This tab allows you to setup the snapping of items to Attribute Positions during move. Normally, items will snap to the current Grid during Move. By defining Attribute Positions as placement sites, items will snap to this sites in preference to neighbouring grid points. This is useful for defining special placement points, for example, when manually placing components.
Shortcuts
Default Keys: None
Default Menu: Setup
Command: Design Settings
Locating this option
Available from:
Setup menu > Design Settings option > Placement Sites page
Setup menu > Technology option > Design Settings > Placement Sites page
The Process for Creating and Using Placement Sites
- Enable snapping by checking the Use Attribute Positions As Placement Sites box.
- Nominate attribute names, the positions of which will to be used as placement sites. Use the Add button to use each attribute (shown in the Attributes To Use list).
- Choose the Grid Snap Distance required.
- Ensure the above settings are saved into your Technology file for use or use this Technology file.
- Import a DXF file or define attribute positions in your design using the nominated attribute position required. You will need to use the Technology with the above settings or a Technology file with these settings defined.
Using the Placement Sites Tab
Use Attribute Positions As Placement Sites
Enable Placement Sites snapping by checking the Use Attribute Positions As Placement Sites box. Without checking this, you will continue using Grid settings during Move.
Select Attribute
The Select Attribute entry allows you to choose the attribute name that will define the position of the Placement Sites. You can select attribute names already defined in the Technology from the drop down list, or type the name of a new or existing attribute in the Select Attribute control.
For each attribute required for placement sites (and you can choose more than one), press the Add button to send it to the Attributes to use list below.
Attribute to use
Once attributes are in this list, they can be removed by selecting the Attribute name and pressing the Delete button.
Snap Distance
Choose a Grid Step Multiplier so that when an object comes into range (within the step distance) it will snap onto the attribute position when using Move. This is set as a multiple of the current grid step. This means you can place items quickly without accurate positioning.
Toggle Placement Sites
Once some Attribute Positions have been nominated, it is possible to toggle the snapping to these sites during Move using the Toggle Placement Sites command available on the context menu.
Note that as a consequence of enabling the use of placement sites, symbols will move such that the symbol origin is at the grid point nearest the cursor. This is different to the normal movement, where the symbol will stay at the same relative distance from the cursor.
Placement Sites and DXF Import
Placement sites can also be automatically defined when using the Import DXF. See Import DXF for more information.
Related Topics
Insert - Attribute Positions | Technology - Attribute Names | Grids | Import DXF | Move