Select

Applied Parameters: Scope = Lasso

Summary

This command is used to select 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 select 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.

Access

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

• Choosing the Edit » Select » Lasso Select command from the main menus.
• Pressing S in the main design window to access the Selection pop-up menu, and choosing the Lasso Select command.

Use

After launching the command, the cursor will change to a cross-hair, and you will enter lasso selection mode. Selection 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, simply move the cursor to create the outline for the required selection 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, simply click to anchor a set of vertex points to define the shape of the polygonal selection 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 selected, and you will exit lasso selection mode.

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

Tips

1. The selected objects will be highlighted in the selection color defined in the Selections field, part of the System Colors region, on the Board Layers And Colors tab of the View Configurations dialog.
2. If you wish subsequent selection of additional objects to be cumulative, ensure that the Click Clears Selection option is disabled, on the PCB Editor - General page of the Preferences dialog. Alternatively, leave this option enabled and hold the Shift key while using the command again.
3. Hold the Ctrl key while using the command to target the primitives of a component object.
4. For available resources concerning deselection of selected design objects, see the DeSelect command.

Applied Parameters: Scope = InsideArea

Summary

This command is used to select design objects within a user-defined area.

Access

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

• Choosing the Edit » Select » Inside Area command from the main menus.
• Clicking the  button on the PCB Standard toolbar (PCB Editor), or PCB Lib Standard toolbar (PCB Library Editor).
• Clicking within the workspace (away from objects), holding, and dragging (left-to-right) to define the selection area.
• Pressing S in the main design window to access the Selection pop-up menu, and choosing the Inside Area command.

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 selection 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 objects that fall completely inside this defined area will become selected.

Smart Drag Selection

The PCB Editor and PCB Library Editor support drag-to-select functionality, directly within the workspace. How the feature behaves, and what gets selected, depends on the direction in which you drag the selection rectangle:

• Drag the selection window from left-to-right - you will select all objects that fall completely within the bounds of the selection area. This behavior is the same as using this (Edit » Select » Inside Area) command.
• Drag the selection window from right-to-left - you'll select all objects that fall completely inside the selection area, or are touched by its boundary. This behavior is the same as using the Edit » Select » Touching Rectangle command.

Coloring is used to visually distinguish which mode of selection is being used. These are user-defineable, but by default dragging left-to-right uses a blue rectangle, while dragging right-to-left uses a green rectangle.

Smart Drag Selection in action on a PCB.

Tips

1. The color used for the selection area (and when using left-to-right smart drag selection) is defined using the Area Selection Color system color, on the Board Layers And Colors tab of the View Configurations dialog.
2. The selected objects will be highlighted in the selection color defined in the Selections field, part of the System Colors region, on the Board Layers And Colors tab of the View Configurations dialog.
3. If you wish subsequent selection of additional objects to be cumulative, ensure that the Click Clears Selection option is disabled, on the PCB Editor - General page of the Preferences dialog. Alternatively, leave this option enabled and hold the Shift key while using the command again.
4. Hold the Ctrl key while using the command to target the primitives of a component object.
5. For available resources concerning deselection of selected design objects, see the DeSelect command.

Applied Parameters: Scope = OutsideArea

Summary

This command is used to select design objects outside of a user-defined area.

Access

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

• Choosing the Edit » Select » Outside Area command from the main menus.
• Pressing S in the main design window to access the Selection pop-up menu, and choosing the Outside Area command.

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-selection 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 area and click, or press Enter, to anchor this second corner. All objects that fall completely outside of this area will become selected.

Tips

1. The selected objects will be highlighted in the selection color defined in the Selections field, part of the System Colors region, on the Board Layers And Colors tab of the View Configurations dialog.
2. Hold the Ctrl key while using the command to target the primitives of a component object.
3. For available resources concerning deselection of selected design objects, see the DeSelect command.

Applied Parameters: Scope = TouchingLine

Summary

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

Access

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

• Choosing the Edit » Select » Touching Line command from the main menus.
• Pressing S in the main design window to access the Selection pop-up menu, and choosing the Touching Line command.

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 selection 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 objects that are touched by this line will become selected.

Tips

1. The selected objects will be highlighted in the selection color defined in the Selections field, part of the System Colors region, on the Board Layers And Colors tab of the View Configurations dialog.
2. If you wish subsequent selection of additional objects to be cumulative, ensure that the Click Clears Selection option is disabled, on the PCB Editor - General page of the Preferences dialog. Alternatively, leave this option enabled and hold the Shift key while using the command again.
3. Hold the Ctrl key while using the command to target the primitives of a component object.
4. For available resources concerning deselection of selected design objects, see the DeSelect command.

