User Guide
User Guide
User Guide

PowerSelector

Use it!

The PowerSelector tool is used to select and deselect multiple elements in a variety of ways.

Attribute tabs in the PowerSelector settings window let you select elements by one or more attributes — Level, Color, Style, Weight, Type, or Class. Alternatively, when you select elements graphically, the active set of attributes displays as a highlighted group at the top of each tab list box.

You can add to the set in each tab by clicking additional (unhighlighted) attributes. If an element exists with that attribute, the attribute will be included in the set. Similarly, you can remove an attribute from the set by clicking a highlighted attribute. Switching tabs lets you continue the process of adding or eliminating other attributes for the selection set. Where you have a number of attributes selected you can <Ctrl-click> a highlighted attribute and all other highlighted attributes will be deselected.

For complex elements, such as cells, which can contain multiple attributes in a single instance, PowerSelector applies a simple selection logic. The attributes Level, Color, Style, Weight, and Class will locate simple elements within a complex element and then act upon the entire complex element. Because the Types attribute supports exact matches only, it is not generally useful for complex elements that normally consist of different element types. For example, a cell comprised of two red lines and two blue circles would be selected by a scan for red elements but not by a scan for circles.

Tool SettingEffect
Method

Sets the selection method:

  • Individual
    • — lets you select elements graphically on a per element basis, as with the regular Element Selection tool. If you enter a data point but miss an element, the Block Method activates.
  • Block Inside
    • — all elements inside the defined block are selected.
  • Block Overlap
    • — all elements inside plus those overlapping the defined block are selected.
  • Shape Inside
    • — all elements inside the defined shape are selected.
  • Shape Overlap
    • — all elements inside plus those overlapping the defined shape are selected.
  • Line
    • — lets you select elements by defining a line that intersects them.
Mode

Sets the objective of using the tool:

  • Add
    • — selects elements.
  • Subtract
    • — deselects elements.
  • Invert
    • — toggles the selection status of an element (selects deselected elements and deselects selected elements).
  • New
    • — clears the current selection set and starts a new set.
  • Clear/Select All
    • — deselects all selected elements, or selects all elements if no elements are currently selected.
Attribute Tabs

Clicking the Show Selection Information arrow expands the Tool Settings window to reveal the Attribute tabs.

  • Lv (Level)
    • — lets you select the required levels from a list (1–63 plus any named levels present).
  • Co (Color)
    • — lets you select the required colors from a list (0–254 plus By Level).
  • Lc (Style)
    • — lets you select the required line styles from a list (0–7 plus any custom line styles present).
  • Wt (Weight)
    • — lets you select the required line weights from a list (0–31 plus By Level).
  • Ty (Type)
    • — lets you select the required element types from a list.
  • Cl (Class)
    • — lets you select the required element classes from a list.
To select elements inside or overlapping a rectangular area
  1. Select the PowerSelector tool.

  2. In the Tool Settings window, select the following icons: Method - Block, and Mode - Add (+).
    If Block is set to Inside — the block has a solid border and no dashed line running through it.

    If Block is set to Overlap — the block has a dashed border and a dashed line running through it.

  3. (Optional) To change between Inside and Overlap, select the icon again using either the keyboard shortcut or the pointer.

  4. Enter a data point to define the first corner of the block.

  5. Move the pointer until the dynamically displayed block contains or overlaps the elements you want to select.

  6. Enter a second data point to close the block.

To select elements contained in or overlapping a polygonal area
  1. Select the PowerSelector tool.

  2. In the Tool Settings window, select the following icons: Method - Shape, and Mode - Add (+).

  3. (Optional) To change between Inside and Overlap, select the icon again using either the keyboard shortcut or the pointer.

  4. Enter a data point to define the first vertex of the polygonal shape.

  5. Continue entering data points until the polygonal shape contains or overlaps the elements you want to select.

  6. Enter a final data point to close the polygonal shape.

To select elements that intersect a line
  1. Select the PowerSelector tool.

  2. In the Tool Settings window, select the following icons: Method - Line, and Mode - Add (+).

  3. Enter a data point to begin the line.

  4. Enter a data point to end the line.
    All elements touched by the line are selected.

To select elements based on their attributes
  1. Select the PowerSelector tool.

  2. In the Tool Settings window, select the following icon: Mode - Add (+).

  3. In the Tool Settings window, click the Show Selection Information icon.

  4. Choose the desired Attribute tab as the selection criterion.

  5. In the Attribute list box, click the attributes to be included in the selection criterion.
    If elements exist with these attributes in the design file, the attributes are highlighted and displayed at the top of the list box and the elements are selected. If you select an attribute that does not coincide with an element in the design file, the attribute is not highlighted.

To select additional elements or deselect some selected elements based on their attributes
  1. Select the PowerSelector tool.

  2. In the Tool Settings window, select the following icons: Method - Block, and Mode - Add (+) or Subtract (-).

  3. (Optional) To change between Inside and Overlap, select the icon again using either the keyboard shortcut or the pointer.

  4. Enter a data point to define the first corner of the block.

  5. Move the pointer until the dynamically displayed block contains or overlaps the elements you want to select or deselect.

  6. Enter a second data point to close the block.
    Elements that meet the criterion within the block are selected.

  7. In the Tool Settings window, click the Show More Information icon.

  8. Choose the desired Attribute tab.
    The attributes that exist within the selection set (block) are highlighted and display at the top of the list box.

  9. To deselect elements with specific attributes from the selection set, click the highlighted attribute.
    The attribute is no longer highlighted and the elements with that attribute are unselected

Key-in: POWERSELECTOR

For users who prefer it, both Method and Mode have been mapped to the keyboard. Note that left and right-handed configurations are available simultaneously.

For instance, the Method keys <Q> or <U> select the Individual Method, <W> or <I> the Block Method, <E> or <O> the Shape Method, and <R> or <P> the Line Method; case is unimportant.

Tool setting

Keyboard shortcut

Method

Individual — <Q> or <U>

Block — <W> or <I>

Shape — <E> or <O>

Line — <R> or <P>

Mode

Add — <A> or <J>

Subtract — <S> or <K>

Invert — <D> or <L>

New — <F> or <;>

Clear/Select All — <G> or <'>

(Note that pressing <spacebar> also deselects all elements.)

Selections through PowerSelector can be undone in order of selection through the use of <CTRL-Z> or Edit > Undo.

You can set a user preference Disable Edit Handles to display selected elements as highlighted instead of with handles.

To change between Inside and Overlap mode, select the Block or Shape icon with the pointer or use the relevant keyboard shortcut.