Search Query Reference

Updated: June 02, 2026

This document is a reference guide for the syntax, operators, and conventions used in the Workspace hardware design search language. Search queries are based on a familiar field:value syntax, and can be used to perform quick, simple searches through to constructing powerful and precise queries.

Search Syntax and Guide

The below reference information is grouped by types of search targets (components, connections, etc), with each section including usage category sub-types, usage examples, and corresponding example queries.

Component Search

Use Category	Application Example	Query
Basics	Find a known component by its Designator.	`R14`
	Find a specific IC component by Designator.	`designator:U7`
	Find components by their Name/Comment (eg: ERJ-2RKF1002X, or "Capacitor 100nF +/-20% 50V 0402"]).	`comment:ERJ-2RKF1002X`
	Find components by their Value parameter (eg: 100nF, or 4.7k).	`value:100nF`
	Find components in a specific physical package (eg: QFN-48).	`package:0402`
	Find components that use a specific PCB footprint name.	`footprint:RESC0402`
Identifiers	Find components that are Surface Mount Devices (SMD).	`mounting:smd`
Identifiers	Find all Through-Hole Technology (THT) components.	`mounting:tht`
Types	Find all passive components (resistors, capacitors, inductors).	`type:passive`
	Find all active components (ICs, transistors, diodes).	`type:active`
	Find all components classified as connectors.	`type:connector`
Connections	Find components that contain a specific pin name or number.	`pin:SCLK`
Connections	Find components that contain pins with a specified direction. (eg: input, output, IO, etc). Also finds Ports with the specified direction.	`direction:output`
Parametric	Find components with a specific property or parameter (eg: Tolerance) of any value.	`has:tolerance`
	Find components where a parameter has a specific value	`tolerance:1%`
	Find components where a numeric parameter is in a range. Filter. Note that parameter names with a space character must be in quotes.	`"Voltage Rating":[3V to 5.5V]`
	Find components on the Top layer with a specific power rating parameter. Filter	`power:63mW layer:Top`

Net Search

Use Category	Application Example	Query
Basics	Find a known net by name.	`GND`
Basics	Find a specific power net by name (eg: VCC, GND, VSENSE).	`net:VCC3`
Classes	Find all nets that belong to a net class.	`netclass:analog`
	Find the nets of a specific differential pair.	`diffpair:USB_SYS`
	Find all net pairs in the differential pair class.	`diffpairclass:USB`

Connectivity

Use Category	Application Example	Query
Simple Search	Find component U3 and everything connected to it. Logical connection paths are also shown, where passive devices between active devices (eg: terminating resistors and coupling capacitors) are bypassed.	`connectsTo:U3`
Simple Search	Find the net 'SYS_CLK' and everything connected to it.	`connectsTo:SYS_CLK`
Advanced Search	Find component U3 and everything directly connected to it. Only physical (same-net) connections are shown – logical connections between active devices are not included.	`connectsTo.Direct:U3`
	Find component U3 and both physical and logical connections to it, but exclude connections to power rails.	`connectsTo.noPower:U3`
	Find component U3 and the physical (same-net) connections to it, but exclude connections to power rails.	`ConnectsTo.Direct:U3 ConnectsTo.NoPower:U3`
	Find the specific net connected to pin 5 of component U12.	`connectsTo:U12.5`
	Find the specific net connected to the 'D_CLK' input of component U12.	`connectsTo:U12.D_CLK`
	Find CAN bus nets on specific PCB layers (eg:L3 and Bottom). Filter	`net:can* layer:Bottom layer:L3`

Design Objects

Use Category	Application Example	Query
General Types	Find objects of a specific type [eg: pad, via, track].	`object:pad`
General Types	Find specific objects on a particular net (eg: vias in ground net). Filter	`object:via net:GND`
Advanced	Find tracks (traces) on PCB mid layers. (ie: not Top or Bottom layers). Filter	`object:track -layer:Top -layer:Bottom`
	Find all pins designated as outputs. Filter	`direction:output object:pin`
	Find all pads with the rectangular shape type. Filter	`object:pad shape:rectangle`

Logic & Range Filters

Use Category	Application Example	Query
Wildcards	Find all nets whose name includes multiple characters after 'VCC' (eg: VCC1, VCC_Digital, VCC_Analog).	`net:VCC*`
Wildcards	Find all components whose designators include a single character after 'C1' (ie: Capacitors C11 to C19)	`C1?`
Logic Combinations	Find Capacitors on the Top layer. Note that a space between search expressions is an implicit AND.	`type:Capacitor AND layer:Top`
	Find components using either the 0402 or 0603 package. Note that an OR logic expression should be enclosed in parentheses when used with AND logic.	`package:0402 OR package:0603`
	Show all connections to U1, but do not include those to the GND layer. Note that the '-' character is equivalent to the 'NOT' logic qualifier (-term:value).	`connectsto:U1 NOT Layer:GND`
Parentheses Logic	Find components using either the 0402 or 0603 package.	`package:(0402 OR 0603)`
Parentheses Logic	Find tracks (traces) on PCB mid layers. (ie: not Top or Bottom layers).	`object:track -layer:(Top or Bottom)`
Ranges	Find PCB tracks longer than a specified length. Note that the '>' character replaces the term's colon.	`object:Track tracklength>100mm`
	Find PCB pads with hole sizes greater than or equal to a specified diameter.	`object:Pad holesize>=0.6mm`
	Find resistors that have a value in a specified range. Note the use of square brackets.	`R* Value:[100k to 200k]`
	Find PCB nets with lengths from 1mm to 1.5mm. Will include connections (pads, vias, pins etc).	`NetLength:[1mm to 1.5mm]`

Hierarchical & Grouping Search

Use Category	Application Example	Query
Logical Groups	Find all components in the 'DecouplingCaps' component class.	`componentClass:DecouplingCaps`
Logical Groups	Find all nets belonging to the 'DDR_DATA' net class.	`netClass:DDR_DATA`
Physical Groups	Find all entities on a specified PCB layer (eg: Mid 3).	`layer:"Mid 3"`
Physical Groups	Find all components within the 'RF_Shield' room on the PCB.	`room:RF_Shield`

Physical Design

Use Category	Application Example	Query
Physical Properties	Find high-speed nets with traces longer than 50mm. Filter	`netClass:HighSpeed netlength>50mm`
	Show board traces (tracks) wider than 10 mil. Filter	`object:track trackwidth>10mil`
	Find vias with a drill hole size smaller than 8 mil. Filter	`object:via holesize<8mil`

Document Searches

Use Category	Application Example	Query
Document Objects	Find all objects on a design PCB document (eg: 'Module1').	`document:module1.pcbdoc`
	Find all objects on the 'Power' schematic document.	`sheet:power.schdoc`
	Find resistors on a specified schematic. Filter	`sheet:power.schdoc type:resistor`

Library Management

Use Category	Application Example	Query
Status	Find all components that have a PCB footprint but no 3D model. Filter	`has:footprint -has:model3d`
Status	Find any component that does not have a simulation model.	`-has:simulation_model`
Parts Source	Find used components from a specific library source (eg: Workspace, Internal parts stock, project.IntLib).	`Library_Path:”Company Stock”.`

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