PCB Editor - Board Insight Lens

The PCB Editor - Insight Lens page of the Preferences dialog.

Summary

As its name suggests, the PCB Editor – Insight Lens page of the Preferences dialog provides numerous controls relating to the functionality of the Board Insight Lens feature within the PCB workspace.

Access

The PCB Editor – Display page is part of the main Preferences dialog (DXP » Preferences) and is accessed by clicking the Board Insight Lens entry under the PCB Editor folder, in the left-hand pane of the dialog. Alternatively, right-click the PCB Editor and select Options » Board Insight Lens from the context menu.

Options/Controls

Configuration

• Visible - Enable to activate the Board Insight Lens facility. The board Insight Lens is a window that shows the PCB at the current cursor position at the Zoom magnification setting on this page.
• X Size - Shows the current X (horizontal) size (measured in pixels) of the Board Insight Lens. Click on the up or down arrow buttons (changes value by 10) or move the slide control to increase or decrease the size.
• Y Size - Shows the current Y (vertical) size (measured in pixels) of the Board Insight Lens. Click on the up or down arrow buttons (changes value by 10) or move the slide control to increase or decrease the size.
• Rectangular - Select to have the Board Insight Lens shaped as a rectangle.
• Elliptical - Select to have the Board Insight Lens shaped as an ellipse.

Behaviour

• Zoom Main Window to Lens When Routing - Enable to zoom the main editing window to the current Board Insight Lens display when manually routing. As you place a track, the Board Insight Lens disappears and the main window is zoomed to show the content of the [now hidden] Board Insight Lens. When you finish routing, the main window is zoomed back to the previous magnification and the Board Insight Lens reappears.
• Animate Zoom - Enable to have the Insight Lens animated to reflect movement in the main editing window.
• On Mouse Cursor - Enable to have the Board Insight Lens move with the cursor. Disable this option and the Board Insight Lens position will remain in a fixed location on the screen.

Content

• Zoom -  Shows the current zoom of the Board Insight Lens. Click on the up or down arrow buttons (changes value by 10) or move the slide control to increase or decrease the viewable contents of the PCB document captured by the lens.

• Single Layer Mode - Shows the current display mode for the Board Insight Lens. Click to view and select a Single Layer Mode option. Single Layer Mode options may vary depending on which Available Single Layer Modes are selected in the PCB Editor - Board Insight Display page of the Preferences dialog:
  • Not In Single Layer - displays all primitives on all layers.
  • Monochrome Other Layers - displays the current layer, all primitives on other layers are displayed in the same shade of gray.
  • Hide Other Layers - displays the current layer, all primitives on other layers are not displayed.
  • Gray Scale Other Layers - displays the current layer, all primitives on other layers are displayed in gray. The shade of gray is based on a layer's color scheme.

Hot Keys

• Tree List Short Cuts -  This is a list of keyboard shortcuts for various Board Insight Lens actions. Actions that refer you to the "Mouse Configuration" page can be customised via the PCB Editor - Mouse Wheel Configuration page of the Preferences dialog.