Applied Parameters: mode= line|Keepout=True|UpdateCaption=False
Summary
This command is used to place a Line object onto the active document. In truth, a line is actually a Track object that is not net-aware. Tracks are typically placed as 'lines' on a non-electrical layer where they are used as general-purpose drawing elements to create component outlines, instructional information, and so on.
Although tracks and lines are actually the same object, the difference is how the software behaves during their placement, which is why there are different commands. When a track placement command is run, such as Interactive Routing, the software monitors the click location and automatically adopts the net name of an existing object (such as a pad) under the click location. It also monitors and obeys any applicable design rules. When a line placement command is run, these monitoring behaviors do not occur.
For detailed information about this object type, see
Track.
Access
This command can be accessed from the PCB Editor and PCB Library Editor by:
- Choosing the Place » Line command from the main menus.
- Locating and using the Line command (
) on the Active Bar.
If the command has been recently used from the Active Bar, it will become the active/visible button. Where other commands are available, this is indicated by a triangle at the bottom-right corner of the button. Click and hold on the active button to access a menu of all associated commands for that grouping.
- Right-clicking in the workspace then choosing the Place » Line command from the context menu.
In addition, from the PCB Editor the command can be accessed by clicking the
![](/documentation/sites/default/files/wiki_attachments/305156/PCB_Cmd-LineButton.webp)
button on the
Utility Tools drop-down (
![](/documentation/sites/default/files/wiki_attachments/305156/PCBEditor_UtilityToolsButton.webp)
) of the
Utilities toolbar. In the PCB Library Editor, access can be made by clicking the
![](/documentation/sites/default/files/wiki_attachments/305156/PCB_Cmd-LineButton.webp)
button on the
PCB Lib Placement toolbar.
Use
After launching the command, the cursor will change to a crosshair and you will enter track placement mode. Placement is made by performing the following sequence of actions:
- Click or press Enter to anchor the starting point for the first track segment.
- Move the cursor to define the track segment then click or press Enter to anchor the end point for this first segment, which is also the start point for the next connected segment.
- Continue to position the cursor then click or press Enter to anchor a series of vertex points that define the series of connected track segments.
- Right-click or press Esc to end the current series of connected track segments.
Press the
Tab key to access the
Properties panel, from where properties for the line (its width and layer) can be changed on-the-fly. Pressing
Tab pauses placement, allowing you to interact with the panel (or other area of the software) directly. To resume, click the pause symbol that appears over the workspace or press
Esc.
Additional actions that can be performed during placement include:
- Press the * key on the numeric keypad to cycle through the available signal layers. Alternatively, use the Shift+Ctrl+Wheel Roll combination to move through the routing layers; each notch of the mouse wheel will move to the next (or previous) available signal layer.
- Press the + and - keys on the numeric keypad to cycle forward and backward through all layers currently visible in the design.
Placement Modes
While placing track segments there are five available corner modes, four of which also have corner direction sub-modes. During placement:
- Press Shift+Spacebar to cycle through the five available corner modes: 45 degree, 45 degree with arc, 90 degree, 90 degree with arc, and Any Angle.
- Press Spacebar to toggle between the two corner direction sub-modes.
- When in either of the arc corner modes, hold the
or
keys to shrink or grow the arc. Hold the Shift key as you press to accelerate arc resizing.
- Press the 1 shortcut key to toggle between placing one segment per click (the first five images below), or two segments per click (the last image in the set below). In the first mode, the hollow track segment is referred to as the look-ahead segment.
- Press the Backspace key to remove the last vertex.
![](/documentation/sites/default/files/wiki_attachments/305156/Pcb_Obj-Track_TrackCornerMode_45Arc.webp)
![](/documentation/sites/default/files/wiki_attachments/305156/Pcb_Obj-Track_TrackCornerMode_90Arc.webp)
Press Shift+Spacebar to cycle through the five available corner modes, press Spacebar to toggle the corner direction, press the 1 shortcut to
toggle placement between one segment or two segments.
Tips
- While attributes can be modified during placement (Tab to open the Properties panel), keep in mind that these will become the default settings for further placement unless the Permanent option on the PCB Editor – Defaults page of the Preferences dialog is enabled. When this option is enabled, changes made will affect only the object being placed and subsequent objects placed during the same placement session.