You can rearrange multiple components, mounting holes, free pads or vias using the Rearrange Multiple Items dialog to define how many items in each direction and the gap between them.
Shortcuts
Default Keys: None
Default Menu: None
Command: Rearrange Multiple Items (Note: This option shares this command with the Insert Multiple Items option)
Locating this option
Available from: Context menu > Rearrange Multiple Items option
How To Rearrange Multiple Items
First select the similar items that you wish to rearrange. You will only be able to use the Rearrange option if none of the selected items are attached by tracks, schematic connections or wires.
The Rearrange Multiple Items option can be used directly on the selected items using the context menu, or can be used whilst moving the items, again from the context menu.
A dialog similar to the following will be displayed:
Step Offset
The Step Offset defines the distance each item is offset from the previous one. Choose to define the offsets as a Distance using the current design units, or as a number of Grid Steps, using the current interactive grid for the type of item. There are separate values for X and Y and they may be negative to step in the reverse direction.
Use the Define Gap check box to specify the X Y values a gap between the items.
The Centre check box will position the rearranged items to the centre of your design or panel.
Number of Items
Define the number of items in the X & Y directions. The total Count of the selected items is shown to help with this.
Insert Order
Use this to define the order that the items are positioned. First select Insert Rows or Insert Columns to specify the items are arranged in rows or columns, and check the Switch Direction box to specify that the next row is started above the end of the previous row, or leave unchecked for each row to be added in the same direction.
You can check the Reverse Order box to make the offsets go the other way. This is easier and more obvious than making the offsets negative.
Stagger Pitch
Enter a value here if you want alternate rows (or columns) to have their start position offset by an additional pitch. This will create a staggered pattern that is sometimes used for pad arrays. Choose to define the pitch as a Distance using the current design units, or as a number of Grid Steps, using the current interactive grid for the type of item.
Item Orientation
If the items you are rearranging have an angle and can be mirrored, use the Angle and Mirror boxes to set the orientation of each individual item.
Placing the items
Press OK to arrange the items. The item that was picked (displayed on the status bar) will give the position for the first item in the arrangement and all arranged items will take the same layer and rotation as the selected item.
If in the move option, they will all be dynamically displayed on the cursor for you to click in the required position. Use Rearrange Multiple Items again to alter the item counts or gaps between them whilst placing the items.