is there an easier way?

[Dan]

Hi Tom,

It's me again. I have a few questions. First, is there an easier way to locate a component than going to find, searching through the ref. des.? It's seems to be taking me a long time to place my components.

Also, how does highlight work? I highlight a net, and it doesn't stay to the front? I have to keep clicking on it in order for it to stay in sight...... I end up shutting all the other layers off, but that doesn't help because I lose it, and can't see where it's going. Is there a way to just highlight the trace, shut off all the other routes so I can see only that highlighted trace?

Thanks,

Dan.

[Carl_at_xrite]

Dan,
Try cross probing from board to schematic for placement.
find it in the schematic and it will select the net or component in your pcb.
Carl

[phillipr]

You can find a component by simply typing (modless command)


S R245

Easy :)

[randychase]

Good info. When placing, I suggest:

Be in placing mode. Select the placing/move icon first.

Then type the modeless command SS <refdes>.

SS will pick up the component and move it to your cursor.

S will move you to the component.


Note, sometimes you can type SU1 and it will be fine (no space after S). But if the next letter is a new modeless command, such as SP or SR, it will not work.

Highlight (using the modeless N command) for me has limited value since as soon as you highlight a net, you can't tell (because of the color change) what layer it is on. I use it in limited fashion just as a quick check of where something goes or how my GND is connected, etc. Then I turn it back off. Highlight does not bring a net to the front.

What works MUCH better is to use the VIEW NETS dialogue box. Assign a color to the net. I do this for all my Power and Ground nets. Makes my life a lot easier.

[Tom]

Dan,

I hope by now you have found the answers you were looking for, but let me just summarize....

Looking for a component:
Let's assume that you are in the "Select Mode" (That's the Arrow ICON, always the first ICON in every tool box) Right Mouse Click and Select Components.

1. You can use the Keyboard Modeless command "S". Example: "S R1" <enter> and your cursor will move to the origin of resistor R1. You can also type "S R1.1" <enter> and your cursor will move to pin 1 of resistor R1.

2. You can use the Keyboard Modeless command "SS". That means "Search & Select". So when you type "SS R1" <enter> your cursor will move to the origin of resistor R1 and also select R1.

3. If you want a part, that is off your viewing screen, to come to your cursor, select the Design Tool Bar "Move Component" ICON and then type the modeless command "SS R1" and R1 will automatically attach itself to where ever your cursor is at. You can use the TAB key to rotate the part and your Space Bar or Left Mouse Button to drop the part.

Highlighting Nets
If you only want to see one net on your design and turn off all other nets (the engineers love this one) do the following:

1. Select View/Nets. On the left side of the dialog box is your Netlist. Select the first net, scroll down and Shift Click the last net. This will select all the netnames. Then click on the "ADD" button and your entire netlist will move into the View List. In the View List select "Default", scroll down and select the "last net". Then in the "View Details" box unselect "Traces Plus the Following Unroutes". This will turn off the "View Unroutes Details" box.
Then select the net of your choice, select the "Traces Plus the Following Unroutes" and select "OK". This will only display the net of your selection. Then you can go back to View/Nets and turn that net off and turn another net on and individually examine one net at a time.

2. If you're looking for an easy way just to "Highlight" a net temporarily, use the "N" modeless command. Type "N NETNAME" <enter>. This will Highlight the net with what ever color you have assigned in the "Color Display" menu under "Highlight" (lower left corner).

Hope this helps and let me know if you are still stumped. We'll get you moving in the right direction.

[Dan]

Thanks everyone...... I can search much easier now.....

I've got another question.......

How can I turn off the X mark showing on all Vias. I've got this board and have to make a change to it, but there are all these "X" marks on the vias?????

thanks,

Dan

[Tom]

Dan,

Select Setup / Preferences / Thermals / Show General Plane Indicators / Uncheck the Box / Select OK.