Node: Panner Control, Next: , Previous: Status-line and Input-field, Up: Application Window



The Panner Control

The panner control, located at the upper left side of the window, is used to adjust what portion of the layout is seen in the Layout area. The outer rectangle of the panner represents the whole layout (extended to have the panner aspect ratio), while the inner control rectangle represents the portion seen through the Layout area. Slowly drag this part around with the mouse (Btn1) to see how it pans the layout. Release the panner control, but leave the pointer within the outer most rectangle of the control. Now hit a few keyboard arrow keys. Each arrow key moves the region seen one-half window size in the arrow direction. If you want to see a portion of the layout that is off the top of the screen, you need to drag the panner up, or hit the up arrow key.

Move the pointer back into the Layout area. Increase the zoom by hitting the Z key. See how the inner part of the panner becomes smaller to reflect that you are viewing a smaller part of the layout. Now zoom out by hitting Shift-Z. If you hit the arrow key with the pointer in the Layout area, it moves the pointer rather than scrolling the window. In general the keyboard shortcuts depend on which region of Pcb's window the pointer is over. For the most part, the key strokes in this manual refer to the case when the pointer is in the Layout area. You can do fine scrolling in the Layout area by dragging it directly with the Panner tool. Press the Escape key to select the panner tool. Now drag in the layout area with Btn1 down. You can scroll the drawing window while the pointer is inside it with Mod-Arrow keys.

If you are moving or drawing an object and go beyond the drawing window borders, the window will auto-scroll. If you want to stop the auto-scrolling while the pointer is outside the Layout area, simply pass the pointer briefly over the panner control area, or a menu button.

Another way to navigate around a layout is with Shift-Btn3. When pressed down, the layout will zoom so the whole extent of objects is visible, and will return to the previous zoom when you release the button, but will be centered at the cross hair position where the button is released. You can do this while in the middle of drawing an object. Try it now to center near U7.