Altium NEXUS Documentation

PCB_Cmd-SelectNextSelectNext_AD

Using Altium Documentation
Created: November 15, 2018 | Updated: November 22, 2018
Now reading version 2.1. For the latest, read: SelectNext for version 5
Applies to altium-nexus versions: 2.0, 2.1, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2 and 4
This documentation page references Altium NEXUS/NEXUS Client (part of the deployed NEXUS solution), which has been discontinued. All your PCB design, data management and collaboration needs can now be delivered by Altium Designer (with Altium Designer Enterprise Subscription) and a connected Altium 365 Workspace. Check out the FAQs page for more information.

Parent page: PCB Commands

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

Single Select Next Overlapping Object


Applied Parameters: None

Summary

This command is used to single select the next design object in a set of co-located (overlapping) objects without utilizing a selection pop-up window.

Access

This command is accessed from the PCB Editor and the PCB Library Editor by:

  • Choosing the Edit » Select » Select Overlapped command from the main menus.
  • Using the Shift+Tab keyboard shortcut.
  • Clicking in the same position.

Use

To use this command, ensure that the Display popup selection dialog option is disabled on the PCB Editor - General page of the Preferences dialog.

Select an object that is co-located in a 'stack' of overlapping objects. After launching the command, selection will cycle to the next object in that stack. Selection obeys the following fixed order priority, cycled through successive use of the command:

  1. Pad
  2. Via
  3. Track/Arc
  4. Component
  5. Polygon
  6. Region/Fill
  7. Text

Additionally, while using the Shift key to add additional objects to a current selection, you can use Shift+Tab to cycle through selection of the overlapping objects without losing your original selection.

Selection order also takes into account the current layer first before progressing to those objects on other layers.

Tips

  1. To use a graphical pop-up selection window to select an object in an area of co-located objects, ensure the Display popup selection dialog option is enabled on the PCB Editor - General page of the Preferences dialog.
  2. Double-clicking on an area of co-located objects will always provide access to the pop-up selection window.
  3. Using the Properties or Find Similar Objects commands on the right-click context menu will open the Properties panel (presenting object properties) or the Find Similar Objects dialog, respectively, for the currently selected object under the cursor.
Single Select Next Overlapping Object (from Active Bar)


Applied Parameters: None

Summary

This command is used to single select the next design object in a set of co-located (overlapping) objects without utilizing a selection pop-up window.

Access

This command is accessed from the PCB Editor and the PCB Library Editor by:

  • Locating and using the Select overlapped command on the Active Bar.
  • Using the Shift+Tab keyboard shortcut.
Click and hold on the active button to access a menu of all associated commands for that grouping. If the command has been recently used from the Active Bar, it will become the active/visible button. When other commands are available it is indicated by a triangle at the bottom-right corner of the button.

Use

To use this command, ensure that the Display popup selection dialog option is disabled on the PCB Editor - General page of the Preferences dialog.

First, select an object that is co-located in a 'stack' of overlapping objects. After launching the command, selection will cycle to the next object in that stack. Selection obeys the following fixed order priority, cycled through successive use of the command:

  1. Pad
  2. Via
  3. Track/Arc
  4. Component
  5. Polygon
  6. Region/Fill
  7. Text

Additionally, while using the Shift key to add additional objects to a current selection, you can use Shift+Tab to cycle through selection of the overlapping objects without losing your original selection.

Selection order also takes into account the current layer first before progressing to those objects on other layers.

Tips

  1. To use a graphical pop-up selection window to select an object in an area of co-located objects, ensure the Display popup selection dialog option is enabled on the PCB Editor - General page of the Preferences dialog.
  2. Double-clicking on an area of co-located objects will always provide access to the pop-up selection window.
  3. Using the Properties or Find Similar Objects commands on the right-click context menu will open the Properties panel (presenting object properties), or the Find Similar Objects dialog, respectively, for the currently selected object under the cursor.
Extend Selection to Next Higher-Order Object


Applied Parameters: SelectTopologyObjects = TRUE

Summary

With an initial object selected in the design, this command is used to extend the selection to include the next higher-level object (or objects) based on logical hierarchy.

