Selecting, Listing or Highlighting Components in a Layer
Invoking Custom Layer Configurations
The layers pane is the interface to the schematic canvas drawing layers feature. Drawing layers are used to provide the ability to efficiently enable or disable components on the canvas, or to toggle the visibility of any objects that appear on the canvas.
Layers are a property of the project. Therefore, once a layer is created and defined, it may be used on any schematic canvas (i.e. module) that exists in that project.
Components may be added to a defined layer, after which the component state can be adjusted by setting the state of the layer. Traditionally, a layer can possess one of three states:
See Adding Components to a Layer for more.
NOTE: Selected components may be disabled or enabled quickly without the use of a layer. See Disabling and Enabling Components for more details.
The layers pane can be viewed by simply selecting it in the Panes drop list button, under the View tab of the ribbon control bar.
Once selected, dock the pane in a preferred location in the application environment.
To add a layer, simply give the layer a name in the layers pane and then press the + button. A new layer will be created immediately.
|
|
Enter Name and Press + |
New Layer Created |
Alternatively, simply press the Insert key, while the layers pane is in context, or right-click anywhere within the pane and select Add. A dialog will pop-up asking you to name the layer. Enter an name and press OK.
To remove a layer, simply press the X button on the layer to be removed.
Alternatively, select the layer you want to remove and press the Delete key, or right-click on the layer and select Delete.
To rename a layer, simply select the layer, right-click and select Rename.
To merge two or more layers, simply select multiple layers (hold down Ctrl and then left click to select the layers), right click and select Merge Layers. A dialog will pop-up asking you to name the merged layer. Enter an name and press OK.
Note that the act of merging one or more layers together, will consume the original layers. Any custom layer configurations associated with individual components will be included in the merge. See Custom Layer Configurations for more details.
Once components have been moved into a layer, you can keep track of them by either selecting, listing or highlighting all components in that layer. You may also delete all components in a layer.
To select, list or delete all components in a layer, select the layer in the layers pane, right-click and choose Select, List or Delete Components:
If Select Components is chosen, all components in the selected layer will appear selected on the schematic canvas. If List Components is selected, the components in the selected layer will be listed in the Search Results Pane.
To highlight all components in a layer, simply hold the mouse pointer over the high lighter icon. All components in that layer will appear selected on the schematic canvas.
|
|
Mouse Held Pen Over Icon |
Highlighted Components on the Canvas |
The colours used for highlighting components that are part of a layer, are adjustable. Right-click on any layer and select Properties.
Custom layer configurations allows users to customize an layer internally, by controlling the state of individual components within the layer. To access the custom configurations environment, right-click on any layer and select Custom Configurations.
For comprehensive details on usage, see Custom Layer Configurations.
