Component Group Settings

The Component Group Settings dialog allows you to create component groups, and add components to them. It is displayed by selecting Component Group in the Area Fill (Polygon), Area Fill (Rectangle) or Area Fill (Circle) dialog, and then clicking Settings. After you create component groups, you can use them in eCADSTAR PCB Editor to add the components associated with them. This allows you to move multiple components as a single group.

The component groups that you create can be selected in the Name box, in the Area Fill (Polygon), Area Fill (Rectangle) or Area Fill (Circle) dialog, if Component group is selected. After you add component groups to the canvas, add the associated components by selecting the relevant component group in the Grouped components section of the Arrange Components dialog. Alternatively, use the Area Fill (Polygon), Area Fill (Rectangle) or Area Fill (Circle) commands to draw an area on the canvas that includes the components associated with the relevant component group.

    Target Components

Allows you to associate components with a component group that you select in the Component group box,.

Value   Description
Target   Allows you to select whether all components are listed in the Components table, or only the ones that are not added to component groups.
  All components All components are listed, including those in component groups.
  Non-grouped components Only components are listed that are not in component groups.

  If toggled on, then only values are listed that exactly match the specified value in the Filter row. This applied to both the Ref-des and Component group columns.
  Removes any values that you enter in Filter row.
Target Components table  

Components are shown according to the option that you select in the Target box. If applicable, they are listed with the component group that is associated with it.

  • Add components to the Components table by selecting them and clicking . Multiple components can be selected using the Ctrl or Shift key, or by dragging the cursor.
  • Filter the components by specifying criteria in the Filter row.
  Ref-des Shows the reference designator of the component.
  Component group If you add an item to a component group, then the name of the component group is shown.
Filter   Filter the components that are listed in the Target Components table by adding an alphanumeric value in the Ref-des or Component group column.
  Copies the components selected in the Target Components table to the component group that you select in the Component group box.

 

Component group

Allows you to create, delete or rename component groups.

Value   Description
Component group box   Displays all currently-defined component groups, and the <New group> item. Add components to a component group by selecting it, and then selecting items in the Target components table. Click to copy them into the selected group.
  • Create a new component group by clicking <New group> and typing its name.
  • Delete a component group by right-clicking it, and selecting Delete on the assist menu. Alternatively, select it and press Delete on the keyboard.
  • Rename a component group by right-clicking it, and selecting Rename on the assist menu. Alternatively, double-click the component group and then type a new name.
  <New group>  To define a new component group, click <New group> and type its name.

Components

Lists the components that you add to the selected component group. You can filter these using the Filter box and the button.

Value   Description
Filter   For the component group that you select in the Component group box, enter an alphanumeric value to filter its associated components.
  If toggled on, then only values are listed that exactly match the specified value in the Filter box.
Components box   For the component group that you select in the Component group box, the components are listed that are associated with it.
  • Add components by selecting them in the Target components table and clicking .
  • Delete a component by right-clicking it and selecting Exclude on the assist menu. Alternatively, select it and click Delete on the keyboard. Multiple components can be selected.
  • Filter the components by specifying criteria in the Filter box.

Assist Menu

The following commands can be selected on the assist menu by right-clicking in the Component group or Components boxes.

Value Description
Send Selected Item
  • If selected for a component group, then its contents are selected on the canvas.
  • If selected for components in the Components box, then they are selected on the canvas.
Delete Deletes the selected component group. Click Yes in the displayed confirmation dialog to continue.
Rename Allows you to rename a selected component group. Enter a unique alphanumeric value.
Exclude Removes a selected component in the Components box. Select multiple components using the Ctrl or Shift keys, or by dragging the cursor.
Note

Components can be associated with only one component group. If you add a component to another component group, then it is automatically removed from the existing component group.

 

Related Topics
Creating or Deleting a Component Group
Adding Component Groups to the Canvas