Applied Parameters: ContextObject=Polygon|EditMode=Shape
Summary
This command is used to switch from editing the size, to editing the shape, of the selected polygon pour object currently under the cursor.
Access
This command is accessed from the PCB Editor by right-clicking over a selected polygon pour object, whose size is currently being modified, and choosing the Polygon Actions » Edit Polygon Shape command from the context menu.
Use
First, ensure that the polygon pour whose shape you wish to modify, is selected in the main design workspace, is currently in size-editing mode, and that the cursor is positioned over it.
After launching the command, the polygon editing mode will change from that of resizing, to that of reshaping. Confirmation of this is visually conferred by the eight editing handles located at the corners (and centers) of the object's bounding rectangle, being replaced with editing handles along each edge of the polygonal shape.
The outer shape of the polygon object is defined by a series of edges: where each edge is represented by an end vertex at each end, shown as a solid white square; and a center vertex in the middle, shown as a hollow white square. Each end vertex represents the location where 2 edges meet.
- Click and drag an end vertex to move to a new location.
- Click and drag a center vertex to move, effectively creating a new end vertex, and splitting the original edge into two.
- Click anywhere along an edge, away from editing handles, and drag to slide that edge.
- Ctrl+click anywhere along an edge, away from editing handles, to insert a new end vertex.
- Click and hold on an end vertex, and press Delete, to remove that vertex.
As you reshape the polygon pour, the outline of its former shape remains, until the modified polygon is repoured, as an indication of the change.
- Click on the actual shape of the polygon, away from editing handles, and drag to move it.
Additional actions that can be performed during movement/reshaping (as applicable) are:
- Press the Spacebar to rotate the polygon anti-clockwise, or Shift+Spacebar for clockwise rotation. Rotation is in accordance with the value for the Rotation Step, defined on the PCB Editor – General page of the Preferences dialog.
- Press the L key to flip the polygon to the other side of the board.
- Press the X or Y keys to mirror the polygon along the X-axis or Y-axis respectively.
- Press the Tab key to access the Polygon Pour dialog, from where properties for the polygon can be changed on-the-fly.
After modifying the shape or location of the polygon pour, it will become marked as modified. If the Always repour polygons on modification option is enabled, on the PCB Editor - General page of the Preferences dialog, the repour will happen automatically. If this option is not enabled, the Repour Polygons dialog will appear. Choose to repour the modified polygon (and optionally all of its dependents) at this time, or not. A modified polygon pour that has not yet been repoured, will appear in a darker shade of its layer coloring, within the workspace.
Tips
- A modified polygon pour is one that has been changed in some way, but has not yet been repoured. Its IsModified property - which can be seen from the PCB Inspector panel, or PCB List panel, for a selected polygon pour - is enabled (True).
- While attributes can be modified during reshaping/movement (through the associated properties dialog), bear 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 modified.
Altium Designer Documentation
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