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Electronics workspace tool names and descriptions

Here are all toolbar tools and their descriptions for this workspace.

Electronics > Common

New Schematic icon New Schematic

Creates a new untitled schematic document.

Reference to a Schematic Document icon Reference to a Schematic Document

Links your Electronics PCB design to an existing schematic document.

New PCB icon New PCB

Creates a new untitled 2D PCB document.

Reference to a PCB document icon Reference to a PCB document

Links your Electronics schematic design to an existing PCB document.

Electronics > Common > Create > New Schematic > Design

Switch to PCB Document icon Switch to PCB Document

Switches to the linked PCB document if applicable. If not applicable, switches to the electronics design to remind you to create a PCB document.

Info icon Info

Displays and modifies object properties.

Show icon Show

Highlights objects.

Grid Settings icon Grid Settings

Provides controls for defining the drawing grid.

Display icon Display

Control the display of drawing layers, showing all, used layers, or unused layers.

Zoom to Fit icon Zoom to Fit

Fills the display with all visible objects.

Redraw icon Redraw

Refreshes the design window and removes dialogs and error messages from the display.

Zoom Window icon Zoom Window

Fills the display with a selected area.

Copy icon Copy

Copies objects.

Paste icon Paste

Copies the contents of the clipboard or a drawing or a design block file to a drawing.

Delete icon Delete

Deletes selected objects.

Add Custom 3D Model icon Add Custom 3D Model

Assigns a custom 3D package to a part or element in a schematic or board.

Edit Custom 3D Model icon Edit Custom 3D Model

Edits the 3D package associated with a part or element in a schematic or board.

Remove Custom 3D Model icon Remove Custom 3D Model

Removes a custom 3D package override from an element or part.

Place Component icon Place Component

Provides access for placing components onto a schematic, or footprints on a board.

Pattern icon Pattern

Makes multiple copies of an object and arranges them in a linear or circular pattern.

Insert schematic icon Insert Schematic

Places an existing schematic into the existing design. Useful for modularizing designs.

Insert design block icon Insert Design Block

Inserts a component collection that was saved as a design block.

Insert Electronic design icon Insert Electronic Design

Inserts an existing design module into the active design.

Net icon Net

Draws nets on a schematic.

Net breakout icon Net Breakout

Breaks out nets from any pin of a component in a schematic.

Bus breakout icon Bus Breakout

Breaks out a single, selected, or all nets as new signals extending from a bus.

Pin breakout icon Pin Breakout

Breaks out all or a selection of pins from a component by extending nets a short distance from the pins.

Name icon Name

Displays and optionally edits names.

Label icon Label

Attaches text labels to buses and nets.

Junction icon Junction

Places a dot at intersecting nets.

Port icon Port

Adds ports to modules.

Add Bus icon Add Bus

Draws buses on the bus layer of a schematic.

Module icon Module

Creates a module, and adds it to a new sheet.

Simulate icon Simulate

Simulates performance for Operating Point, AC Sweep, DC Sweep, and Transient circuits.

Show Simulation Overlay icon Show Simulation Overlay

Displays an operating point simulation overlay.

Analog Source Setup icon Analog Source Setup

Specifies the DC Value, AC Value, and Transient Function for a SPICE-compatible analog power source.

Digital Source Setup icon Digital Source Setup

Specifies a table of Time and values for a SPICE-compatible digital signal source.

Voltage Probe icon Voltage Probe

Places a voltage probe on a net.

Phase Probe icon Phase Probe

Places a phase probe on a net.

Add Model icon Add Model

Adds a SPICE-compatible circuit or library component to a simulation.

Remove Model icon Remove Model

Removes a SPICE-compatible circuit or library component from a simulation.

Miter icon Miter

Miters wire joints.

Split icon Split

Splits wires and polygon edges, adding new segments.

Slice icon Slice

Rips up short trace segments or longer segments to left or right.

Optimize icon Optimize

Joins wire segments.

Move icon Move

Moves selected objects.

Rotate icon Rotate

Rotates objects.

Mirror icon Mirror

Mirrors objects and groups.

Align icon Align

Aligns selected objects on the board.

Arrange icon Arrange

Positions selected objects in a rectangular or circular formation.

Copy Format icon Copy Format

Transfers selected properties of an object to other objects of the same type.

Change icon Change

Changes parameters.

Value icon Value

Displays and changes values.

Invoke icon Invoke

Calls a specific symbol from a device.

Replace icon Replace

Replaces a part with another.

Pin Swap icon Pin Swap

Swaps pins or pads.

Gate Swap icon Gate Swap

Swaps equivalent gates on a schematic.

  • Optimize

Keyboard shortcuts icon Shortcuts

Provides access to existing and custom keyboard shortcut keys.

-Select

Electronics > Common > Create > New Schematic > Document

  • Switch to PCB Document
  • Info
  • Show
  • Grid Settings
  • Display
  • Zoom to Fit
  • Redraw
  • Zoom Window

Variant icon Variant

Creates variations of the design with components having different values, or some components included while others are excluded.

Bill of Materials icon Bill of Materials

Displays a list of parts or values you can output to a Text, CSV, or HTML file.

Print icon Print

Specifies the output parameters and printer for a schematic or 2D PCB.

Line icon Line

Adds lines (tracks) to a drawing.

Text icon Text

Adds text to a drawing.

Arc icon Arc

Draw an arc of variable diameter, width, and length.

Circle icon Circle

Adds a circle to a drawing.

Rectangle icon Rectangle

Adds rectangles to a drawing.

Polygon Shape icon Polygon Shape

Create a polygon.

Attribute icon Attribute

Definition of part attributes and their display.

AutoPosition Attributes icon AutoPosition Attributes

Specifies the standard position of component names and values.

  • Select

Electronics > Common > Create > New Schematic > Validate

  • Switch to PCB Document
  • Info
  • Show
  • Grid Settings
  • Display
  • Zoom to Fit
  • Redraw
  • Zoom Window

Synchronize icon Synchronize

Detects and synchronizes differences between designs, typically between a schematic and a circuit board.

ERC icon ERC

Electrical Rules Check.

Errors icon Errors

Shows the errors found by the ERC or DRC command.

Class icon Class

Reviews net classes in a schematic document.

  • Select

Electronics > Common > Create > New Schematic > Automate

  • Switch to PCB Document
  • Info
  • Show
  • Grid Settings
  • Display
  • Zoom to Fit
  • Redraw
  • Zoom Window

Run ULP icon Run ULP

Executes a User Language Program from the library.

Run Script icon Run Script

Executes the commands in a script file.

  • Select

Electronics > Common > Create > New Schematic > Library

  • Switch to PCB Document

Open Library Manager icon Open Library Manager

Displays the Library Manager dialog where you can view devices that are In Design, In Use, or Available.

Update Design from Library icon Update Design from Library

Displays a dialog where you can select one or more libraries to update.

Update Design from All Libraries Used in Design icon Update Design from All Libraries Used in Design

Automatically selects and updates all libraries that are used in the design.

Electronics > Common > Create > New PCB > Design

Switch to Schematic document icon Switch to Schematic document

If a linked Schematic document exists, will switch to it; otherwise, will switch to Electronics Design to remind user to create a Schematic document.

Push to 3D PCB icon Push to 3D PCB

Opens or creates the 3D PCB.

Push to 3D PCB With Options icon Push to 3D PCB With Options

Displays 3D PCB options and then opens or creates and opens the 3D PCB.

  • Grid Settings
  • Info
  • Show
  • Zoom to Fit
  • Redraw
  • Zoom Window
  • Copy
  • Paste
  • Delete
  • Display

Flip Board icon Flip Board

Flip the board left to right.

Toggle Single Layer View icon Toggle Single Layer View

Switches between displaying all board layers and only the active layer.

Outline Polyline icon Outline Polyline

Creates the board shape using a polyline.

Outline Spline icon Outline Spline

Creates the board shape using a spline.

Outline Arc icon Outline Arc

Adds an arc to the board shape.

Outline Circle icon Outline Circle

Creates a circular board shape.

  • Add Part

Signal icon Signal

Places a signal airwire in a PCB design.

  • Move
  • Rotate
  • Mirror

Hole (NPTH) icon Hole (NPTH)

Specifies the drill diameter and location for an unplated through hole.

  • Pattern

Route Manual icon Route Manual

Converts unrouted connections into routed wires (tracks).

Route Differential Pair icon Route Differential Pair

Converts unrouted connections of a differential pair into routed wires (tracks).

Route Multiple icon Route Multiple

Converts multiple unrouted connections into routed wires (tracks).

Meander icon Meander

Balances the lengths of signals in a differential pair.

Fanout icon Fanout

Creates fanouts from devices and signals.

Via icon Via

Adds vias to a board.

QuickRoute Airwire icon QuickRoute Airwire

Automatically routes an individual airwire.

QuickRoute Signal icon QuickRoute Signal

Automatically routes a group of signal segments with the same name.

QuickRoute Multiple icon QuickRoute Multiple

Automatically routes multiple airwires simultaneously.

QuickRoute Smooth icon QuickRoute Smooth

Automatically smooths the wire sequence on a selected signal.

