Problem changing the colour of multiple objects in a busy drawing

[mickwall350841]

AutoCAD 2013 user
I've got a large site plan and I want to change everything bar one building to the colour blue. When I use the mouse to select a large area it won't let me change the colour of the selection. However it will let me select and change in small amounts. Is there a variable i need to change or how do I fix this issue.

Thanks
Michael

[Tom Beauford]

My AutoCAD recomendations
Everything bylayer
Don't draw on layer 0
Exception is block entities which should be byblock and usually on layer 0
Use as many Dimension Styles as you need, avoid using overrides

Save the current layer state so you can go back to it in the future, then set all the layers except the one the building is on to blue.

[mickwall350841]

Thanks for the reply.

This problem is local to my machine, when a colleague of mine opens it on his machine there is no problem selecting everything and changing the colour.
I have a feeling it's a variable that needs to be changed. It's like when I select over a certain number of elements the command does not work.

[Wanderer]

Thanks for the reply.

This problem is local to my machine, when a colleague of mine opens it on his machine there is no problem selecting everything and changing the colour.
I have a feeling it's a variable that needs to be changed. It's like when I select over a certain number of elements the command does not work.

Typically, when I've been unable to change an option via the properties palette, it's been because I included an object in the selection set that does not have that property (so it shows up grayed out/unselectable on the palette). I can't imagine what that would be in this case of color, though.

I can't think of a system variable that might affect this, but, you could always use SETVAR to obtain a list of all your sysvars from your machine, then paste it into a spreadsheet, and do the same on your coworkers computer, to be able to compare the two.

[mickwall350841]

Thanks for that Wanderer

I'll keep looking for now.

[rkmcswain]

...I have a feeling it's a variable that needs to be changed.


.....you could always use SETVAR to obtain a list of all your sysvars from your machine, then paste it into a spreadsheet, and do the same on your coworkers computer, to be able to compare the two.

Or you could use the express tool command SYSVDLG which will allow you to export the list of variables (from your co-workers machine) to a .SVF file, which can be imported on your machine using the same command SYSVDLG.

[mickwall350841]

Or you could use the express tool command SYSVDLG which will allow you to export the list of variables (from your co-workers machine) to a .SVF file, which can be imported on your machine using the same command SYSVDLG.

interesting, I'm sure that would work but then I'd be stuck with all his other variable settings which suit him but might not suit me.
thanks for the reply.

[Tom Beauford]

Try the CHANGE command. You have to enter it at the command line, hasn't been in the menu in many years.

[mickwall350841]

Try the CHANGE command. You have to enter it at the command line, hasn't been in the menu in many years.

Thanks again but no, did not work. I'll keep looking today in my spare time

[rkmcswain]

So lets back up and look at this from the beginning.
You say that when you select a large number of items, it won't let you change the color.
(a) How many is "large number"?
(b) How are you trying to change the color, with the properties palette, the color drop down in the ribbon or toolbar, or something else?
(c) At what point does it let you change the color? When you select 5, 10, 100, 500?

What I'm driving at is.... are you able to "select" all of the objects, but the modification command is failing to act on that selection set --or-- is the selection set not being populated with everything you select?

[mickwall350841]

Hi there
ok so, to answer your questions in order

(a) the site plan has 14081 items - I got this from using the erase command, when it tells you how many objects you've selected.

(b) I'm trying to change them with the colour drop-down

(c) Up to what point it lets me change, well it seems to let me select 2000 objects and change the colour without a problem. Beyond that causes the problem.
That's a a rough number as I couldn't tell exactly when it stops working properly. I'd have to do some sort of test like draw 2500 lines and find the exact number where the problem occurs.

And to answer your final part Yes - I'm able to "select" all of the objects, but the modification command is failing to act on that selection set.

thanks for the reply.

[rkmcswain]

(b) I'm trying to change them with the colour drop-down



The color drop down in the Ribbon, Properties Toolbar, or Properties palette?
Or better yet, have you tried all three of them?

Just before I sent this, I made a 120x120 array of points (14,400 objects) and tried to change the color.
The color drop down in the Ribbon did NOT work (until I stepped down the selection to ±2000 objects)
The color drop downs in the Properties palette and in the Properties toolbar DID work just fine - on all 14,400 objects.

