Analysis Tool Question

[DanielBrown]

Have a question for you experienced pro/E guys and gals. I'm relatively new at using Pro/E (WF3), transitioning from SolidWorks, and I'm having a problem that perhaps I can get some help with. When I use the Analysis/measure/distance tool, I would REALLY like it to come up defaulting to select surfaces, instead of everything. Also, is there a way to make it stop picking features and edges THROUGH the part? Or at least give preference to the ones I'm pointing at on the facing side? I looked through the config.pro reference list for any option that I could see to set this, and I don't see anything. Didn't find anything with the forum search either. Really appreciate any pointers you guys can give me.
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[RickGiguere]

Try using the filters on the bottom right hand of the screen. For that analysis there are surface and edge filters. If its picking everything is probably set to all.

[JosephLord]

You can also use query select. On WF4 if you hover your mouse over an area on your model, and right click several times it will cycle through selections of model items (surfaces/edges) that are directly 'underneath' your mouse pointer. When the item you want is highlighted you can left click to select it. I came from solidworks, and I like ProE, but i don't get why it wants you to select something at the BACK of your model when you just want to select the surface right in front of you...

[JonathanHodgson]

^^^ What he said. PTC people, could you have a look at re-writing the select sequence? Not only does it seem to give preference to entities which aren't visible; but it gives preference to vertices and edges, which are normally the least desired items when you're creating references. It's all backwards.

[DanielBrown]

Richard; That's what I was meaning in my initial post, it starts defaulted to "all", and I am searching for a way to default it to "surfaces", perhaps through a config.pro option? Joseph; I didn't know about right-clicking scrolling through objects, I'll have to give that a shot. At least it's faster than using "select from list" until I can find a way to make it pick the surface you've got your POINTER ON.

[RickGiguere]

Also, keep an eye on the bottom left hand of the screen when selecting,it will display(surface, edge, curve, ect.) what the curser is highlighting, I never rely on what my curser is actually on in the screen. You will find selecting in pro/e is an art, there is a lot to it. You will need to learn how to use the control and shift key when selecting as time goes by. It actually all makes sense when you get figured out.

[DanielBrown]

I hadn't noticed the selection ID thing in the lower left, that should be handy. Thanks! It doesn't seem too bad, most of the commands are very similar to what I'm used to. Of course, this version of Pro-E is older than the SolidWorks I'm familiar with, so it makes sense that the user interface is a little less well evolved. We are theoretically upgrading to WF5 here before too long, which I hope will make some of these things a tad easier.