QuickRoute Guided icon QuickRoute Guided

Guides the routing of a group of signals from a set of related pads. Also runs traces from one layer to another.

Autorouter icon Autorouter

Routes all signals or specified signals.

Polygon Pour icon Polygon Pour

Create a polygon pour.

Polygon Cutout icon Polygon Cutout

Create a polygon cutout.

  • Polygon Shape

Polygon Pour from Outline icon Polygon Pour from Outline

Converts a closed figure to a polygon.

Hide all Polygon Pour fills icon Hide all Polygon Pour fills

Hide fill for all polygon pours.

Show all Polygon Pour fills icon Show all Polygon Pour fills

Show fill for all polygon pours.

Re-fill Polygon Pours icon Re-fill Polygon Pours

Refill all polygon pours.

Ripup icon Ripup

Changes routed wires and vias back into airwires, and changes the display of polygons to outlines.

Ripup All icon Ripup All

Reverts all routed wires and vias to airwires, and changes the display of polygons to outlines.

Ripup Connected icon Ripup Connected

Ripup Connected rips up direct connections along a signal path.

Ripup Part to Part icon Ripup Part to Part

Ripup connections between selected components.

Ripup Signal icon Ripup Signal

Ripup selected signal path.

  • Miter
  • Split
  • Slice

Ripup and Route Device or Signal icon Ripup and Route Device or Signal

Reroutes all connected traces for the selected component, trace, or pad.

  • Meander
  • Optimize
  • Change
  • Name
  • Value
  • Replace
  • Paint Roller

Lock > Lock icon Lock > Lock

Locks selected items in place.

Lock > Lock All icon Lock > Lock All

Locks all board objects in place, including components, traces, vias, holes, labels, and text.

Lock > Current Layer icon Lock > Current Layer

Locks all objects on the current layer in place.

Lock > Unlock All icon Lock > Unlock All

Removes all locks in the design.

  • Pin Swap
  • Select

Electronics > Common > Create > New PCB > Document

  • Switch to Schematic document
  • Switch to 3D PCB
  • Switch to 3D PCB With Options
  • Grid Settings
  • Info
  • Show
  • Zoom to Fit
  • Redraw
  • Zoom Window
  • Display
  • Flip Board
  • Toggle Single Layer View
  • Name
  • Value
  • Print
  • Line
  • Arc
  • Circle
  • Text
  • Rectangle
  • Polygon Shape

Mark icon Mark

Defines a mark on the drawing area.

Dimension icon Dimension

Adds dimensioning to a drawing.

  • Attribute
  • AutoPosition Attributes

Electronics > Common > Create > New PCB > Rules DRC/ERC

  • Switch to Schematic document
  • Switch to 3D PCB
  • Switch to 3D PCB With Options
  • Grid Settings
  • Info
  • Show
  • Zoom to Fit
  • Redraw
  • Zoom Window
  • Class

DRC icon DRC

Checks design rules.

  • Errors

Electronics > Common > Create > New PCB > Manufacturing

  • Switch to Schematic document
  • Switch to 3D PCB
  • Switch to 3D PCB With Options
  • Grid Settings
  • Info
  • Show
  • Zoom to Fit
  • Redraw
  • Zoom Window

CAM Preview icon CAM Preview

Opens the Manufacturing Preview window where you can view the board and drill details before export.

CAM Processor icon CAM Processor

Defines manufacturing output configurations and previews the manufacturing output files so you can modify if changes are required.

CAM Export icon CAM Export

Generates a ZIP archive containing manufacturing information based on the specified template and settings configured in CAM Processor.

Export ODB++ icon Export ODB++

Generates a compressed archive file containing manufacturing information based on the specified template and configured settings.

IPC-D-356 Netlist icon IPC-D-356 Netlist

Generates an ASCII IPC-D-356 Netlist text file which contains instructions for CAM software.

PickAndPlace icon PickAndPlace

Generates an MNT pick and place file for automatically placing components.

Electronics > Common > Create > New PCB > Automation

  • Switch to Schematic document
  • Push to 3D PCB
  • Grid Settings
  • Info
  • Show
  • Zoom to Fit
  • Redraw
  • Zoom Window
  • Run ULP
  • Run Script

Electronics > Common > Create > New PCB > Simulation

  • Switch to Schematic document
  • Push to 3D PCB
  • Grid Settings
  • Info
  • Show
  • Zoom to Fit
  • Redraw
  • Zoom Window

Export to Ansys icon Export PCB Data for Ansys

Outputs PCB data for use with Ansys Electronics Desktop.

