eCADSTAR PCB Editor Main Window

This topic provides an overview of eCADSTAR PCB Editor. The following items in the main window are described below.

1. Work area
2. Ribbon
3. Quick Access Toolbar
4. File tab
5. Status bar
6. Panel
7. Command balloon
8. Object balloon
9. Mini canvas

1. Work area

eCADSTAR PCB Editor allows you to open multiple windows in the work area.

• When a design is open, opening or closing another design terminates any commands that are currently running.
• Commands cannot be run simultaneously for multiple designs.

You can access a range of commands by right-clicking an item on the canvas, and selecting them on the assist menu. If you select a single component which has any of its attributes defined as hyperlinks in the Attribute Manager dialog, then all links are displayed on the assist menu. Select Open Hyperlink on the assist menu, and then click a displayed link to launch it in your default browser or associated application. If a hyperlink is not specified, then the Open Hyperlink command is made unavailable.

2. Ribbon

The ribbon is a layered element consisting of tabs, groups and commands.

Minimizing the Ribbon

Minimize the ribbon by right-clicking the ribbon or status bar, and selecting Minimize the Ribbon on the assist menu.

• When you click the tab with the ribbon minimized, the ribbon temporarily exits minimized mode to allow you to operate the controls.
• When the operation on the control is finished, the ribbon is minimized again so that only the tab is displayed.
• To resize the ribbon to the original size, on the assist menu select Minimize the Ribbon again. Alternatively, click at the right side of the ribbon. See Customizing the Ribbon.

3. Quick Access Toolbar

Frequently-used command buttons such as Undo, Redo, Display All and Zoom are available.

Changing the Display Position

• To move the quick access toolbar to below the ribbon, select Show Below the Ribbon on the setting button, at the right side of the Quick Access Toolbar.
• To return it to its original position, select Show Above the Ribbon from the same location.
  

Deleting a Control from the Quick Access Toolbar

• To delete a control from the Quick Access Toolbar, right-click a control and select Remove from Quick Access Toolbar on the assist menu.
• To restore a deleted control, click the label of the relevant control from the setting button, at the right-hand end of the Quick Access Toolbar. See Customizing the Quick Access Toolbar.

4. File tab

File operations, and general application setting functions are provided.

5. Status bar

The status bar displays information about the active layer, and about the object filter. The operation modes for eCADSTAR PCB Editor can also be specified.

6. Panels

The following panels display information for reference, or to set while creating a design.

• Layer Settings panel: specify the active layer, visible layer, and layer settings.
• Properties panel: view and edit the properties of a selected object.

Show or hide the Layer Settings panel by clicking (Layer Settings) on the status bar, or by clicking View > Display >  Layer Settings on the ribbon.

Show or hide the Properties panel by clicking  (Properties) on the status bar, or by clicking View > Display >   Properties on the ribbon.

7. Command balloon

The command balloon displays relevant guidance for the design situation, as well as warnings and errors.

• It can be shown or hidden by clicking Display Command Balloon on the status bar.
• Resize the command balloon by dragging its frame.
• Move the command balloon to a different location by dragging a part other than the frame.

8. Object balloon

For an object that is being previewed on the canvas, the object balloon displays a summary of its attributes.

• The object balloon can be shown or hidden by clicking Object Balloon on the Quick Access Toolbar. You can also use the split button next to Object Balloon on the quick access toolbar to select or deselect Toggle the fixed position of the object balloon.
• When you have chosen to always display the object balloon, you can resize it by dragging its frame. By dragging a part other than the frame, you can also move the object balloon to a different location. By clicking the pin icon, you can select whether to only display the object balloon when the mouse cursor is not moved for a certain length of time, or to always display it.

9. Mini canvas

The view window displays an overall view of the footprint data, and the current display area. From the mini canvas, you can change, save or retrieve the display area.

• The mini canvas can be shown or hidden by clicking View > Canvas > Canvas View Settings split button > Mini Canvas on the eCADSTAR PCB Editor ribbon.
• Resize the mini canvas by dragging its frame.
• Move the mini canvas to a different location by dragging a part other than the frame.

• However, dragging the display area represented as a yellow figure changes the display area.
• Drag the mini canvas to any location by holding down the center button.