.
- Use the Object Snap tool to snap to specific points on objects.
- Use the Grip Editing tool to edit the shape and size of objects.
- Use the AutoCAD keyboard commands to select objects.
By following these tips, you can efficiently select objects in Civil 3D and improve your workflow.
Turning Off Object Highlighting
To turn off object highlighting in Civil 3D, you can use the following steps:
- Click on the “View” tab in the ribbon.
- In the “Graphics” panel, click on the “Highlight” button.
- Uncheck the “Enable Object Highlighting” checkbox.
You can also use the following keyboard shortcut to turn off object highlighting:
| Keyboard Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|
| CTRL + H | Toggle object highlighting on or off |
How to Turn Off Objects Highlighted in Civil 3D
In AutoCAD Civil 3D, objects can be highlighted for various reasons, such as when they are selected, hovered over, or part of a selection set. While highlighting can be useful for identifying and working with objects, it can also be distracting or visually cluttered, especially when working with complex drawings.
There are a few ways to turn off object highlighting in Civil 3D. One way is to use the “Selection Preview” command. This command toggles the display of selection previews, which are the highlighted outlines that appear around selected objects. To use the “Selection Preview” command, type “SELECTIONPREVIEW” at the command line and press Enter. Alternatively, you can click the “Selection Preview” button on the “Selection” panel of the Ribbon.
Another way to turn off object highlighting is to use the “Object Highlight Color” command. This command allows you to change the color of the object highlighting. To use the “Object Highlight Color” command, type “OBJECTHIGHLIGHTCOLOR” at the command line and press Enter. Alternatively, you can click the “Object Highlight Color” button on the “Selection” panel of the Ribbon.
Finally, you can also turn off object highlighting by changing the display style of the drawing. To do this, click the “Visual Styles” tab on the Ribbon and select a display style that does not include object highlighting. For example, the “2D Wireframe” display style does not show object highlighting.
People Also Ask
How to turn off object highlighting in Civil 3D when hovering?
To turn off object highlighting when hovering, use the “Object Hover Highlight” command. To use this command, type “OBJECTHOVERHIGHLIGHT” at the command line and press Enter. Alternatively, you can click the “Object Hover Highlight” button on the “Selection” panel of the Ribbon.
How to turn off object highlighting in Civil 3D for a specific object type?
To turn off object highlighting for a specific object type, use the “Object Highlight Filter” command. This command allows you to specify which object types are highlighted. To use the “Object Highlight Filter” command, type “OBJECTHIGHLIGHTFILTER” at the command line and press Enter. Alternatively, you can click the “Object Highlight Filter” button on the “Selection” panel of the Ribbon.
How to turn off object highlighting in Civil 3D when selecting multiple objects?
To turn off object highlighting when selecting multiple objects, use the “Selection Preview” command. This command toggles the display of selection previews, which are the highlighted outlines that appear around selected objects. To use the “Selection Preview” command, type “SELECTIONPREVIEW” at the command line and press Enter. Alternatively, you can click the “Selection Preview” button on the “Selection” panel of the Ribbon.
