Documentation

Rotate

4 min read

Various options exist to rotate a selected item about a specified point by an angle.

If many items are selected, then they are rotated as a group about the item that was picked last. This item is shown on the status bar at the bottom of the screen. If there is no picked item, when using frame select for example, the items will be rotated about a gridded point at the groups centre.

Shortcuts

Default Keys: Alt+R

Command: Rotate One Step

Default Keys: R

Command: Rotate By 90

Command: Rotate About

Command: Change Rotation Step

Command: Type Rotate

Change Angle Commands:

Change Angle To 0

Change Angle To 90

Change Angle To 180

Change Angle To 270

How To Rotate

Select Item using Select Mode or Edit Mode, then right click the mouse key. A shortcut menu will be presented including various rotate options.

  • Change Angle - This function is only available for items that have a known angle, e.g. Components and Text. A sub menu presents options to rotate to 0, 90,180, 270 degrees precisely.
  • Rotate By 90 - Use this to rotate the selection counter clockwise by 90 degrees.
  • Rotate One Step - Use this to rotate the selection by a pre-set degree step in a counter clockwise direction.
  • Change Rotation Step - Use this to change the step size for the Rotate One Step option.
  • Rotate About - Use this if you want to rotate a set of selected items about a point defined by another item already in the design. This will enter Rotate One Step latched mode operation and immediately let you place the origin defining the rotation point. This origin can be snapped to any design item, including construction line intersections. Once the origin is placed, use left click anywhere to rotate the selection about it by the rotation step. Subsequent left clicks will repeat the rotation. You can change the rotation step whilst in this mode using Change Rotation Step from the shortcut menu.
  • Type Rotate - Use this if you want to rotate the current selection relative to its original position by typing the point to rotate about and the angle to rotate by into a dialog.

Latch Mode

Rotate One Step can be used in Latched Mode allowing you to rotate items simply by picking them. To enter this mode, make sure nothing is currently selected and use the Rotate One Step button from the toolbar.

Defining The Rotation Origin

You may wish to change the point in an item that it is rotated about. For example, if you have defined the origin of a component at its centre, but wish to rotate it about the first pad position.

If rotating a pre-selected item, you can change the selection origin by using Place Selection Origin from the shortcut menu. Place the origin over the item or point you want to rotate about and then use the appropriate rotate function.

Alternatively, when the Rotate option is latched down, you can redefine the point to rotate about as follows:

Right click and use the Use Selection Origin option from the shortcut menu. A origin symbol will be displayed on the cursor for you to place. Whilst placing it, right click again to enable the Snap To Item option if you want the origin to snap to the nearest point on the design item it is dropped over. Once the origin has been placed you can right click and use Place Selection Origin to reposition it.

With a selection origin defined, the operation will use it to rotate about.

Rotating Components in PCB Designs

In a PCB design, if Footprint Rules have been defined and are set to be applied automatically after rotate, then rotating a component may result in it switching to an alternative footprint.

Change Rotation Step | Latched Mode | Options - Interaction | Type Rotate

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