PlaceEllipticalArc

Applied Parameters: None

Summary

This command is used to place an Elliptical Arc object onto the active document. An elliptical arc is a non-electrical drawing primitive. It is essentially an open circular or elliptical curve that can be placed on a schematic sheet.

Access

Elliptical arcs are available for placement in both Schematic and Schematic Library Editors:

• Schematic Editor - the following commands are available:
  • Choose Place » Drawing Tools » Elliptical Arc from the main menus.
  • Click the  button on the Utility Tools drop-down () of the Utilities toolbar.
  • Right-click and choose Place » Drawing Tools » Elliptical Arc from the context menu.
• Schematic Library Editor - the following commands are available:
  • Choose Place » Elliptical Arc from the main menus.
  • Click the  button on the Utility Tools drop-down () of the Utilities toolbar.
  • Right-click and choose Place » Elliptical Arc from the context menu.

Use

After launching the command, the cursor will change to a cross-hair and you will enter elliptical arc placement mode. Placement is made by performing the following sequence of actions:

1. Click or press Enter to anchor the center point of the arc.
2. Move the cursor to adjust the X radius of the arc, then click or press Enter to set it.
3. Move the cursor to adjust the Y radius of the arc, then click or press Enter to set it.
4. Move the cursor to adjust the first end point of the arc, then click or press Enter to anchor it.
5. Move the cursor to change the position of the arc's other end point, then click or press Enter to anchor it and complete placement of the arc.
6. Continue placing further elliptical arcs, or right-click or press Esc to exit placement mode.

Additional actions that can be performed during placement – while the arc is still floating on the cursor, and before the center point is anchored – are:

• Press the Tab key to access the Elliptical Arc dialog, from where properties for the arc can be changed on-the-fly.
• Press the Alt key to constrain the direction of movement to the horizontal or vertical axis, depending on the initial direction of movement.
• Press the Spacebar to rotate the arc anti-clockwise or Shift+Spacebar for clockwise rotation. Rotation is in steps of 90°.
• Press the X or Y keys to mirror the arc along the X-axis or Y-axis respectively.

Tips

1. For information on how a placed elliptical arc object can be modified graphically, directly in the workspace, see Graphical Editing.
2. While attributes can be modified during placement (Tab to bring up associated properties dialog), bear in mind that these will become the default settings for further placement unless the Permanent option on the Schematic – Default Primitives page of the Preferences dialog is enabled. When this option is enabled, changes made will affect only the object being placed and subsequent objects placed during the same placement session.