Lines are available for placement in the schematic and schematic library editors in the following ways.
From the schematic editor:
- Choose Home | Graphical Elements | Polyline.
- Right-click in the design space then choose Place » Drawing Tools » Line.
From the schematic library editor:
- Choose Home | Circuit & Graphical Elements | Polyline.
- Right-click in the design space then choose Place » Line.
After launching the command, the cursor will change to a cross-hair and you will enter line placement mode. Placement is made by performing the following sequence of actions:
- Click or press Enter to anchor the starting point for the line.
- Position the cursor then click or press Enter to anchor a series of vertex points that define the shape of the line.
- Use the Backspace or Delete keys to remove the last line segment placed.
- After placing the final vertex point, right-click, or press Esc to complete placement of this line.
- Continue placing further line objects or right-click or press Esc to exit placement mode.
Additional actions that can be performed during placement while the line is still floating on the cursor:
- Press the Tab key to pause the placement and access the line mode of the Inspector panel in which its properties can be changed on the fly. Click the design space pause button overlay (
) to resume placement.
- Press the Spacebar to rotate the line counterclockwise or Shift+Spacebar for clockwise rotation. Rotation is in increments of 90°.
- Press the Alt key to constrain the direction of movement to the horizontal or vertical axis, depending on the initial direction of movement.
Graphical Editing
This method of editing allows you to select a placed line object directly in the design space and change its size and/or shape graphically.
When a line object is selected, the following editing handles are available:
A selected Line, ready for graphical editing
- Click and drag A to reposition the end points of the line.
- Click and drag B to move a line vertex. The end points will remain anchored.
- Click and drag on a line segment to grab that segment and reposition it. The end points and other vertices will remain anchored.
- Click and hold on a line segment then press Insert on the keyboard to add a vertex at that point.
- Click and hold on a vertex, then press Delete on the keyboard to remove that vertex.
With the line selected, click on a segment to individually select that segment. This line 'sub-selection' is distinguished by the associated editing handles becoming red in color.
Individual segment sub-selection.
To move an entire line, click and hold on the un-selected line then move to the new location.
To clear the selection of (or de-select) the object, use the Esc key.
Using a Line as an Arrow or Marker
The Inspector panel provides several options that can be used to change the style of a line. Using the Line, Line Style, Start Line Shape, End Line Shape, and Line Size Shape options, a large variety of arrow and marker designs can be achieved.
Some examples of Arrow and Marker designs that can be achieved.
Non-Graphical Editing
This method of editing uses the associated Inspector panel mode to modify the properties of a Polyline object.
During placement, the Polyline mode of the Inspector panel can be accessed by pressing the Tab key.
After placement, the Polyline mode of the Inspector panel can be accessed in one of the following ways:
- Double-click on the placed Polyline object outline.
- Place the cursor over the Polyline, right-click then choose Inspector from the context menu.
- If the Inspector panel is already active, select the Polyline object.
- With the line selected, click View | Schematic | Inspector from the main ribbons.
Editing Multiple Objects
The Inspector panel supports multiple object editing in which the property settings that are identical in all currently selected objects may be modified.
