Snap Guide Manager

The Snap Guide Manager dialog.

Summary

This dialog provides the designer with a centralized location from which to define and manage all Snap Guides for the active PCB document – both Linear Snap Guides and Point Snap Guides (or manual Snap Points, if you will).

Access

The dialog can be accessed from both the PCB Editor, and PCB Library Editor, by:

• Choosing the Tools » Guide Manager command, from the main menus.
• Clicking the Guides button, at the bottom of the Board Options dialog.

Options/Controls

• Defined Guides List - this, the main area of the dialog, presents, and allows the management of, all currently defined snap guides. The following information is presented for each guide:
  • Guide Type – either Vertical, Horizontal, +45 Degrees, -45 Degrees, or Snap Point.
  • X – the x-coordinate (where applicable) specified in the workspace that the guide is to pass through, or point is to be located at.
  • Y – the y-coordinate (where applicable) specified in the workspace that the guide is to pass through, or point is to be located at.
    A coordinate can be defined by clicking on the relevant field, and entering the value. Alternatively, and where applicable/available, click the  button to the right of the field, then specify the required point graphically, and directly, in the PCB workspace.
• Color – the color used for the guide/point. Double-click on the color swatch to access the standard Choose Color dialog, from where you can assign any color as required. To apply the same color to all existing guides in 'one shot', use the Set Color for All command, available from the dialog's main and right-click menus.
• Enabled – whether the guide is visible in the workspace (checked) or not (unchecked).
• Add - click this button to add a new snap guide or snap point. Choose the corresponding command for the required guide type from the associated menu, an entry for the new guide/point will be added to the list. The following guide types are available:
  • Add Horizontal Guide - use this command to place a horizontal guideline at the desired Y-coordinate location in the workspace.
  • Add Vertical Guide - use this command to place a vertical guideline at the desired X-coordinate location in the workspace.
  • Add +45 Guide - use this command to place a 45 degree (y=x) guideline that passes through the desired X,Y coordinate location in the workspace.
  • Add -45 Guide - use this command to place a -45 degree (y=-x) guideline that passes through the desired X,Y coordinate location in the workspace.
  • Add Snap Point - use this command to place a point snap guide. This is simply a hotspot that you manually mark within the confines of the default snap grid. During an interactive process, such as placing or moving an object, that objects' hotspot will 'snap' to a point snap guide, when it passes into close proximity with it.
• Menu - click this button to access the following commands, all of which can also be found on the defined guides list's right-click menu:
  • Set Color for All - use this command to quickly set all guides and points to use the same chosen color. The standard Choose Color dialog will appear, with which to do so.
  • All Enabled - use this command to quickly enable the display of all defined guides and points (Enabled option checked for all).
  • All Disabled - use this command to quickly disable the display of all defined guides and points (Enabled option unchecked for all).
  • Toggle Selected - use this command to quickly toggle the display of all selected guides and points (Enabled option toggles for selected entries in the list only).
  • Delete Selected - use this command to quickly delete all guides and points currently selected in the list.
  • Delete All - use this command to quickly delete all guides and points in the list.
  • Duplicate Selected - use this command to quickly duplicate the currently selected guide or point in the list. The duplicated entry will be added to the bottom of the list. Note that only a single existing guide or point may be duplicated by this action, but there is no limit to the number of duplicate actions that can be performed.
  • Import - use this command to import a PCBGuide file with previously exported guides and points. The Load Guides dialog will appear. Use this to determine the PCBGuide file (*.PCBGuide) to be imported. The imported guides and points will be apended to those currently presented in the list.
  • Export Selected - use this command to export the guides and points that are currently selected in the list. The Save PCBGuides dialog will appear. Use this to determine where, and by what name, the exported PCBGuide file (*.PCBGuide) is to be saved.
  • Export All - use this command to export the currently defined list of guides and points. The Save PCBGuides dialog will appear. Use this to determine where, and by what name, the exported PCBGuide file (*.PCBGuide) is to be saved.
  • More Information - use this command to access this page of the documentation.