Data Sheet

PCB Layout
103
Components selected in Proteus and shown in the Layout - Component 'tagged' mode
This allows you to select parts of your design in the schematic and then work on placement and
routing of them in PCB Layout without the clutter of other components in the object selector.
Our layout however is relatively simple so we will work globally (all of the components available
in the object selector).
Let’s get the AA battery holder down first on the right hand side of the board. Select J1 from the
Object Selector, position the part using the previous screenshot as a guide and then left click
again to commit placement. Note that once we have placed the part it is removed from the
Object Selector and we can continue by placing the J2 connector above and towards the right of
the battery.
You should notice both during placement and afterwards that there are green ‘elastic’ lines
between the two components and also a yellow arrow from each component. The green lines
are ratsnest lines and indicate connections that have to be made between the two parts, whilst
the yellow arrows (named ‘force vectors’) indicate a preferred position for the part to minimize
ratsnest distance. The force vectors are provided as guidance only and are based solely on
logic to reduce ratsnest lines. Since we will be using the earlier screenshot to dictate positioning
we can turn them off.