Try using those controls and see if it works.

[rkmcswain]

Here is an animation of what I did.

88740

[mickwall350841]

well rkmcswain you've solved it for me. Your idea works. Thanks very much.

Just so you know I was using the colour drop-down on the Ribbon.
I wonder is this a glitch in the programming or is there a variable that covers it?

Anyway, thanks again to every one who's chipped in.

Michael

[rkmcswain]

well rkmcswain you've solved it for me. Your idea works. Thanks very much.

Just so you know I was using the colour drop-down on the Ribbon.
I wonder is this a glitch in the programming or is there a variable that covers it?

Anyway, thanks again to every one who's chipped in.

Michael

I don't know of any sysvar that would control that, I think it's a bug.

[irneb]

This problem is local to my machine, when a colleague of mine opens it on his machine there is no problem selecting everything and changing the colour.
I have a feeling it's a variable that needs to be changed. It's like when I select over a certain number of elements the command does not work.


Just before I sent this, I made a 120x120 array of points (14,400 objects) and tried to change the color.
The color drop down in the Ribbon did NOT work (until I stepped down the selection to ±2000 objects)
The color drop downs in the Properties palette and in the Properties toolbar DID work just fine - on all 14,400 objects.This is strange. Are you sure your colleague's machine works when changing 14,000 objects' colour through the ribbon? Was he perhaps using something else to change the colour through the ribbon?

[mickwall350841]

Yes, positive. I just went over to his machine and he did it while I watched.

There is a bit of a difference in that his AutoCAD 2013 program is part of his Civil 3d package, where as mine is just plain AutoCAD 2013.

[rkmcswain]

There is a bit of a difference in that his AutoCAD 2013 program is part of his Civil 3d package, where as mine is just plain AutoCAD 2013.

My test (above) was using Civil 3D 2013 also.

[mickwall350841]

My test (above) was using Civil 3D 2013 also.

I was wrong, I asked him to do it again and he's actually set up the interface as AutoCAD Classic and using one of the toolbars (if that's what they're called) to change it.
I then got him to put the ribbon up and when he tried to change it through the drop-down on the ribbon, it would not work.

[rkmcswain]

I was wrong, I asked him to do it again and he's actually set up the interface as AutoCAD Classic and using one of the toolbars (if that's what they're called) to change it.


I'm using the stock Civil 3D workspace, but I still use the toolbars for a lot of things, notably the layers drop down - since the toolbars are static no matter what Ribbon tab you may be on.

[mickwall350841]

I'm using the stock Civil 3D workspace, but I still use the toolbars for a lot of things, notably the layers drop down - since the toolbars are static no matter what Ribbon tab you may be on.

Ok I got a screenshot of my workmates screen as he was about to change the objects, like yourself I set up a 120x120 object grid.

88758

[reikajapan]

Options, Selection, Contextual Tab States, Object selection maximum for contextual tab display
or
RIBBONCONTEXTSELLIM

bump to higher number.

[mickwall350841]

Options, Selection, Contextual Tab States, Object selection maximum for contextual tab display
or
RIBBONCONTEXTSELLIM

bump to higher number.

well there you go, bang on.
That sorts that. Thank you very much.
That's the exact piece of info I was looking for.

Again thanks to all for their input.

[rkmcswain]

well there you go, bang on.
That sorts that. Thank you very much.
That's the exact piece of info I was looking for.

Again thanks to all for their input.

I know Autodesk will say "works as designed", but when a design causes this much confusion - it's a bug.
There is really no reason one control should work, while another one doesn't.
At the very least it should be consistent, even if it's consistently wrong...

Thanks reikajapan!

[irneb]

I know Autodesk will say "works as designed", but when a design causes this much confusion - it's a bug.
There is really no reason one control should work, while another one doesn't.
At the very least it should be consistent, even if it's consistently wrong...

Thanks reikajapan!You'll probably find this was something they added to make the 2009/2010 ribbons work faster. Remember when they were the snails of yonder? So no wonder it's such a "hidden" sysvar. ADesk certainly don't want you to know that they broke something in order to make their new-fangled ribbon more palatable.

Thanks reikajapan for finding it for us! :beer: