This mode is used to sequentially add connection segments into a Schematics design, either to finish off a new connection being added by Insert Connection, or to rework an existing connection segment.
Shortcuts
Default Keys: None
Default Menu: Insert
Command: Edit Segment
Mouse: Double Click on connection segment.
Locating this option
Available from: Context menu > Edit Segment option
How To Enter Edit Connection Mode
Edit Connection mode can be entered in a number of ways as follows:
- Use Insert Connection to start a connection. Pick a start item or position, and you then are placed into Edit Connection Mode.
- Double Click on a existing connection segment. Edit Connection will be entered adding connection segments starting from the end of the picked segment closest to the picked position.
- Select a single connection segment and right click to use the Edit Segment command from the shortcut menu.
How To Edit A Connection
The general method of adding connection segments is as follows:-
-
Move the cursor to position the dynamic segment attached to it. If two segments are dynamic then concentrate on positioning the first of them, i.e not the one attached to the cursor. The Status bar will show details about the segments being moved.
If you are editing an existing connection segment, trailing dynamic segment(s) are drawn from the moving cursor position to the target finish point. i.e. Back to the end of the original segment you were editing.
-
Left Click in space to add a corner and commit each connection segment in turn. If a symbol pin, another connection or a bus segment is close to the cursor, but you do not want to finish on it you can use Shift Left Click to force a corner.
-
Right Click to use the shortcut menu to alter the connection appearance, alter the editing preferences, change the segment being edited, and cancel or finish the connection. These options are detailed below.
-
Press the Escape key to cancel the Edit Connection Mode at any time.
-
Left Click over a symbol pin, connector pin, junction, connection, block port, block outline segment or bus segment to finish the connection on that item. This is only available when adding a new connection.
If the picked item is on a different net you will be asked if you want to join the two nets together before finishing the connection.
If the picked item is a Closed Bus and the connection’s net is a default name, you will be presented with the Choose Bus Net dialog to choose a net to use.
If the picked item is a Block Symbol segment a new terminal will be added to the block symbol. If the block has more than one spare block ports, you will be presented with the Select Block Port dialog to choose a port to use.
-
Left Double Click in space to finish the connection at the picked position.
Edit Connection Options
During the Edit Connection process Right Click to use the shortcut menu:-
You may then select from a number of options:
Cancel Insert Connection
Or Cancel Edit Connection if editing an existing connection segment. Use this to cancel the Edit Connection operation.
Finish Here
Use to finish the connection at its current position. The dynamic segments are added to the design and if there are connection segment(s), these too are added to the design as seen.
Change Style
Use to change the current width of the dynamic connection segments, or to change the complete connection to a new width. See the Change Style help page for more details.
Change Net
Normally used to change the name of a new net when adding new connections to the design. Can be used when editing existing connections to alter their net names as well, but if you rename to an existing net’s name, the nets will be joined. See the Change Net help page for more details.
Mark Net
Use to highlight the whole net that you are editing in the Marked Net colour . This option is a toggle, and so using it again will remove the highlighting.
End Connection On
This sub-menu is available when adding new connections. It allows you to end the moving connection segment at the cursor position on a Connector Pin, Documentation Symbol Pin, Page Link, Block Port, or Testpoint. The new item is added to the design and attached to the cursor, ready to be positioned.
This is normally used to add documentation symbols to a net to show the net’s purpose, like a ground symbol for example.
See the End Connection On help page for more details.
Disconnect Connection End
This option is only available if you are editing an existing connection segment. Use it to disconnect one end of the connection you are editing from the item it was attached to. You are then switched to be adding new segments at the end of the connection you disconnected. So you are now in adding new connection mode and can therefore finish the connection end on another item.
The end of the connection that gets disconnected is either the start if you are editing the first segment, or else the segment at the end of the connection. But if the connection is only attached at one end then this is always the end that gets disconnected.
Editing Options
Presents a sub-menu containing alternative connection characteristics and editing preferences:-
(The list below is shown as a brief overview to the functionality, a full description can be found on the relevant page):
Auto Corner - Allows you to automatically insert corners by moving the cursor perpendicular to the current connection direction. This will then add a corner and allow you to continue adding segments without clicking the left mouse button.
Orthogonal Mitre - When adding corners (manually or automatically) you can set this option so that the Mitres or Fillets are always added to any 90 degree corners.
Curved Mitre - Only available when Orthogonal Mitre is enabled. Use this to choose between using angled mitres or curved fillets.
Apply Segment Mode To Tail - Only available if editing an existing connection segment, so that you have a trailing dynamic segment. Use so that when you do Finish Here, you do not end up with angled segments.
Show Finish Markers - Only available if adding a new connection. This switches the display of the finish markers on and off. Use finish markers to indicate when you are over an item that you can finish on directly with a mouse click.
Remove Loops - Connection loops may not be required in the design, this gives you the option to automatically remove loops that are accidentally introduced during edit connection.
Change Segments
Presents a sub-menu containing alternative segment preferences:-
(The list below is shown as a brief overview to the functionality, a full description can be found on the relevant page):
Segment Mode - Use to change the Segment Mode using another shortcut menu. Choose between adding orthogonal, angled, curved or free angle segments.
Edit Segment - Use this sub-menu to change which segment you are editing.
Flip Dynamic Segments - When using a segment mode showing two dynamic segments, use this option to swap the type of the two segments over. For example, from XY mode to YX.
Delete Segment - Use to remove the segment previous to the one you are currently editing. This way you can ‘un-stitch’ the previous segments you have added in order to add them again in different positions.
Reverse Edit Direction - Only available if you are editing an existing connection. Use it to change the direction you are editing by reversing the connection. So the connection start becomes the connection end and vice-versa.
Change Grid
This sub-menu allows you to choose which grid you wish to force the connection segments on whilst adding them, if any. It also allows you to change the grid step and whether the grids are visible or not. See the Change Grid help page for more details.
Other Connection Edit Features
Here are some other features that effect adding track segments.
Auto Share Connections
In the Edit Connection Options you can choose to automatically share connections after they have been edited. This means that any overlaid connections will be removed and Junctions inserted instead.
Add To Bus Shows Net Name
In the Edit Connection Options you can choose to automatically display net names when finishing connections on closed busses.
Related Topics
Auto Corner | Orthogonal Mitre | Change Style | End Connection On | Grids | Insert Connection | Remove Loops | Segment mode | Show Finish Markers | Status bar | Technology | Connection Properties