Data Sheet

PCB Layout
159
Board properties dialogue form
Custom Views
The next logical step is to be able to customise the view. This works conceptually by ‘attaching’
the mouse to the camera such that as you move the mouse the camera moves to the area of
the board that you are interested in. You can invoke the Navigation mode either from the View
menu, the crosshairs icon on the Navigation toolbar or simply by clicking the left mouse button.
3D Mouse cursor
You will know as soon as you are in Navigation mode as a crosshair cursor will appear over the
mouse and your view of the board will change as you move the mouse. Using this together with
the middle mouse wheel zoom will allow you to both ‘fly pass’ the board and to easily zoom in to
closely examine a particular area of the board. Exiting navigation mode is as simple as right
clicking the mouse.
For example, if we start in Front View (use the F9 keyboard shortcut) and we want to examine
the resistors on the right we might proceed as follows:
1) Left click the mouse to enter navigation mode.
2) Move the mouse over the resistors.
3) Roll the middle mouse button to zoom in as required.
4) Right click the mouse to exit navigation mode.
The final necessary piece to completely customize the view is to allow users to spin or ‘orbit’ the
board. This is done in navigation mode by holding down the left mouse button and moving the
mouse. Essentially this will spin the board as you move the mouse when you release the