# Selecting items in the map

From the map you can select points, lines, arcs, and polylines in the job, as well as items from linked files, including items in a BIM model or scan points from scan point files.

Software forms appear next to the map so that you can still view the map and select items from the map when the form is open.

- To select items from a linked file, the file and the feature layer within the file must be made selectable in the Layer manager. See Managing map file layers. You cannot select points in background images displayed in the map.

- To select a surface, the BIM model must be shown in the map as a solid object, not as a wireframe. See Map data transparency.

Selecting single points or items

You can select single points or items in the map when using the Select and pan or Rectangle selection tools on the Map toolbar.

To select an item in the map, tap it in the map. The point, line, arc, polyline or polygon you selected is shown in blue.

- If you are working in a form that appears alongside the map, for any field where you need to enter a point or item name, tap the point or item in the map to select it. The name of the selected item appears in the field on the form.

  For some Cogo and Stakeout functions, when you select items from the map and then select the function, the selected items are automatically entered into the appropriate fields.

- If there are several items close together, when you tap an item in the map a list of nearby items appears. Select the items as required and then tap OK.

- When selecting a line, arc, or polyline to stakeout, tap near the end of the line, arc, or polyline that you want to designate as the start. Arrows are then drawn on the item to indicate the direction.

  If the direction is not correct, tap the item to deselect it and then tap it at the correct end to reselect the direction required.

  The direction of alignment and road files is defined when they are created, and cannot be changed.

Selecting multiple points or items

To select multiple points or items in the map, press the Ctrl key on the controller and then tap the items in the map to select them, or use the multi-select button in the Map toolbar.

Items in a BIM file cannot be selected using Rectangle selection or Polygon selection.

The multi-select button toggles between Rectangle selection or Polygon selection. Tap the button to change from Rectangle selection to Polygon selection and back.

- To draw a rectangular box around items in the map, tap Rectangle selection in the Map toolbar and then drag a box around the items you want to select. Items inside or partially inside the rectangle drawn on the map are colored blue to indicate they are selected.

- To draw a polygon shape around items in the map, tap Polygon selectionin the Map toolbar and then tap in the map to create a polygon shape around the items you want to select. Keep tapping in the map to add nodes to the polygon.

  If you need to undo the last node added, tap . To delete the polygon (for example, to start again) tap .

  When you are done adding nodes, tap to close the polygon. The polygon shape disappears from the map and items inside or partially inside the polygon are colored blue to indicate they are selected.

- When multiple items are selected using Rectangle selection or Polygon selection mode they are typically sorted in the order in which they are stored in the database. If the order of the items in the selection is important, you should select them one by one.

- When in Rectangle selection mode you can still tap a single point or line to select it if you are not currently drawing a rectangle.

Stakeout and review allow a maximum of 20 point cloud points to be selected at a time. Selecting points from point clouds using the drag and select method cannot be used for stakeout or review, as this method typically selects more than 20 points. To select point cloud points for stakeout or review, tap them individually in the map to select them.

To deselect items from the map

The fastest way to clear any selection in the map is to double-tap an empty part of the map. Alternatively, tap and hold in the map and select Clear selection.

To deselect some of the selected items:

- Tap the selected item again to deselect it. The color of the item changes from blue to its usual color.
- Tap and hold in the map and select List selection. A list of the selected items appears. Deselect the items as required.

If the softkey at the bottom right of the map shows Stakeout, there are items selected in the map. When there are no items selected in the map, the softkey at the bottom right of the map shows Measure.