Selecting Entities Using the Input Collector

Input collectors allow you to select entities in a model to which you can apply panel functions. An input collector contains an entity type selection switch, an entity type button, and a reset button. An input collector is active when the entity type button is enclosed in a blue rectangle, as shown in the image below.

input_collector_w_callouts

Input collector – elements selected

There are five types of input collectors:

Nodes	Nodes	Nodes on graphic representation (such as ellipsoids, cylinders, etc.)
Elements	Elements	Elements on graphic representation
Components	Components	Components on graphic representation
Assemblies	Hierarchical component sets	Body
Systems	Local coordinate system	Marker

After activating the input collector, you are able to select entities by:

•	Picking entities from the screen.

•	Using the Quick window selection.

•	Using the Extended entity selection menu.

An input collector entity type in the plural form, such as "elements", indicates that you are able to select more than one entity from your model. An input collector entity type in the singular form, such as "node", indicates that you can select only one entity from your model at a time.

When you need to define a plane by specifying a plane's normal vector, the input collector allows you to select nodes one at a time by entering the node ID. Similar to the standard input collector described earlier, the active node is surrounded by a blue square. Click the entity type selection switch to change the input collector type, and click the reset button to reset the input collector.

Examples of this type of input collector include:

Plane normal vector definition

When you click N1, N2, or N3 on the collector pictured above, the Select by ID dialog is displayed:

select_nodes_by_id_dialog

Select by ID dialog

Look in allows you to select which pool contains the entity. For example in the case of elements, ID 1 could be in the Shell pool or the Solid Pool (if the model has duplicated IDs), therefore you would need to specify a pool for selecting a unique entity.

If All is specified, all the entities with duplicate IDs are selected.

Plane normal vector definition using the global axis

How Do I....

1.	Click the entity type selection switch to access the pop-up menu of possible entity types.

input_collector_w_callouts

2.	Select the type you want to use.

Click the reset button, , to deselect all entities.

Click the entity type button on the input collector to access the extended entity selection menu. A pop-up menu containing the available selection techniques is displayed. This menu allows alternative methods for selecting elements of the specified entity type. The options displayed on the extended entity selection menu are dependent upon the active input collector.

input_collector_w_callouts

2.	Select an entity selection technique from the menu. The selected entities are highlighted on the screen.

Fill in any secondary dialog that is displayed. The selected entities are highlighted on the screen.

See Extended Entity Selection Menu for more information.