I have tried several options over the years, but now I use these settings. I…
Vectorworks Tip #026 – Preferences – Interactive Appearance Settings
I often find when I teach new users that they get confused by the Interactive Appearance settings. The settings can sometimes confuse users about which objects are selected and which objects are pre-selected.
I use these settings so that I can clearly see which objects are currently selected and which objects are about to be selected (pre-selection). To find these settings, go to the Vectorworks Preferences > Interactive > Interactive Appearance Settings…
These settings make it easy to see which objects are selected and which ones are pre-selected.