Applied Parameters: Scope = TouchingRectangle

Summary

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

Access

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

• Choosing the Edit » Select » Touching Rectangle command from the main menus.
• Clicking within the workspace (away from objects), holding, and dragging (right-to-left) to define the selection area.
• Pressing S in the main design window to access the Selection pop-up menu, and choosing the Touching Rectangle command.

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 selection 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 objects that fall completely inside this defined area, or are touched by its boundary, will become selected.

Smart Drag Selection

The PCB Editor and PCB Library Editor support drag-to-select functionality, directly within the workspace. How the feature behaves, and what gets selected, depends on the direction in which you drag the selection rectangle:

• Drag the selection window from left-to-right - you will select all objects that fall completely within the bounds of the selection area. This behavior is the same as using the Edit » Select » Inside Area command.
• Drag the selection window from right-to-left - you'll select all objects that fall completely inside the selection area, or are touched by its boundary. This behavior is the same as using this (Edit » Select » Touching Rectangle) command.

Coloring is used to visually distinguish which mode of selection is being used. These are user-defineable, but by default dragging left-to-right uses a blue rectangle, while dragging right-to-left uses a green rectangle.

Smart Drag Selection in action on a PCB.

Tips

1. The color used for the selection area (and when using right-to-left smart drag selection) is defined using the Touch Rectangle Selection Color system color, on the Board Layers And Colors tab of the View Configurations dialog.
2. The selected objects will be highlighted in the selection color defined in the Selections field, part of the System Colors region, on the Board Layers And Colors tab of the View Configurations dialog.
3. If you wish subsequent selection of additional objects to be cumulative, ensure that the Click Clears Selection option is disabled, on the PCB Editor - General page of the Preferences dialog. Alternatively, leave this option enabled and hold the Shift key while using the command again.
4. Hold the Ctrl key while using the command to target the primitives of a component object.
5. For available resources concerning deselection of selected design objects, see the DeSelect command.

Applied Parameters: Scope = All

Summary

This command is used to select all objects on the current document.

Access

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

• Choosing the Edit » Select » All command from the main menus.
• Using the Ctrl+A keyboard shortcut.
• Pressing S in the main design window to access the Selection pop-up menu, and choosing the All command.

Use

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

Tips

1. The selected objects will be highlighted in the selection color defined in the Selections field, part of the System Colors region, on the Board Layers And Colors tab of the View Configurations dialog.
2. For available resources concerning deselection of selected design objects, see the DeSelect command.

Applied Parameters: Scope = Board

Summary

This command is used to select all objects that reside within the boundary of the defined board shape.

Access

This command can be accessed from the PCB Editor by:

• Choosing the Edit » Select » Board command from the main menus.
• Using the Ctrl+B keyboard shortcut.
• Pressing S in the main design window to access the Selection pop-up menu, and choosing the Board command.

Use

After launching the command, all design objects that are located within the boundary of the defined board shape will become selected.

Tips

1. The selected objects will be highlighted in the selection color defined in the Selections field, part of the System Colors region, on the Board Layers And Colors tab of the View Configurations dialog.
2. For available resources concerning deselection of selected design objects, see the DeSelect command.

Applied Parameters: Scope = Net

Summary

This command is used to select all electrical objects associated with a particular net.

Access

This command can be accessed from the PCB Editor by:

• Choosing the Edit » Select » Net command from the main menus.
• Pressing S in the main design window to access the Selection pop-up menu, and choosing the Net command.

Use

After launching the command, the cursor will change to a cross-hair and you will be prompted to select an electrical object or connection. Position the cursor over the required object and click, or press Enter - all electrical objects in the associated net will become selected.

If you know the name of the net you wish to select, click on an area of the design, away from any objects, and the Net Name dialog will appear. From here you can enter the desired net name and that net will become selected when you close the dialog. If you are unsure of the net name, type ? and click OK to open the Nets Loaded dialog, which lists all currently loaded nets for the design.

Continue selecting nets, or right-click, or press Esc, to exit net selection mode.

Tips

1. The selected objects will be highlighted in the selection color defined in the Selections field, part of the System Colors region, on the Board Layers And Colors tab of the View Configurations dialog.
2. If you wish subsequent selection of additional nets to be cumulative, ensure that the Click Clears Selection option is disabled, on the PCB Editor - General page of the Preferences dialog. Alternatively, leave this option enabled and hold the Shift key while using the command again.
3. For available resources concerning deselection of selected design objects, see the DeSelect command.

