Managing Design Attributes with the Inspector Panel in CircuitMaker

 

The Inspector button opens the Inspector panel, which provides universal editing access to the properties of documents and objects in design editors. The panel dynamically determines its content based on the document or object that is currently selected and presents specific properties and settings that relate to that document/object.

The Inspector panel can be accessed in the following ways: 

  • From the schematic and schematic library editors by choosing View | Schematic | Inspector from the ribbons.

  • From the PCB and PCB library editors by choosing View | PCB | Inspector from the ribbons.

  • From the Layer Stack Manager by choosing Home | Settings | Inspector from the ribbons.

  • By double-clicking on an object in the design space.
  • Using the F11 keyboard shortcut.

Schematic Support

When the active document is a schematic document (*.SchDoc) and no design object is selected in the design space, the Inspector panel presents the Document Options. The following section contains information about the options and controls available.

When a design object is selected, the panel will present options specific to that object type. The following table lists the object types available for placement on a schematic sheet. Click a link to access the information for that object.

Arc Bezier
Bus Bus Entry
Designator Differential Pair
Ellipse Elliptical Arc
Image Harness Connector
Harness Connector Type Harness Entry
Net Class Net Label
No ERC Note
Offsheet Connector Parameter
Part Polygon
Polyline/Line Port
Power Port Rectangle
Round Rectangle Sheet Entry
Sheet Symbol Signal Harness
Text Frame Text String
Wire  

Modifying Data Strings

Using Formulas

The Inspector panel has the ability to modify data strings using formulas in the schematic editor. Formulas and expressions offer a convenient method of modifying attribute parameters of multiple selected objects to change their location or string-based values. This allows you to apply a specific expression to the selected string objects. The expression can include any built-in arithmetic operators and functions that apply to strings (found in Pascal). If you want to use the current value for the attribute as part of the expression, you will need to make reference to this original value either by using the full name of the attribute or by using the exclamation character (the supported substitute for the name of the attribute currently being modified). When using attribute names, if any names contain spaces, these must be replaced by the underscore character.

Using the Smart Edit Feature

Some parameter string fields also provide access to the Smart Edit dialog when multiple objects are selected, which is opened with the associated  button.

The dialog offers two methods for performing string modification accessed from the Batch Replace and Formula tabs.

Schematic Library Support

When the active document is a schematic library document and no objects are selected in the design space, choose Tools | Document Options to open the Inspector panel in the Library Options mode. The following collapsible section contains information about the options and controls available.

When a design object is selected, the panel will present options specific to that object type. The following table lists the object types available for placement within the library design space. Click a link to access the information for that object.

Arc Bezier
Ellipse Elliptical Arc
Graphic IEEE Symbol
Pin Polygon
Polyline Rectangle
Round Rectangle Text Frame
Text String  

PCB Support

When the active document is a PCB document (*.CMPcbDoc) and when no design object is currently selected in the design space, the Inspector panel presents the Board mode. The following collapsible sections contain information about the options and controls available:

When a design object is selected, the panel will present options specific to that object type. The following table lists the object types available for placement within a PCB document. Click a link to access the information for that object.

3D Body Angular Dimension
Arc Arc Keepout
Baseline Dimension Center Dimension
Component Datum Dimension
Designator Drill Table
Fill Fill Keepout
Leader Dimension Linear Diameter Dimension
Linear Dimension Pad
Parameter Polygon Pour
Radial Diameter Dimension Radial Dimension
Region Region Keepout
String Track
Track Keepout Via
Although Tracks and Lines are actually the same objects, the difference is how the software behaves during their placement, which is why there are different commands. 

After launching the Home | Place | Line command, the cursor will change to a cross-hair and the editor will enter line placement mode. Placement is made by performing the following actions:

  1. Click to define the starting position of the line.
  2. Move the cursor to set the length and angle the line then click again to complete placement.
  3. Continue placing further lines or right-click or press Esc to exit the placement mode.

PCB Library Support

When the active document is a PCB Library document and no design object is currently selected in the design space, the Inspector panel presents the Library Options. The following collapsible section contains information about the options and controls available.

When a design object is selected, the panel will present options specific to that object type. The following table lists the object types available for placement within the PCB library design space. Click a link to access the information for that object.

3D Body Angular Dimension
Arc Arc Keepout
Baseline Dimension Center Dimension
Datum Dimension Fill
Fill Keepout Leader Dimension
Line Linear Diameter Dimension
Linear Dimension Pad
Radial Diameter Dimension Radial Dimension
Region Region Keepout
Text Track Keepout
Via  

Interactive Routing Support

When the active document is a PCB document (*.CMPcbDoc) and you are currently using the interactive routing tool, the Inspector panel presents options pertinent to that tool. The following section contains information about the options and controls available. 

Interactive Differential Pair Routing Support

When the active document is a PCB document (*.CMPcbDoc) and you are currently using the interactive differential pair routing tool, the Inspector panel presents options pertinent to that tool. The following collapsible section contains information about the options and controls available.

Interactive Multi-Routing Support

When the active document is a PCB document (*.CMPcbDoc) and you are currently using the interactive multi-routing tool, the Inspector panel presents options pertinent to that tool. The following collapsible section contains information about the options and controls available.

Layer Stack Support

When the active document is a Layer Stack document (*.CMPcbDoc [Stackup]), the Inspector panel presents options pertinent to that layer stack depending on the chosen tab (located at the bottom of the Layer Stack). Tabs include Stackup and Via Types. The following collapsible sections contain information about the options and controls available for the various tabs.

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