Altium Designer Documentation

Drag

Created: July 27, 2015 | Updated: August 10, 2017
Now reading version 17.1. For the latest, read: Drag for version 21
Applies to Altium Designer versions: 15.1, 16.0, 16.1, 17.0 and 17.1

Parent page: Schematic Commands

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


Applied Parameters: Action=SingleObject

Summary

This feature is used to drag a single placed electrical object in the current document, while maintaining connectivity with other electrical objects.

Access

This command is accessed from the Schematic Editor by holding the Ctrl key down while clicking and dragging an electrical object in the workspace.

Use

Position the cursor over the required object you wish to drag, hold the Ctrl key down, then click on the object and drag to its required new location. As you start to drag, the Ctrl key can be released if you wish. Once in the new position, simply release the mouse button to effect placement.

The following additional actions can be performed while dragging the object:

  • Press the Spacebar (or Shift+Spacebar) to change the wiring mode for any connected wires, buses, or signal harnesses.
  • Press Ctrl+Spacebar to rotate the object anti-clockwise and in steps of 90°. Press Shift+Ctrl+Spacebar to rotate the object clockwise.
  • Press the X or Y keys to flip the object along the X-axis or Y-axis respectively.
  • Hold the Alt key to constrain the direction of movement to the horizontal or vertical axis, depending on the initial direction of movement.

Tips

  1. The object doesn't need to be selected in order to use this feature.
  2. If the object is locked, a dialog will appear, asking you to confirm that you wish to continue - click Yes to do so. In this case, the object will appear floating on the cursor, simply position as required, then click, or press Enter, to effect placement.
  3. The wiring mode for connected wiring can only be changed provided the Drag Orthogonal option is enabled, on the Schematic - General page of the Preferences dialog. The default mode is to keep wiring at 90 Degree angles. If this option is disabled, not only can the wiring mode not be cycled, the connected wiring will be repositioned obliquely.
  4. By default, the Ctrl key must be held down when you click and drag, to perform a drag (and maintain connectivity). If you simply click and drag on an object without holding the Ctrl key first, you will perform a move (and connectivity will not be maintained). This default behavior can be controlled using the Always Drag option, on the Schematic - Graphical Editing page of the Preferences dialog. When enabled, you can then click and drag (without Ctrl) to perform a single object drag. Conversely, to move, rather than drag, you would then need to hold the Ctrl key down first.


Applied Parameters: Action=MultipleObjects

Summary

This command is used to drag chosen placed electrical objects (not simultaneously) in the current document, while maintaining connectivity with other electrical objects.

Access

This command is accessed from the Schematic Editor by choosing the Edit » Move » Drag command, from the main menus.

Use

After launching the command, the cursor will change to a cross-hair and you will be prompted to choose an object to drag. Simply position the cursor over the electrical object that you wish to drag and click, or press Enter. The object will appear floating on the cursor. Simply position the object at its required new location and click, or press Enter, to effect placement.

Continue to select other objects to drag, or right-click, or press Esc, to exit.

The following additional actions can be performed while dragging the object:

  • Press the Spacebar (or Shift+Spacebar) to change the wiring mode for any connected wires, buses, or signal harnesses.
  • Press Ctrl+Spacebar to rotate the object anti-clockwise and in steps of 90°. Press Shift+Ctrl+Spacebar to rotate the object clockwise.
  • Press the X or Y keys to flip the object along the X-axis or Y-axis respectively.
  • Hold the Alt key to constrain the direction of movement to the horizontal or vertical axis, depending on the initial direction of movement.

Tips

  1. If the object is locked, a dialog will appear, asking you to confirm that you wish to continue - click Yes to do so.
  2. The wiring mode for connected wiring can only be changed provided the Drag Orthogonal option is enabled, on the Schematic - General page of the Preferences dialog. The default mode is to keep wiring at 90 Degree angles. If this option is disabled, not only can the wiring mode not be cycled, the connected wiring will be repositioned obliquely.


Applied Parameters: Action=SelectedObjects

Summary

This command is used to drag selected electrical objects in the current document, while maintaining connectivity with other electrical objects.

Access

This command is accessed from the Schematic Editor by choosing the Edit » Move » Drag Selection command, from the main menus.

Use

First, ensure that the electrical objects to be dragged are selected in the main design workspace.

After launching the command, the cursor will change to a cross-hair and you will be prompted to choose a reference point by which to hold the selection when dragging. Simply position the cursor over the required position and click, or press Enter. The selected objects will appear floating on the cursor. Simply position the selection at its required new location and click, or press Enter, to effect placement.

The following additional actions can be performed while dragging the selection:

  • Press the Spacebar (or Shift+Spacebar) to change the wiring mode for any connected wires, buses, or signal harnesses.
  • Press Ctrl+Spacebar to rotate the selection anti-clockwise and in steps of 90°. Press Shift+Ctrl+Spacebar to rotate the selection clockwise.
  • Press the X or Y keys to flip the selection along the X-axis or Y-axis respectively.
  • Hold the Alt key to constrain the direction of movement to the horizontal or vertical axis, depending on the initial direction of movement.

Tips

  1. If an object in the selection is locked, a dialog will appear, asking you to confirm that you wish to continue - click Yes to do so.
  2. The wiring mode for connected wiring can only be changed provided the Drag Orthogonal option is enabled, on the Schematic - General page of the Preferences dialog. The default mode is to keep wiring at 90 Degree angles. If this option is disabled, not only can the wiring mode not be cycled, the connected wiring will be repositioned obliquely.

 

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