Altium Designer Documentation

DeSelect

Created: January 18, 2023 | Updated: January 18, 2023
Applies to Altium Designer version: 22

Parent page: PCB Commands

The following pre-packaged resources, derived from this base command, are available:


Applied Parameters: Scope = Lasso

Summary

This command is used to deselect design objects within a user-defined 'lasso' area. The feature provides two modes of operation:

  • Free-form - like a true lasso, you can draw a free-hand selection area to incorporate the design objects required.
  • Polyline - providing a polygonal 'lasso', this mode may be preferable to the free-form mode when there is a need to deselect objects more precisely. This mode is quite useful on designs that have components rotated at 45 degrees or when working on flex when the design isn’t always orthogonal.
You could even use a combination of both modes to get the deselection area exactly the way you want it.

Access

This command can be accessed from the PCB Editor and the PCB Library Editor, by:

  • Choosing the Edit » DeSelect » Lasso Deselect command from the main menus.
  • Pressing X in the main design window to access the Deselection pop-up menu then choosing the Lasso Deselect command.

Use

After launching the command, the cursor will change to a cross-hair and you will enter lasso deselection mode. Deselection is made by performing the following sequence of actions:

  1. Click or press Enter to anchor the starting point for the lasso.
  2. The current mode is reflected in the Status Bar. Press the Spacebar to change between Free-form and Polyline modes.
  3. In Free-form mode, move the cursor to create the outline for the required deselection area. Once the shape is as required, click or press Enter to have the software complete the shape from the last cursor position back to the starting point.
  4. In Polyline mode, click to anchor a set of vertex points to define the shape of the polygonal deselection area. Once the shape is as required, press Enter to have the software complete the shape from the last vertex back to the starting point.
  5. All objects that fall completely within the boundary of the defined lasso area will be deselected and you will exit lasso deselection mode.

You can exit lasso deselection mode at any stage by right-clicking or pressing the Esc key.

Tips

  1. For available resources concerning selection of design objects, see the Select command.


Applied Parameters: Scope = InsideArea

Summary

This command is used to deselect any previously selected design objects within a user-defined area.

Access

This command is accessed from the PCB Editor and PCB Library Editor by choosing the Edit » DeSelect » Inside Area command from the main menus.

Use

After launching the command, the cursor will change to a cross-hair and you will be prompted to select the first corner of the deselection area. Position the cursor and click or press Enter to anchor this first corner. You will then be prompted to select the second corner. Move the cursor to size the selection area and click or press Enter to anchor this second corner. All selected objects that fall completely inside this defined area will become deselected.

Tips

  1. For available resources concerning selection of design objects, see the Select command.


Applied Parameters: Scope = OutsideArea

Summary

This command is used to deselect any previously selected design objects outside of a user-defined area.

Access

This command is accessed from the PCB Editor and PCB Library Editor by choosing the Edit » DeSelect » Outside Area command from the main menus.

Use

After launching the command, the cursor will change to a cross-hair and you will be prompted to select the first corner of the non-deselection area. Position the cursor and click or press Enter to anchor this first corner. You will then be prompted to select the second corner. Move the cursor to size the selection area and click or press Enter to anchor this second corner. All selected objects that fall completely inside this defined area will remain selected. All selected objects outside (or partially outside) of this area will become deselected.

Tips

  1. For available resources concerning selection of design objects, see the Select command.


Applied Parameters: Scope = TouchingLine

Summary

This command is used to deselect any previously selected design objects that are touched by a user-defined line.

Access

This command is accessed from the PCB Editor and PCB Library Editor by choosing the Edit » DeSelect » Touching Line command from the main menus.

Use

After launching the command, the cursor will change to a cross-hair and you will be prompted to select the starting point for the deselection line. Position the cursor and click or press Enter to anchor this point. Move the cursor to extend the line as required then click or press Enter to anchor its end point. All selected objects that are touched by this line will become deselected.

Tips

  1. For available resources concerning selection of design objects, see the Select command.


Applied Parameters: Scope = TouchingRectangle

Summary

This command is used to deselect any previously selected design objects that are touched by a user-defined rectangle.

Access

This command is accessed from the PCB Editor and PCB Library Editor by choosing the Edit » DeSelect » Touching Rectangle command from the main menus.

Use

After launching the command, the cursor will change to a cross-hair and you will be prompted to select the first corner of the deselection rectangle. Position the cursor and click or press Enter to anchor this first corner. You will then be prompted to select the second corner. Move the cursor to size the rectangle and click or press Enter to anchor this second corner. All selected objects that fall completely inside this defined area or are touched by its boundary will become deselected.

Tips

  1. For available resources concerning selection of design objects, see the Select command.


Applied Parameters: Scope = All

Summary

This command is used to deselect all objects that have previously been selected on the current document.

Access

This command can be accessed from the PCB Editor and PCB Library Editor by:

  • Choosing the Edit » DeSelect » All command from the main menus.
  • Clicking the  button on the PCB Standard toolbar (PCB Editor) or PCB Lib Standard toolbar (PCB Library Editor).

Use

After launching the command, all design objects on the current document will become deselected.

Tips

  1. For available resources concerning selection of design objects, see the Select command.


Applied Parameters: Scope = Layer

Summary

This command is used to deselect all previously selected design objects on the current layer.

Access

This command is accessed from the PCB Editor and PCB Library Editor by choosing the Edit » DeSelect » All on Layer command from the main menus.

Use

After launching the command, all of the previously selected design objects on the current layer will become deselected.

Tips

  1. A component may be placed on a certain layer but cannot be deselected using this command. This is because not all of the primitives that compose the component are placed on the same layer. For example, designator and comment text might be placed on the Top Overlay layer, while constituent pads are Multi-Layer.
  2. For available resources concerning selection of design objects, see the Select command.


Applied Parameters: Scope = Free

Summary

This command is used to deselect all previously selected free primitives within the design.

Access

This command is accessed from the PCB Editor by choosing the Edit » DeSelect » Free Objects command from the main menus.

Use

After launching the command, all previously selected free primitives contained within the design will become deselected.

Tips

  1. Component objects, dimension objects, length tuning objects, OLE objects, and polygon pour objects are all group objects and will, therefore, not be affected by this command.
  2. For available resources concerning selection of design objects, see the Select command.


Applied Parameters: ContextSensitive=True|Scope=AllInUnion

Summary

This command is used to deselect all objects in the currently selected union.

Access

This command is accessed from the PCB Editor by right-clicking over the required union and choosing the Unions » Deselect All In Union command from the context menu.

Use

After launching the command, all objects in the union will become deselected.

Tips

  1. For available resources concerning selection of design objects, see the Select command.

 

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