Auto Placement

The Auto Placement command allows you to automatically place components in a component group area. To display the Auto Placement dialog, select Component > Placement > Auto Placement on the eCADSTAR PCB Editor ribbon. For a component that is outside of the component area, double-clicking it will execute the command. Alternatively, right-click it and choose Selection End on the assist menu. You can also select a component by dragging the cursor over it. It is placed when you release the mouse button. You can select multiple components using the CTRL key or by dragging the cursor over them.

Components are placed in the most appropriate location by taking their net connections into account, and by minimizing the net length. Components with the largest component area are placed first. Smaller components are then placed around these components and are aligned by centre point.

To place components, select them on the canvas or by using the Component Selector, and then click Selection End on the assist menu. Alternatively, double-click a component on the canvas. By default, components are placed on Side-A. If this is not possible, then they are placed on Side-B. While the command is running, components that are placed on Side-A are shown in red, and components that are placed on Side-B are shown in green. If components cannot be placed, then the Reference dialog is displayed after the command finishes. These components are listed in the dialog, and are moved to the outside of the board, at the bottom-right.

If you specify Height Limit Area, Rule Area or DRC constraints in the component area, then these are obeyed by the command. If a component cannot be moved into a component area without violating a constraint, then it is moved to the bottom-right corner of the component area. If a component is a member of a Component group, then it is automatically placed in the relevant group on the canvas. Components that are not members of Component groups may also be placed in a component group. If no component group exist, then components are placed within the layout area.

In the following example, three component groups have been added to the component area, and all components are outside of this area.

If you execute the Auto Placement command and select the components, then they are placed in the component area. Components that are in a component group are moved into the relevant position on the canvas. Components that are not in a component group are placed in an appropriate position in the component area, or in an appropriate component group. The command distributes components equally on the board, if possible, and recognizes rule areas and keepout areas.

Pack Tight

Value	Description
ON	If selected, and the specified components are in a component group, then they are arranged densely around the one with the maximum component area. This is illustrated in the following example. If the specified components are not in a component group, then this setting has no effect. If the specified components contain a mixture of components in component groups and components that are not, then some components may be packed tight outside of the component group.
OFF	If selected, and the specified components are in a component group, then they are distributed within the component group. This is illustrated in the following example. If the specified components are not in a component group, then this setting has no effect.