---
title: Effective selection in Abaqus/CAE
description: "## ## Introduction Selecting surfaces can be too time consuming if the powerful capabilities of CAE are not fully utilized. We will use an example to show how to select effectively. Here we present 2 different approaches. Method A is…"
url: "https://plm.systemworkx.de/en/docs/effective-selection-in-abaqus-cae/"
updated: "2023-07-17"
category: Knowledge Center / Simulation
---

# Effective selection in Abaqus/CAE

## ## Introduction

Selecting surfaces can be too time consuming if the powerful capabilities of CAE are not fully utilized. We will use an example to show how to select effectively. Here we present 2 different approaches. Method A is suitable if the geometry data has been imported. Method B is only feasible if the part of the geometry to be selected was created in Abaqus/CAE.

Example : Selecting all surfaces of the holes in the instance.

## ## Method A

1. set to "Select From Exterior Entities".

(see also worth knowing below)

 [![](https://plm.systemworkx.de/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Select_Bild1.png)](https://plm.systemworkx.de/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Select_Bild1.png)

2. drag frame around the entire instance and confirm. The inner surfaces are now deselected.

 [![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27110%27%20height%3D%27102%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%20110%20102%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%27110%27%20height%3D%27102%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E)](https://plm.systemworkx.de/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Select_Bild2.png)

3. Now set to "Remove Selected" and draw a frame around the areas to be removed by holding down the Shift key as shown on the right (here: 4 x red frame), then confirm.

 [![](https://plm.systemworkx.de/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Select_Bild4.png)](https://plm.systemworkx.de/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Select_Bild4.png)

All surfaces of the holes are now selected.
 Now create a surface set in step 4 using the Surface Manager.
 This procedure is used when the
 holes were created in a CAD system

 [![](https://plm.systemworkx.de/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Select_Bild5.png)](https://plm.systemworkx.de/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Select_Bild5.png)

## ## Method B

Method B is more efficient.

1. In the Part module, select the action(s) used to create the holes.
 Any number of actions can be selected (keep SHIFT key pressed)

 [![](https://plm.systemworkx.de/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Select_Bild6.png)](https://plm.systemworkx.de/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Select_Bild6.png)

2. Now select "Replace Selected".

The highlighted areas are selected.

 [![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27110%27%20height%3D%27102%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%20110%20102%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%27110%27%20height%3D%27102%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E)](https://plm.systemworkx.de/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Select_Bild2.png)

3. still in the part module
 create a surface from these surfaces.
 This appears in the assembly under the assigned name and the prefixed partner name.

This procedure is valid only if the holes were created in ABAQUS/CAE

 [![](https://plm.systemworkx.de/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Select_Bild8.png)](https://plm.systemworkx.de/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Select_Bild8.png)[![](https://plm.systemworkx.de/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Select_Bild9.png)](https://plm.systemworkx.de/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Select_Bild9.png)

## ## Worth knowing

Many symbols in Abaqus/CAE contain different commands. This can be recognized by the small black triangles, see picture below. If you move the mouse pointer to such a point and press and hold the left mouse button, a list of icons will appear. Now you can release the mouse button again and move the mouse over the symbols. The various functions are now briefly explained here.

 [![Abaqus CAE Mehrfachbelegung Symbole](https://plm.systemworkx.de/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Wissenswert_Abaqus-CAE_b1.png)](https://plm.systemworkx.de/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Wissenswert_Abaqus-CAE_b1.png)