How to Use OVERKILL and Selection Cycling in AutoCAD
Overlapping lines and duplicate objects can make AutoCAD drawings more difficult to manage. They can also lead to unnecessary geometry, selection problems and larger drawing files.
Fortunately, AutoCAD includes two useful tools to help manage these issues: OVERKILL and Selection Cycling.
Although they serve different purposes, both can make working with detailed drawings easier. OVERKILL helps remove duplicate or overlapping geometry, while Selection Cycling allows you to identify and select individual objects when several occupy the same area.
Here's how to use both tools to keep your drawings organised.
What Is the OVERKILL Command in AutoCAD?
The OVERKILL command is a drawing clean-up tool that identifies and removes duplicate or overlapping objects.
When working with drawings from multiple sources, copying geometry or making frequent revisions, it's easy to end up with lines or other objects positioned directly on top of one another.
These duplicates aren't always visible, but they can cause problems when editing drawings or preparing files for other applications.
OVERKILL can help by:
- Removing duplicate lines, arcs and polylines.
- Combining partially overlapping or adjoining geometry where appropriate.
- Reducing unnecessary objects within a drawing.
- Helping simplify drawing geometry and potentially reduce file size.
Rather than manually checking individual objects, OVERKILL can process multiple selected objects in a single operation.
How to Use OVERKILL in AutoCAD
Using the OVERKILL command is straightforward, although it's worth reviewing the settings before making changes to your drawing.
Step 1: Open Your Drawing
Open the AutoCAD drawing you want to clean up.
If you're working with an important project file, consider saving a copy before removing duplicate geometry.
Step 2: Start the OVERKILL Command
Type OVERKILL into the command line and press Enter.
Alternatively, navigate to Home > Modify > Delete Duplicate Objects in the ribbon.
Step 3: Select Your Objects
Select the objects you want AutoCAD to check for duplicates.
You can select a particular area of your drawing or type ALL to include all eligible objects in the current selection space.
Press Enter to continue.
Step 4: Review the OVERKILL Settings
The Delete Duplicate Objects dialogue box will appear.
Here, you can control how AutoCAD identifies and processes overlapping geometry.
For example, you can choose whether AutoCAD should consider differences in object properties, such as layers, colours or linetypes.
Step 5: Remove Duplicate Geometry
Once you're happy with your settings, click OK.
AutoCAD will process the selected objects, removing duplicates and combining eligible overlapping geometry according to your chosen settings.
Understanding the OVERKILL Settings
The OVERKILL dialogue box provides several options to help control how duplicate objects are identified
Ignore Object Properties
By default, AutoCAD considers object properties when comparing geometry. However, you can choose to ignore certain properties, including:
- Colour
- Layer
- Linetype
- Linetype scale
- Lineweight
- Thickness
- Transparency
- Plot style
For example, if two identical lines exist on different layers, you may want to keep both because they serve different purposes. Ignoring the layer property could cause AutoCAD to treat these objects as duplicates.
Keeping your layers organised can help you identify which objects should be retained. AutoCAD's Layer Properties Manager makes it easier to manage layer visibility, colours, linetypes and other properties, giving you greater control over your drawing.
Tolerance
The tolerance setting controls how precisely AutoCAD compares objects when checking for duplicates.
A tolerance of zero requires a more exact geometric match, while increasing the tolerance allows small differences to be considered. For drawings where accuracy is particularly important, review this setting carefully before processing geometry.
Combine Overlapping Objects
OVERKILL can do more than remove identical objects.
Depending on your settings, it can also combine partially overlapping or adjoining lines, arcs and polylines. This can be useful when cleaning up imported drawings or simplifying geometry that has been created through multiple editing operations.
TMS Tip: If you're unsure which settings to use, start with the default options on a copy of your drawing. Review the results before applying more extensive changes.
What Is Selection Cycling in AutoCAD?
While OVERKILL removes duplicate geometry, Selection Cycling helps you identify and select overlapping objects without deleting them.
When several objects occupy the same location, selecting the correct one can be difficult, particularly in detailed drawings. Selection Cycling makes this easier by displaying a list of available objects, allowing you to choose exactly which one you want to work with.
This is particularly useful when working with:
- Overlapping lines and polylines.
- Hatches and drawing boundaries.
- Complex architectural or engineering drawings.
- Objects that appear stacked but have different elevations.
Instead of moving or hiding objects to access the one you need, Selection Cycling allows you to select it directly.
