Applied Parameters: None
Summary
This command is used to place a Bezier object onto the active document. A Bezier curve is a non-electrical drawing primitive. It is a free-form curved line that can be placed on a schematic sheet. The curve is defined by a series of vertex points that 'pull' the line into a curved shape.
For detailed information about this object type, see
Bezier.
Access
Beziers are available for placement in both Schematic and Schematic Library Editors:
- Schematic Editor - the following commands are available:
- Choose Place » Drawing Tools » Bezier from the main menus.
- Right-click then choose Place » Drawing Tools » Bezier from the context menu.
- Click the
button on the Active Bar.
If the command has been recently used from the Active Bar, it will become the active/visible button. Where other commands are available, this is indicated by a triangle at the bottom-right corner of the button. Click and hold on the active button to access a menu of all associated commands for that grouping.
- Schematic Library Editor - the following commands are available:
- Choose Place » Bezier from the main menus.
- Right-click then choose Place » Bezier from the context menu.
- Click the button on the Active Bar.
If the command has been recently used from the Active Bar, it will become the active/visible button. Where other commands are available, this is indicated by a triangle at the bottom-right corner of the button. Click and hold on the active button to access a menu of all associated commands for that grouping.
Use
After launching the command, the cursor will change to a cross-hair and you will enter Bezier placement mode. Placement is made by performing the following sequence of actions:
- Click or press Enter to anchor the starting point for the curve.
- Move the cursor then click or press Enter to place a series of vertex points to define the curve. As you move the cursor, the curve will be continually redrawn to indicate how it would look if you placed a vertex at the cursor position.
- After placing the final vertex point, right-click or press Esc to complete placement of the curve.
- Continue placing further Bezier curves or right-click or press Esc to exit placement mode.
At any time during placement, press the
Tab key to access the
Properties panel from where properties for the object can be changed on-the-fly. Pressing
Tab pauses placement, allowing you to interact with the panel (or other area of the software) directly. To resume, click the pause symbol that appears over the workspace or press
Esc.
Additional actions that can be performed during placement are:
- Press the Alt key to constrain the direction of movement to the horizontal or vertical axis, depending on the initial direction of movement.
Tips
- The minimum number of vertices required to define a Bezier curve is four points. After four clicks, the Bezier no longer appears attached to the cursor, however, if you continue to click, the last vertex on the just-defined Bezier will be used as the first vertex on the next Bezier. If you right-click once after finishing the first four-point Bezier, you will terminate the current Bezier placement but remain in Bezier placement mode ready to start a new one.
- For information on how a placed Bezier object can be modified graphically, directly in the workspace, refer to Bezier.
- While attributes can be modified during placement (Tab to open the Properties panel, keep in mind that these will become the default settings for further placement unless the Permanent option on the Schematic – Defaults page of the Preferences dialog is enabled. When this option is enabled, changes made will affect only the object being placed and subsequent objects placed during the same placement session.