Applied Parameters: Scope = ConnectedCopper

Summary

This command is used to select all electrical objects that are connected to the same piece of copper.

Access

This command can be accessed from the PCB Editor by:

• Choosing the Edit » Select » Connected Copper command from the main menus.
• Using the Ctrl+H keyboard shortcut.
• Pressing S in the main design window to access the Selection pop-up menu, and choosing the Connected Copper command.

Use

After launching the command, the cursor will change to a cross-hair and you will be prompted to select an electrical object on a signal layer. Click on an electrical object (track, pad, fill etc) and all electrical objects that are connected by the same piece of copper will become selected.

Continue selecting by connected copper, or right-click, or press Esc, to exit.

Tips

1. The selected objects will be highlighted in the selection color defined in the Selections field, part of the System Colors region, on the Board Layers And Colors tab of the View Configurations dialog.
2. If you wish subsequent selection of additional connected copper to be cumulative, ensure that the Click Clears Selection option is disabled, on the PCB Editor - General page of the Preferences dialog. Alternatively, leave this option enabled and hold the Shift key while using the command again.
3. For available resources concerning deselection of selected design objects, see the DeSelect command.

Applied Parameters: Scope = PhysicalConnection

Summary

This command is used to select all physically routed track between pad objects.

Access

This command can be accessed from the PCB Editor by:

• Choosing the Edit » Select » Physical Connection command from the main menus.
• Pressing S in the main design window to access the Selection pop-up menu, and choosing the Physical Connection command.

Use

After launching the command, the cursor will change to a cross-hair and you will be prompted to choose an object. Click on a track, pad, or via, and all contiguous track up to another pad will become selected, including any vias.

Continue selecting by physical connection, or right-click, or press Esc, to exit.

Tips

1. The pads themselves will not be included in the selection.
2. The selected objects will be highlighted in the selection color defined in the Selections field, part of the System Colors region, on the Board Layers And Colors tab of the View Configurations dialog.
3. If you wish subsequent selection of additional physical connections to be cumulative, ensure that the Click Clears Selection option is disabled, on the PCB Editor - General page of the Preferences dialog. Alternatively, leave this option enabled and hold the Shift key while using the command again.
4. For available resources concerning deselection of selected design objects, see the DeSelect command.

Applied Parameters: Scope = PhysicalConnectionOnLayer

Summary

This command is used to select all physically routed track between pad objects, on a single layer.

Access

This command can be accessed from the PCB Editor by:

• Choosing the Edit » Select » Physical Connection Single Layer command from the main menus.
• Pressing S in the main design window to access the Selection pop-up menu, and choosing the Physical Connection Single Layer command.

Use

After launching the command, the cursor will change to a cross-hair and you will be prompted to choose an object. Click on a track, or via, and all contiguous track on the same layer, and up to another pad, will become selected.

Continue selecting by physical connection on a single layer, or right-click, or press Esc, to exit.

Tips

1. The pads and vias themselves will not be included in the selection.
2. The selected objects will be highlighted in the selection color defined in the Selections field, part of the System Colors region, on the Board Layers And Colors tab of the View Configurations dialog.
3. If you wish subsequent selection of additional physical connections to be cumulative, ensure that the Click Clears Selection option is disabled, on the PCB Editor - General page of the Preferences dialog. Alternatively, leave this option enabled and hold the Shift key while using the command again.
4. For available resources concerning deselection of selected design objects, see the DeSelect command.

Applied Parameters: Scope = Layer

Summary

This command is used to select all objects on the current layer.

Access

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

• Choosing the Edit » Select » All on Layer command from the main menus.
• Pressing S in the main design window to access the Selection pop-up menu, and choosing the All on Layer command.

Use

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

Tips

1. The current layer is distinguished as the active tab at the bottom of the main design window.
2. The selected objects will be highlighted in the selection color defined in the Selections field, part of the System Colors region, on the Board Layers And Colors tab of the View Configurations dialog.
3. For available resources concerning deselection of selected design objects, see the DeSelect command.

Applied Parameters: Scope = Free

Summary

This command is used to select all free primitive objects within the design.

Access

This command can be accessed from the PCB Editor by:

• Choosing the Edit » Select » Free Objects command from the main menus.
• Pressing S in the main design window to access the Selection pop-up menu, and choosing the Free Objects command.

Use

After launching the command, all free primitive objects contained within the design will become selected.

