There are a collection of tools available for manipulating the view of the design on the screen. These tools can be found on the View menu and are available as shortcut commands or tools on the Standard Toolbar. There is also a set of Zoom and Pan commands available when using a mouse which supports the mouse wheel button functionality.

The Zoom commands are:

  • Zoom In / Zoom Out
  • Zoom In to Cursor / Zoom Out to Cursor

The general view manipulation commands are:

  • Frame
  • View Extents
  • View Board
  • View Selection
  • View Previous
  • View Actual Size
  • Pan

Shortcuts - Zoom

Default Keys: Shift+Z

Default Menu: View

Command: Zoom In

Default Keys: None

Default Menu: View

Command: Zoom Out

Default Keys: ‘Z’ to zoom in

Mouse Wheel Button: Roll wheel forwards

Command: Zoom In to Cursor

Default Keys: ‘U’ to zoom out

Mouse Wheel Button: Roll wheel backwards

Command: Zoom Out to Cursor

Note: You can only use the mouse wheel button if using an Microsoft Intellimouse mouse.

Zoom In / Zoom Out

These are general Zoom commands which use the centre of the current view as the point about which to zoom in or out. The current position of the cursor has no effect on the zoom operation.

Zoom In to Cursor / Zoom Out to Cursor

These zoom commands use the current position of the cursor as the point about which to zoom in or out.

If the Zoom at Cursor also re-centres window option in the Pan & Zoom page of the Options dialog is set, the current view window will also be simultaneously re-centred about the zoom position. If the option is not set, both the cursor position and the item under the cursor remain unchanged after the zoom.

Shortcuts - Frame

Default Keys: F

Default Menu: View

Command: Frame View

Frame

This is used to frame into a specific area of the design using the cursor to draw a rectangular area.

Shortcuts - View Extents

Default Keys: A

Default Menu: View

Command: View Extents

View Extents

This is used to view all of the design extents. This includes everything in the design regardless of where it is, e.g. board outline, drawing blanks etc.

Shortcuts - View Board

Default Keys: None

Default Menu: View

Command: View Board

View Board

This is used to view any item inside the board outline. This does not include anything else in the design outside the board outline, e.g. drawing blank.

Shortcuts - View Selection

Default Keys: None

Default Menu: View

Command: View Selection

View Selection

This is used to view any items selected in the design. The view will be adjusted so that all items within the selection are brought into view.

Shortcuts - Previous View

Default Keys: None

Default Menu: View

Command: View Previous

Previous View

This is used to view the previous view.

Once the view has been changed, select the Previous View option.

Shortcuts - View Actual Size

Default Keys: None

Default Menu: View

Command: View Actual Size

View Actual Size

This is used to view your design as its actual size. This is particularly useful if you require an accurate appreciation of the scale of your PCB design.

In order to use this option accurately, you must calibrate your monitor first. Use the calibrate option from the Display page on the Options dialog.

Shortcuts - Pan

Default Keys: P

Mouse Wheel Button: Click the mouse wheel button once for a single Pan

Mouse Wheel Button: Click and hold down the mouse wheel button for a continuous Pan

Default Menu: View

Command: Pan

Pan

This is used ‘pan’ the view of the design. The view will be adjusted so that the current cursor position when the Pan command is selected will be redrawn into the centre of the design window.

Move the cursor to the required location and on the keyboard, click P.

Zoom In | Zoom Out | Frame View | View Extents | View Board | View Selection | Previous View | Reversed View | Repaint | Pan | Mark View | Mouse Wheel | Scroll Bars | Options - Display | Options - Zoom