Schematic - Break Wire

Created: March 22, 2016 | Updated: October 31, 2018 | Applies to versions: 16.1, 17.0 and 17.1

Now reading version 17.1. For the latest, read: Schematic - Break Wire for version 21

The Schematic - Break Wire page of the Preferences dialog.

Summary

The Schematic – Break Wire page of the Preferences dialog provides controls related to the behavior of the cutting tool, when using the Break Wire feature. While the tool is labelled Break Wire, it can be used to break wires, buses, and signal harnesses.

Access

The Schematic – Break Wire page is part of the main Preferences dialog (DXP » Preferences) and is accessed by clicking the Break Wire entry under the Schematic folder, in the left-hand pane of the dialog.

Options/Controls

Cutting Length

The following options are available for controlling the length of wire that gets cut:

Snap to Segment - choose this option to have the cutter snap to an entire wire segment .
Snap Grid Size Multiple - choose this option to have the cutter sized to a defined multiple of the current snap grid. Enter a value for the multiplier in the field to the right, between 2 and 10 (inclusive).
Fixed Length - choose this option to create a fixed-length cutter, the length of which is specified by entering a value in the field to the right.

Values are entered in terms of DXP Default units (1 DXP Default = 10mil).

Regardless of the size of cutter with options other than Snap To Segment, the cutter will shrink to accommodate smaller-sized wire segments in their entirety, as it passes over them - as though Snap To Segment were selected.

Show Cutter Box

The following options are available for controlling the display of the cutter box (dotted rectangular box), while in Break Wire mode:

Never - never display the cutter box.
Always - always display the cutter box, irrespective of whether the cursor is over a wire segment or not.
On Wire - only display the cutter box when the cursor passes over a wire segment.

If the Show Cutter Box option is set to Never or On Wire, the cutting area will be distinguished in the workspace through use of a central cross marker, while the cursor is away from a wire segment.

Show Extremity Markers

The following options are available for controlling the display of extremity markers (at the ends of the cutter box), while in Break Wire mode:

Never - never display the extremity markers.
Always - always display the extremity markers, irrespective of whether the cursor is over a wire segment or not.
On Wire - only display the extremity markers when the cursor passes over a wire segment.

If both cutter box and extremity markers are set to never display, passing the cursor over a wire segment will cause the relevant portion of that segment, or its entirety, to become highlighted - thus distinguishing the portion of wire that will be cut when clicked.

Tips

Options for the Break Wire tool can also be defined at the local document level (through the Break Wire Properties dialog) - these will be instantly reflected back at the preferences level.

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