Tips

1. Group objects (Components, Coordinates, Dimensions, Polygons, OLE objects, and Length Tuning objects) will not be selected. These objects would need to be converted to their free primitives first, in order for this selection mode to apply.
2. The selected objects will be highlighted in the selection color defined in the Selections field, part of the System Colors region, on the Board Layers And Colors tab of the View Configurations dialog.
3. For available resources concerning deselection of selected design objects, see the DeSelect command.

Applied Parameters: Scope = Locked

Summary

This command is used to select all design objects that have their Locked property enabled.

Access

This command can be accessed from the PCB Editor by:

• Choosing the Edit » Select » All Locked command from the main menus.
• Pressing S in the main design window to access the Selection pop-up menu, and choosing the All Locked command.

Use

After launching the command, all of the design objects that have been locked within the design, will become selected.

Tips

1. The selected objects will be highlighted in the selection color defined in the Selections field, part of the System Colors region, on the Board Layers And Colors tab of the View Configurations dialog.
2. For available resources concerning deselection of selected design objects, see the DeSelect command.

Applied Parameters: Scope = OffGridPads

Summary

This command is used to select all pads that are not placed on the current snap grid.

Access

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

• Choosing the Edit » Select » Off Grid Pads command from the main menus.
• Pressing S in the main design window to access the Selection pop-up menu, and choosing the Off Grid Pads command.

Use

After launching the command, all of the pads that are not located on the current snap grid, will become selected.

Tips

1. The selected objects will be highlighted in the selection color defined in the Selections field, part of the System Colors region, on the Board Layers And Colors tab of the View Configurations dialog.
2. For available resources concerning deselection of selected design objects, see the DeSelect command.

Applied Parameters: Scope = RoomConnections

Summary

This command is used to select all routed connections that lie completely within the boundaries of the chosen room, on the current document.

Access

This command can be accessed from the PCB Editor by:

• Choosing the Edit » Select » Room Connections command from the main menus.
• Pressing S in the main design window to access the Selection pop-up menu, and choosing the Room Connections command.

Use

After launching the command, the cursor will change to a cross-hair and you will be prompted to choose a room. Position the cursor over the room whose connections you wish to select and click, or press Enter. All pad-to-pad routed connections that lie completely within the room boundaries will be selected.

Continue selecting connections associated with other rooms, or right-click, or press Esc, to exit.

Tips

1. The selected objects will be highlighted in the selection color defined in the Selections field, part of the System Colors region, on the Board Layers And Colors tab of the View Configurations dialog.
2. If you wish subsequent selection of additional room connections to be cumulative, ensure that the Click Clears Selection option is disabled, on the PCB Editor - General page of the Preferences dialog. Alternatively, leave this option enabled and hold the Shift key while using the command again.
3. For available resources concerning deselection of selected design objects, see the DeSelect command.

Applied Parameters: Scope = RoomConnections|ContextObject=Room

Summary

This command is used to select all routed connections that lie completely within the boundaries of the room currently under the cursor.

Access

This command is accessed from the PCB Editor by right-clicking over a placed room and choosing the Room Actions » Select Room Connections command, from the context menu.

Use

First, ensure that the cursor is positioned over the required room in the workspace, whose connections you wish to select.

After launching the command, all pad-to-pad routed connections that lie completely within the room boundaries will be selected.

Tips

1. The selected objects will be highlighted in the selection color defined in the Selections field, part of the System Colors region, on the Board Layers And Colors tab of the View Configurations dialog.
2. If you wish subsequent selection of additional room connections to be cumulative, ensure that the Click Clears Selection option is disabled, on the PCB Editor - General page of the Preferences dialog. Alternatively, leave this option enabled and hold the Shift key while using the command again.
3. For available resources concerning deselection of selected design objects, see the DeSelect command.

Applied Parameters: Scope = ComponentConnections

Summary

This command is used to select all routed connections emanating from the pads of a chosen component in the current document.

Access

This command can be accessed from the PCB Editor by:

• Choosing the Edit » Select » Component Connections command from the main menus.
• Pressing S in the main design window to access the Selection pop-up menu, and choosing the Component Connections command.

Use

After launching the command, the cursor will change to a cross-hair and you will be prompted to choose a component. Position the cursor over the required component whose connections you wish to select and click, or press Enter. All routed connections emanating from the pads of that component will be selected (including tracks and vias), up to the next encountered pad in each case.

Continue selecting connections associated with other components, or right-click, or press Esc, to exit.

