This mode is used to sequentially add shape segments into a design, either to finish off a new shape being added, or to rework an existing shape segment.
Shortcuts
Default Keys: None
Default Menu: None
Command: Edit Segment
Mouse: Double Click on shape segment.
Locating this option
Available from: Double Click on shape segment
How To Enter Edit Shape Mode
Edit Shape mode can be entered in a number of ways as follows:
- Use Insert Polygon to start a particular type of shape. Pick a position, and you then are placed into Edit Shape Mode.
- Double Click on an existing shape segment. Edit Shape will be entered adding shape segments starting from the end of the picked segment closest to the picked position.
- Select a single shape segment and right click to use the Edit Segment command from the context menu.
How To Edit A Shape
The general method of adding shape segments is as follows:
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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 shape segment or adding a closed shape, 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.
If editing a shape in a PCB Design on a Electrical Layer and Online DRC is being used you will find that movement is restricted to stop the dynamic segments from getting too close to other obstacles in the design.
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Click in space to add a corner and commit each segment in turn.
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Right Click to use the context menu to alter the shape’s appearance, alter the editing preferences, change the segment being edited, and cancel or finish the shape. These options are detailed below.
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Press the Escape key to cancel the Edit Shape Mode at any time.
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Left Double Click to finish the shape at the picked position.
Edit Shape Options
During the Edit Shape process Right Click to use the context menu:
You may then select from a number of options:
Cancel Edit Polygon
Use this to cancel the Edit Shape operation.
Finish Here
Use to finish the shape at its current position. The dynamic segments are added to the design and if there are segment(s), these too are added to the design as seen.
If editing a shape in a PCB Design on a Electrical Layer and Online DRC is being used, a warning will be given if the changed segments get too close to other items in the design. You will be able to choose to leave them in error or not to finish yet.
Change Layer
Only available if shape is in a PCB Design or Footprint. Use to change the complete shape to a new layer. If the shape is Copper or a Template that has routes connected, a Via will be introduced at the start of the track to ensure it can reach the shape. See the Change Layer help page for more details.
If editing a shape in a PCB Design on a Electrical Layer and Online DRC is being used, a warning will be given if the swapped shape gets too close to other items in the design. You will be able to choose to leave it in error or cancel the change layer to enable you to try again in a more appropriate position.
A set of commands are also available to change the layer of the shape directly to an electrical layer. Use Change To Layer 1 to change to the top electrical layer, Change To Layer 2 to change to the next electrical layer and so on. These commands are only available if the shape can exist on an electrical layer. If you want to use these commands regularly, you can associate them with shortcut keys using customise. For example you could assign layers 1 to 10 to keys 1 to 10, and layers 11 to 20 to keys shift + 1 to shift + 10.
Change Style
Use to change the complete shape to a new width by assigning a new line style. See the Change Style help page for more details.
If editing a shape in a PCB Design on a Electrical Layer and Online DRC is being used, a warning will be given if the changed segments get too close to other items in the design. You will be able to choose to leave them in error or cancel the change style.
Closed Shape
Available for some shape types that can be either open or closed. If making a shape closed trailing segments will be added from the cursor position to the start of the shape. See the Closed Shape help page for more details.
Filled Shape
Available for some shape types that can be filled. The shape will not be drawn filled until editing is completed. See the Filled Shape help page for more details.
Follow Construction Lines
This will put you into a special mode that automatically snaps to, and then follows the path of the closest construction line or construction circle.
Click to start the polygon and the shape will snap to the closest point on the nearest construction line.
Move the cursor, and the polygon will automatically slide along the construction line.
There are two ways of following construction lines and you can switch between them using the Auto Switch Construction Lines option from the context menu. With Auto Switch enabled, when you reach an intersection between two construction lines it will follow the line exiting the intersection that is closest to the moving cursor. This way you can use the construction lines to fully or partially define the shape to be added by quickly tracing around the available construction lines with the mouse.
If there are a lot of intersecting construction lines and circles it can be hard to follow a line through them all by keeping the cursor straight and avoiding switching to other lines. In this case it is easier to disable Auto Switch and follow a single line until you left click on another line that intersects it to switch to it. the shape will have segments added through the intersection point and up to the point you have picked on the new line.
Use the backspace key to remove the last segment added by moving the cursor back to the intersection point at the end of the previous segment.
Use single left click on the current line being followed to stop following construction lines and allow you to move away and add corners individually to complete the shape, or use double click to finish the shape on the construction line currently being followed.
Snap To Item
If available, check this option to force each subsequent corner added to snap to the nearest point on any item that is underneath the cursor. If Snap To Arc Centre is also checked, adding a corner when the cursor is over an arc will snap the corner to the arc centre.
Editing Options
Presents a sub-menu containing alternative shape 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 segment 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 shape segment or adding a closed shape, so that you have a trailing dynamic segment. Use so that when you do Finish Here, you do not end up with angled segments.
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 context menu. Choose between adding orthogonal, angled, curved or free angle segments.
Restricted Movement - Use this if you want to restrict the addition of the next shape segment to a fixed angle or length.
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 shape or adding a closed shape. Use it to change the direction you are editing by reversing the shape.
Online DRC
Only available if editing a shape in a PCB Design or Footprint on an Electrical Layer. Switches the online design rules checking on and off. The amount of checking performed is set up in the Online DRC Options dialog. Use Continuous checking to stop the shape from getting too close to obstacles whilst moving it, or use the On Drop mode to check the shape out when it has been completed. See the Online DRC help page for more details.
Display Clearances
Only available if editing a shape in a PCB Design or Footprint on an Electrical Layer. Switches the visible DRC clearances on and off. Use this to see when you are getting close to obstacles whilst adding the shape. See the Display Clearances help page for more details.
Change Grid
This sub-menu allows you to choose which grid you wish to force the shape 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 Shape Edit Features
Here are some other features that effect adding shape segments.
Type Coordinate
Instead of clicking the mouse at the corners, you can also type the absolute position or offset from the last corner.
Display Options
In the Display Options you can set the current layer you are adding the shape on to always be on top. This way all obstacles to the shape on the current layer will be visible.
You can also dim the other layers which makes it easier to concentrate only on those obstacles on the current layer.
Related Topics
Auto Corner | Orthogonal Mitre | Change Layer | Change Line Style | Display Clearances | Grids | Insert Area | Insert Board | Insert Bus | Insert Copper | Insert Polygon | Insert Shape | Insert Template | Online DRC | Restricted Segment Movement | Segment mode | Status bar | Technology | Shape Editing Overview | Shape Options | Shape Properties | Type Coordinate