Select front panel or block diagram objects in LabVIEW for editing tasks such as moving, copying, or deleting.

For many editing operations, such as moving, copying, and deleting, you must select an object. Clicking an unselected object or clicking an open area deselects everything currently selected.

You cannot select a front panel object and a block diagram object at the same time.

Note If automatic tool selection is enabled, you must deselect an object that the cursor is over to switch from the Positioning tool to another tool.

To select objects on the LabVIEW while editing a front panel or block diagram, complete the following steps.

Selecting Objects One by One

Select front panel or block diagram objects by clicking them with the Positioning tool. Shift click to add objects to or remove objects from the selection one by one.

  1. Move the Positioning tool until the point of the arrow is on the object you want to select.

    If automatic tool selection is enabled, you can press Shift to temporarily switch to the Positioning tool.

  2. Click the mouse button.

    A moving dashed outline called a marquee highlights the object.

  3. Optional: To select or deselect additional objects, press Shift and click the objects.

Selecting Multiple Objects at Once

Select multiple front panel or block diagram objects by dragging a selection rectangle around the objects.

  1. Use the Positioning tool to click and hold in an open area on the front panel or block diagram.
  2. Optional: To have the selection rectangle select a structure or wire as soon as the rectangle touches the object, press Spacebar.

    By default, you must enclose an entire structure or the midpoint of a wire segment to select it with a selection rectangle.

    Press Spacebar again to toggle back to the default behavior.

  3. Drag diagonally until the selection rectangle includes or touches all the objects you want to select.

    When you select objects, the area covered by the selection rectangle displays in gray. A marquee highlights the selected objects. Selected structures appear with a darker background to indicate that your selection includes the structures.

  4. To make the selection, release the mouse button.
  5. Optional: To select or deselect additional objects, press Shift and click the objects.