Tips

1. The pads themselves will not be included in the selection.
2. The selected objects will be highlighted in the selection color defined in the Selections field, part of the System Colors region, on the Board Layers And Colors tab of the View Configurations dialog.
3. If you wish subsequent selection of additional component connections to be cumulative, ensure that the Click Clears Selection option is disabled, on the PCB Editor - General page of the Preferences dialog. Alternatively, leave this option enabled and hold the Shift key while using the command again.
4. For available resources concerning deselection of selected design objects, see the DeSelect command.

Applied Parameters: Scope = ComponentConnections|ContextObject=Component

Summary

This command is used to select all routed connections emanating from the pads of the component currently under the cursor.

Access

This command is accessed from the PCB Editor by right-clicking over a placed component and choosing the Component Actions » Select Component Connections command, from the context menu.

Use

First, ensure that the cursor is positioned over the required component in the workspace, whose connections you wish to select.

After launching the command, all routed connections emanating from the pads of that component will be selected (including tracks and vias), up to the next encountered pad in each case.

Tips

1. The pads themselves will not be included in the selection.
2. The selected objects will be highlighted in the selection color defined in the Selections field, part of the System Colors region, on the Board Layers And Colors tab of the View Configurations dialog.
3. If you wish subsequent selection of additional component connections to be cumulative, ensure that the Click Clears Selection option is disabled, on the PCB Editor - General page of the Preferences dialog. Alternatively, leave this option enabled and hold the Shift key while using the command again.
4. For available resources concerning deselection of selected design objects, see the DeSelect command.

Applied Parameters: Scope = ComponentNets

Summary

This command is used to select all nets attached to a chosen component in the current document.

Access

This command can be accessed from the PCB Editor by:

• Choosing the Edit » Select » Component Nets command from the main menus.
• Pressing S in the main design window to access the Selection pop-up menu, and choosing the Component Nets command.

Use

After launching the command, the cursor will change to a cross-hair and you will be prompted to choose a component. Position the cursor over the required component whose associated nets you wish to select and click, or press Enter. All nets (and member net objects therein) attached to that component will become selected.

Continue selecting nets associated with other components, or right-click, or press Esc, to exit.

Tips

1. The selected objects will be highlighted in the selection color defined in the Selections field, part of the System Colors region, on the Board Layers And Colors tab of the View Configurations dialog.
2. If you wish subsequent selection of additional component nets to be cumulative, ensure that the Click Clears Selection option is disabled, on the PCB Editor - General page of the Preferences dialog.
3. For available resources concerning deselection of selected design objects, see the DeSelect command.

Applied Parameters: Scope = ComponentNets|ContextObject=Component

Summary

This command is used to select all nets attached to the component currently under the cursor.

Access

This command is accessed from the PCB Editor by right-clicking over a placed component and choosing the Component Actions » Select Component Nets command, from the context menu.

Use

First, ensure that the cursor is positioned over the required component in the workspace, whose nets you wish to select.

After launching the command, all nets (and member net objects therein) attached to that component will become selected.

Tips

1. The selected objects will be highlighted in the selection color defined in the Selections field, part of the System Colors region, on the Board Layers And Colors tab of the View Configurations dialog.
2. If you wish subsequent selection of additional component nets to be cumulative, ensure that the Click Clears Selection option is disabled, on the PCB Editor - General page of the Preferences dialog. Alternatively, leave this option enabled and hold the Shift key while using the command again.
3. For available resources concerning deselection of selected design objects, see the DeSelect command.

Applied Parameters: ContextSensitive=True|Scope=AllInUnion

Summary

This command is used to select all objects in the union of which the object currently under the cursor is a member.

Access

This command is accessed from the PCB Editor by right-clicking over an object that is a member of the required union, and choosing the Unions » Select All In Union command, from the context menu.

Use

First, ensure that the cursor is positioned over an object in the required union, in the main design workspace.

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

Tips

1. Browse defined unions through the PCB panel, when configured in Unions mode. From there, you can browse membership, and quickly filter to see where in the design a union and its members are.
2. The selected objects will be highlighted in the selection color defined in the Selections field, part of the System Colors region, on the Board Layers And Colors tab of the View Configurations dialog.
3. If you wish subsequent selection of additional union objects to be cumulative, ensure that the Click Clears Selection option is disabled, on the PCB Editor - General page of the Preferences dialog. Alternatively, leave this option enabled and hold the Shift key while using the command again.
4. For available resources concerning deselection of selected design objects, see the DeSelect command.