DSPCB - How to select tracks and segments

DesignSpark PCB provides several options to select, segments, parts of the track or the complete track which can then be changed.

Select Track Segment

The first way of selecting a track segment is the single left mouse click. Place the cursor over a segment and click to select. A segment is any length of track between two 'points', these points can be pads, vias or another segment.

Select Additional Track Segments

While this segment is selected you may add additional segments to the selection, this is achieved by using CTRL + Left mouse click and the additional segments will be selected as shown by the highlight.

NOTE: CTRL + Left mouse click toggles the status of the segment, so if you select something in error perform the CTRL + Left mouse click to deselect the segment.

Select Multi-segment Track

As seen above this will take many selection steps to select a multisegmented track, so the next command to be aware of is SHIFT + Left mouse click this will select the complete track between junctions.

Select Additional Multi-segment Tracks

You may add additional segments with a CTRL + Left mouse click and if you wish to add a further multi-segment track use CTRL + SHIFT + Left mouse click.

Select Complete Track on Net

Finally what if you wish to select the complete track on the net.
Select any track using SHIFT + Left mouse click followed by a second SHIFT + Left mouse click and the complete track is selected.

These selection methods can be applied to achieve your final selection requirements. If for example you select a complete track but do not want to change the segment routed between two pads simply CTRL + Left mouse click on that segment to deselect.

To change the track style of the selection, Right mouse click, and select "Properties" and edit as required.

Summary

Although the following refers to "selection", if the item is already selected it will be deselected, i.e. toggle the current status.

Left mouse click Selects the current segment.

CTRL + Left mouse click Adds the segment to the current selection. 

SHIFT + Left mouse click Selects a complete multi-segment track.

CTRL + SHIFT + Left mouse click Adds a multi-segment track to the current selection.

SHIFT + Left mouse click followed by a further SHIFT + Left mouse click will select the complete track.

At any time, a Left mouse click on a clear area will remove all the selections.

NOTE.  SHIFT + Left mouse click on any part of a component PCB footprint such as a pad will select the complete footprint.

With an Engineer subscription, DesignSpark PCB has additional features when routing:

• Low light inactive layers and Auto finish. Here the layer not being tracked has the colours darkened (blue arrows) and a suggested valid track route is shown in outline (orange arrows) which can be ‘accepted’. Also, clearances around tracks and pads (purple arrows) on the active layer show the ‘Spacings Rules’ gap to avoid design violations.
  
  
• Auto neck tracks. This will route in the “normal” track width and reduce to “minimum” as defined in the Track Styles when passing through any reduced width obstruction.
  
  
• Auto neck from SMD pads. Will route from the pad using “minimum” track width and then change to “normal” track width.
  
  
• Pull track tight. This shortens the track so it passes as close to possible to obstructions that it passes.