SwitchTo2D

Created: July 27, 2015 | Updated: January 16, 2020 | Applies to versions: 15.1, 16.0, 16.1, 17.0 and 17.1

The following pre-packaged resource, derived from this base command, is available:

Applied Parameters: None

Summary

This command is used to switch the display of the PCB workspace to 2D Layout Mode. This is the traditional, 2-dimensional, multiple-layered view of the PCB.

Access

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

Choosing the View » 2D Layout Mode command, from the main menus.
Using the 2 keyboard shortcut.

Use Ctrl+Alt+2 to switch the display of the PCB workspace to 2D Layout Mode and see the same location and orientation of the board as you switch.

Use

After launching the command, the workspace will change to display the board in 2D Layout Mode. This mode includes a number of features to help find, identify, and manage the display of design content - collectively these features are known as the Board Insight System.

2D Board Insight features include:

Insight Lens - use the Lens to examine an area of the board in detail, zoom in and out, switch to single layer mode and step through the layers (Shift+M to toggle).
Board Insight panel - displays detailed information about the components, nets and violations under the cursor.
Insight Pop-up - also displays detailed information about the components and nets (Shift+X), and violations (Shift+V) currently under the cursor, in a pop-up window instead of a panel.
Heads Up Display - presents (configurable) detail about the objects currently under the cursor (Shift+H to toggle, configure from the PCB Editor - Board Insight Modes page of the Preferences dialog).
Single Layer Mode - displays just the current layer, other layers can be hidden, grayscaled or monochromed (Shift+S to toggle, configure from the PCB Editor - Board Insight Display page of the Preferences dialog).
Live Highlighting - highlight all objects in the net under the cursor, including their locked status (configure from the PCB Editor - Board Insight Display page of the Preferences dialog).
Enhanced Object Labeling - display detail on objects in the workspace, including: net name, pad number, testpoint status, and component origin (configure from the View Options tab of the View Configurations dialog).
Layer Transparency - allows you to see though objects to other objects underneath (configure from the Transparency tab of the View Configurations dialog).

Tips

To switch to Board Planning Mode, or 3D Layout Mode, use the commands of the same name from the main View menu, or use the 1, or 3, keyboard shortcuts respectively.