Electronics > Common > Create > New PCB > Library

  • Switch to Schematic document
  • Push to 3D PCB
  • Push to 3D PCB With Options
  • Open Library Manager
  • Update design from library
  • Update design from all libraries used in design

Electronics > Design > Switch > Switch to 3D PCB > 3D PCB

Flip 3D PCB Component icon Flip 3D PCB Component

Repositions selected components to the opposite side of the board.

Move icon Move

Repositions the selected component to the specified X, Y, and angular values.

Push to 2D PCB icon Push to 2D PCB

Applies changes made to the 3D PCB to the 2D PCB and opens the 2D board file.

Associates a 3D PCB to the selected 2D PCB design.

PCBHole icon PCBHole

Adds a drill hole to a board or footprint.

  • Measure
  • Interference
  • Zebra Analysis
  • Accessibility Analysis
  • Minimum Radius Analysis
  • Section Analysis
  • Display Component Colors
  • Select

Electronics > New Electronics Library > Create

Create New Device icon Create New Device

Creates a new device or imports a device to the current library from the selected library.

Create New Symbol icon Create New Symbol

Defines a schematic representation of a component and attribute for a new symbol in the current library.

Create New Footprint icon Create New Footprint

Defines the accurate shape, size, pads, spacing and other attributes for a new footprint.

Create New Package icon Create New Package

Opens the Package 3D design environment editor where you define a new 3D package and related footprint in a custom library.

  • Open Library Manager

Electronics > New Electronics Library > Document

  • Create New Device
  • Create New Symbol
  • Create New Footprint
  • Create New Package
  • Open Library Manager
  • Print
  • Display

Electronics > New Electronics Library > Automate

  • Create New Device
  • Create New Symbol
  • Create New Footprint
  • Create New Package
  • Open Library Manager
  • Run ULP
  • Run Script

Electronics > New Electronics Library > Manage

  • Create New Device
  • Create New Symbol
  • Create New Footprint
  • Create New Package
  • Open Library Manager

Push changes to managed library on library.io icon Push changes to managed library on library.io

Sends library edits to library.io.

Pull changes from managed library on library.io icon Pull changes from managed library on library.io

Updates current library with changes from library.io.

Connects current library with managed library on library.io.

Disconnects current library from managed library on library.io.

  • Display

Electronics > New Electronics Library > Create > Create New Device

  • Create New Device
  • Create New Symbol
  • Create New Footprint
  • Create New Package
  • Open Library Manager
  • Change
  • Add Part
  • Attribute
  • Name
  • Paint Roller
  • Pattern
  • Add Model
  • Remove Model
  • Select
  • Display

Electronics > New Electronics Library > Create > Create New Symbol

  • Create New Device
  • Create New Symbol
  • Create New Footprint
  • Create New Package
  • Open Library Manager
  • Info
  • Copy
  • Paste
  • Delete
  • Display

Pin icon Pin

Adds a pin to a symbol to define connectivity.

  • Line
  • Name
  • Text
  • Pattern

Pin Array icon Pin Array

Defines a pin pattern on a new or existing chip symbol.

  • Move
  • Mirror
  • Rotate
  • Change
  • Miter
  • Split
  • Arc
  • Circle
  • Rectangle
  • Polygon Shape
  • Select

Electronics > New Electronics Library > Create > Create New Footprint

  • Create New Device
  • Create New Symbol
  • Create New Footprint
  • Create New Package
  • Open Library Manager
  • Info
  • Grid Settings
  • Show
  • Copy
  • Paste
  • Delete
  • Display
  • Flip Board
  • Toggle Single Layer View
  • Move

SMD Pad icon SMD Pad

Adds a surface mount device pad to a symbol footprint.

PTH Pad icon PTH Pad

Adds a plated through hole pad to a symbol footprint.

SMD Pad Array icon SMD Pad Array

Defines a surface mount device pad pattern on a new or existing chip symbol footprint.

PTH Pad Array icon PTH Pad Array

Defines a plated though hole pad pattern on a new or existing chip symbol footprint.

  • Name
  • Line
  • Text
  • Hole (NPTH)
  • Pattern
  • Miter
  • Split
  • Align
  • Paint Roller
  • Optimize
  • Change
  • Arc
  • Circle
  • Rectangle
  • Polygon Shape
  • Polygon Cutout
  • Dimension
  • Select

Electronics > New Electronics Library > Create > Create New Package switches to Design > Package 3D

  • Move/Copy
  • Measure

3D Package Generator** icon 3D Package Generator**

Generate a 3D package for PCB.

  • Select

Finish icon Finish

Adds the 3D package to the open library and closes the package generator window.

Design > Solid > Create

  • Create 3D PCB
  • Derive PCB from Sketch

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