AutoCAD also includes other tools to make selecting geometry easier. For example, Selection Preview highlights objects before you select them, helping you identify the correct geometry in busy drawings.
How to Enable Selection Cycling in AutoCAD
There are several ways to enable Selection Cycling.
Option 1: Use the Status Bar
Locate the status bar at the bottom of the AutoCAD window.
If the Selection Cycling icon isn't visible, click the Customisation button at the right-hand end of the status bar.
Enable Selection Cycling from the available options.
Click the Selection Cycling icon to turn the feature on.
Once enabled, AutoCAD can display a small overlapping-object indicator near your cursor when multiple objects are available for selection.
Option 2: Use the Keyboard Shortcut
Press Ctrl + W to toggle Selection Cycling on or off.
This is useful if you regularly switch between detailed selection work and general drawing tasks.
Option 3: Use the SELECTIONCYCLING System Variable
For more control, type SELECTIONCYCLING into the command line.
You can then enter one of the following values:
|
Value |
Function |
|
0 |
Turns Selection Cycling off |
|
1 |
Enables Selection Cycling without displaying the selection list |
|
2 |
Enables Selection Cycling and displays the selection list |
Setting the value to 2 is generally the most useful option when you want to identify individual overlapping objects.
How to Select Overlapping Objects in AutoCAD
Once Selection Cycling is enabled:
- Move your cursor over an area containing overlapping objects.
- Click where the objects overlap.
- AutoCAD displays a selection list showing the available objects.
- Move through the list to highlight the corresponding geometry.
- Click the object you want to select.
You can then edit, move, delete or modify the selected object as normal.
Using Shift + Spacebar
You can also use Shift + Spacebar to cycle through overlapping objects.
This provides a useful alternative when you don't want to use the selection list. When prompted to select an object, hold Shift and press Spacebar to cycle through the available overlapping objects, then confirm the required selection.
Customising Selection Cycling Settings
If you regularly work with overlapping geometry, you can adjust how Selection Cycling behaves.
Right-click the Selection Cycling icon on the status bar and select Selection Cycling Settings. Alternatively, enter DSETTINGS into the command line and open the Selection Cycling tab.
Depending on your preferences, you can adjust options such as:
- Whether the selection list appears.
- The position of the selection list relative to your cursor.
- Whether the selection list displays a title bar.
These settings can be particularly useful when working with complex drawings where overlapping objects are common.
OVERKILL vs Selection Cycling: What's the Difference?
Although both tools help manage overlapping objects, they work in different ways.
|
OVERKILL |
Selection Cycling |
|
Removes duplicate or overlapping geometry |
Identifies overlapping objects
|
|
Helps clean up drawing files |
Helps improve object selection |
|
Can combine eligible overlapping objects |
Allows individual objects to be selected |
|
Changes drawing geometry |
Does not change geometry by itself |
|
Useful for drawing maintenance |
Useful during everyday editing |
The important distinction is that OVERKILL removes or combines geometry, while Selection Cycling gives you greater control over what you select.
When Should You Use Both Commands?
OVERKILL and Selection Cycling can be particularly useful when working with drawings that contain imported geometry, repeated objects or multiple layers of information.
For example, you might receive an AutoCAD drawing containing several overlapping lines. Using Selection Cycling, you can inspect the objects and identify whether they serve different purposes.
If you discover unnecessary duplicate geometry, you can then use OVERKILL to clean up the affected area.
Using the tools together gives you greater control over your drawing without removing objects unnecessarily. It's also worth remembering that not all overlapping geometry is redundant. Objects may appear identical but belong to different layers or serve different functions within a project.
Taking the time to review these details can help avoid unwanted changes.
Keep Your AutoCAD Drawings Organised
Small improvements to the way you manage drawings can make a difference to everyday workflows.
OVERKILL provides a practical way to remove unnecessary geometry, while Selection Cycling makes it easier to work with overlapping objects in detailed drawings.
Whether you're cleaning up an existing file or working on a complex project, understanding these tools can help you work more efficiently and maintain better control over your drawings.
Get More from Your AutoCAD Software
Looking to improve your AutoCAD skills? At TMS CADCentre, we offer instructor-led AutoCAD training, delivered by Autodesk Certified Trainers, to help you build confidence and get more from your software.
Whether you're new to AutoCAD or looking to develop your existing skills, our team can help you find the right training.