Access

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

  • Choosing the Edit » Select » Select Next command from the main menus.
  • Using the Tab keyboard shortcut.
Quickly access the command using the S, X keyboard sequence.

Use

Select your initial design object within the design workspace. After launching the command, the next higher-level object will also be selected thus extending the selection based on the logical hierarchy.

The following cyclic logical selection 'flows' are supported:

  • Track Segment ---> All Connected (Contiguous) Track on the Same Layer ---> All Connected Copper ---> All Electrical Objects in the Associated Net
  • Connected Pad ---> All Connected (Contiguous) Track on the Same Layer ---> All Connected Copper ---> All Electrical Objects in the Associated Net
  • Unconnected Pad ---> All Electrical Objects in the Associated Net
  • Via ---> All Connected (Contiguous) Track on Layers Associated with Via ---> All Connected Copper ---> All Electrical Objects in the Associated Net
  • Copper (Region/Polygon Pour/Fill) ---> All Connected Copper ---> All Electrical Objects in the Associated Net
  • Free Pad/Via ---> All Connected (Contiguous) Track on the Same Layer as Pad, or on Layers Associated with Via---> All Connected Copper ---> All Electrical Objects in the Associated Net.
  • Component ---> Via Fanouts, Escapes, Interconnect
Via Fanouts:
If a short enough trace connects a pad to a via and there is no other pad connected to this via by a shorter trace, then this trace and the via are considered this pad's Fanout.

Escapes:
A short enough antenna connected to a pad is considered this pad's Escape.

Interconnect:
A trace connecting two objects already picked up (for example, pads or fanout vias) is conisdered Interconnect.

In addition, the feature caters for selection extension across multiple objects, selected across different nets in the design.

Example selection across multiple nets, extending from the initially selected track segments, up the higher-order logical hierarchy.Example selection across multiple nets, extending from the initially selected track segments, up the higher-order logical hierarchy.

Extend Selection to Next Higher-Order Object (from Active Bar)


Applied Parameters: SelectTopologyObjects = TRUE

Summary

With an initial object selected in the design, this command is used to extend the selection to include the next higher-level object (or objects) based on logical hierarchy.

Access

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

  • Locating and using the Select next command on the Active Bar.
  • Using the Tab keyboard shortcut.
Click and hold on the active button to access a menu of all associated commands for that grouping. If the command has been recently used from the Active Bar, it will become the active/visible button. When other commands are available it is indicated by a triangle at the bottom-right corner of the button.
Quickly access the command using the S, X keyboard sequence.

Use

Select your initial design object within the design workspace. After launching the command, the next higher-level object will also be selected thus extending the selection based on the logical hierarchy.

The following cyclic logical selection 'flows' are supported:

  • Track Segment ---> All Connected (Contiguous) Track on the Same Layer ---> All Connected Copper ---> All Electrical Objects in the Associated Net
  • Connected Pad ---> All Connected (Contiguous) Track on the Same Layer ---> All Connected Copper ---> All Electrical Objects in the Associated Net
  • Unconnected Pad ---> All Electrical Objects in the Associated Net
  • Via ---> All Connected (Contiguous) Track on Layers Associated with Via ---> All Connected Copper ---> All Electrical Objects in the Associated Net
  • Copper (Region/Polygon Pour/Fill) ---> All Connected Copper ---> All Electrical Objects in the Associated Net
  • Free Pad/Via ---> All Connected (Contiguous) Track on the Same Layer as Pad, or on Layers Associated with Via---> All Connected Copper ---> All Electrical Objects in the Associated Net.
  • Component ---> Via Fanouts, Escapes, Interconnect
Via Fanouts:
If a short enough trace connects a pad to a via and there is no other pad connected to this via by a shorter trace, then this trace and the via are considered this pad's Fanout.

Escapes:
A short enough antenna connected to a pad is considered this pad's Escape.

Interconnect:
A trace connecting two objects already picked up (for example, pads or fanout vias) is conisdered Interconnect.

In addition, the feature caters for selection extension across multiple objects, selected across different nets in the design.

Example selection across multiple nets, extending from the initially selected track segments, up the higher-order logical hierarchy.Example selection across multiple nets, extending from the initially selected track segments, up the higher-order logical hierarchy.

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