Align Component

The Align Component command allows you to move and align multiple components by dragging them on the canvas, or by specifying a reference component . Click Component > Placement > Align Components on the ribbon in eCADSTAR PCB Editor. The Align Component dialog is displayed.

Align mode

Value	Description
Drag	If selected, you can move and align multiple components by selecting them on the canvas, and then dragging them. Select each component using the Ctrl key, and then right-click and choose Selection End on the assist menu. Specify the destination to move them to by clicking a position on the canvas. The selected components are aligned using the settings that you specify in this dialog. If you select this option, then the Drag options section is made available.
Reference	If selected, you can move and align multiple components by selecting a reference component on the canvas. After you specify a reference component, select the components to align with it by clicking them using the Ctrl key. The selected components are aligned with the reference component using the settings specified in this dialog. The Drag options section is made unavailable.

Base options

Target of base

Value		Description
Component area		Allows you to align components using the edge of the component area that you specify.
	Base	Left: components are aligned along the left side of the specified component area. Right: components are aligned along the right side of the specified component area. Top: components are aligned along the top of the specified component area. Bottom: components are aligned along the bottom of the specified component area.
Reference point		Allows you to align components by specifying a horizontal or vertical line through the component origin.
	Base	Horizontal: components are aligned horizontally through the component origin. Vertical: components are aligned vertically through the component origin.
Pin		Allows you to align components using the position of their pins.
	Base	Left: components are aligned along their leftmost pin. Right: components are aligned along their rightmost pin. Top: components are aligned along their uppermost pin. Bottom: components are aligned along their lowest pin. Center (Horiz.): components are aligned using a horizontal line through the center of all pins on the component. Center (Vert.): components are aligned using a vertical line through the center of all pins on the component.

Specify gap

Value		Description
ON		If selected, then you can specify the gap between neighboring components by adding a value in the Specified value field, or by specifying that this is set using the relevant design rule. When aligning components by component area, specify the gap between the component areas of neighboring components. Select either Rule or Specified value in the Gap field. When aligning components by reference point, specify the gap between the component origin of neighboring components. Add a value in the Specified value field. When aligning components by pin, specify the gap between the specified pins of neighboring components. Add a value in the Specified value field.
OFF		The gaps between components remain the same as they were before being moved.
Gap		This field is made available when Target of base is set to Component area. It allows you to either specify that the gap between components is set using the Clearance (Component area - Component area) rule in the Rule Editor dialog, or by specifying a value.
	Rule	If selected, then the gap between components is specified by the Clearance (Component area - Component area) rule. This is set in the Rule Editor dialog, Placement tab.
	Specified value	If selected, then the gap between components is specified by the value that you enter in the Specified value box.
Specified value		Components are spaced using the specified gap. Enter a real number equal to or greater than 0.

Drag options

This section is made available if you select Drag in the Align mode section.

Value		Description
Rotation step		Specify the rotation angle that is applied when you select Rotate by Specified Angle on the assist menu. Specify a real number greater than -360 and smaller than 360.
Placement specified by circuit		For components that you drag on the canvas in eCADSTAR PCB Editor, this setting allows you to specify that their position relative to each other is maintained, which is defined on the canvas in eCADSTAR Schematic Editor. In eCADSTAR Schematic Editor, toggle on the Auto Send command, and then select the components on the canvas that you want to move. The components are selected on the canvas in eCADSTAR PCB Editor, and can be dragged to the required position.
	ON	The position of the dragged components, relative to each other, is defined on the canvas in eCADSTAR Schematic Editor. The Expanded pitch for comp. area field is made available. In eCADSTAR Schematic Editor, toggle on the Auto Send command, and then select the components on the canvas that you want to move.
	OFF	The relative position of the dragged components is defined in the Base Options section in this dialog.
Expanded pitch for comp. area		Allows you to specify a gap around the component areas. If you specify a value of "0", then no gap is added. If you specify a value greater then "0", then the specified gap is added around each component area. This is illustrated below.