How to Group Objects in AutoCAD 2018?

Understanding Groups in AutoCAD

Grouping in AutoCAD is a powerful feature that allows users to combine multiple drawing objects into a single unit. This makes it easier to manipulate those objects collectively rather than individually. When an object is part of a group, selecting any member of that group automatically selects all the objects included.

How to Create a Group in AutoCAD 2025

1. Select Objects: Begin by selecting the drawing objects you wish to group. You can do this by clicking each object while holding down the Shift key for multiple selections.

2. Use the Group Command: Type GROUP in the command prompt and hit Enter. This command opens the Object Grouping dialog box.

3. Name the Group: In the dialog box, you can assign a name to your newly created group. This makes it easier to recognize and select later.

4. Confirm the Group: Click OK to finalize your group. Now, you will have a functioning group that you can manipulate as a single entity.

Enabling a Group for Use

To activate and highlight a group in your AutoCAD workspace, follow these steps:

1. Invoke the Group Command: At the command prompt, enter GROUP.

2. Select Your Group: In the Object Grouping dialog, find the group you want from the list.

3. Highlight the Group: Click the ‘Highlight’ button, which highlights the group on your drawing area.

4. Continue: Click the Continue button to exit the dialog box. Your group will now be ready for use.

Difference Between a Group and a Block

Both groups and blocks serve similar purposes, yet they differ significantly:

• Groups: A group is a collection of objects that exist together but remain independent. If you modify one object in a group, it does not affect others in the group.
• Blocks: Blocks are essentially reusable objects in AutoCAD. A block reference means if you change a block definition, all instances of that block are updated automatically.

Managing Groups

Hiding a Group

To hide a group of objects:

1. Select the Objects: Choose the objects you wish to hide.

2. Isolate: Right-click to open the contextual menu and select ‘Isolate’ followed by ‘Hide Objects’. This will hide the selected group while keeping other objects visible.

Ungrouping Objects

If you need to separate members of a group:

1. Select the Group: Click on the group that you wish to ungroup.

2. Use the Ungroup Command: Navigate to the Home tab. In the Groups panel, click on ‘Ungroup’. Your selected group will be broken apart into its individual components.

Adding to a Group

To add additional objects to an existing group:

1. Select the Existing Group: Click on the group to select it.

2. Hold Shift: While still selected, hold down the Shift key and click on the new object you want to add.

3. Group Command: After selecting all desired objects, press Ctrl + G to group them together.

Selecting a Group

Select a group by name using the following steps:

1. Enter Selection Command: Type SELECT in the command prompt.

2. Choose Group Selection: Type GROUP or simply G and hit Enter.

3. Name Your Group: You will be prompted to provide the group name for selection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Can I group layers in AutoCAD?
Yes, layers can be grouped using Group Filters, either manually or automatically, depending on their properties.

Q2: Is it possible to explode a group in AutoCAD?
No, groups cannot be exploded in the same way as blocks. To modify a grouped object, you must first ungroup it.

Q3: How can I edit an existing group in AutoCAD?
Editing a group typically involves selecting the group and modifying its components directly, or you can use the Properties palette to access specific attributes of the group.