position and size of PCB designators - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 16, 2018, 08:02:13 am
content: Each time I start a new PCB layout I have to faf around editing the size or every component designator, is there a way to set a default ?

author: Jeroen3
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2018, 08:12:36 am
content: On initial start of board design. Select all designators, and move them slightly.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 16, 2018, 08:24:08 am
content: Can you expand on that ?

author: Fire Doger
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2018, 08:28:59 am
content: In AD you can use a text in silkscreen layer in footprint lib with text .Designator or '.Designator' (you have to enable and the "special text" or something similar in layer settings, I am from phone right now)After placement you can hide all auto generated designators and use these included in libraries.One problem is that it doesn't support center anchor in PCB text.The other is that I am not sure if on bottom placement it mirrors the text or only sets the layer to bot silkscreen.

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2018, 09:55:15 am
content: Also in AD there are component defaults under Preferences. No idea if they dropped that from CS...If nothing else, use a query IsDesignator to select them all, then assign whatever properties you like.Tim

author: voltsandjolts
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 16, 2018, 10:04:52 am
content: I'm surprised to see a forum moderator posting the same question on two forums at the same time.I thought that was bad netiquette.https://www.element14.com/community/thread/63913/l/default-designator-sizes-in-pcb

author: rachaelp
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 16, 2018, 10:21:56 am
content: Quote from: voltsandjolts on May 16, 2018, 10:04:52 amIf he'd posted it in two or more sections of the EEVBlog forum that would be bad netiquette, but posting it here, the largest EE forum on the internet, where he is a moderator, and on element14 which is entirely separate and has a dedicated forum for Circuit Studio, doesn't seem like an issue to me.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 16, 2018, 11:04:18 am
content: Quote from: rachaelp on May 16, 2018, 10:21:56 amI never knew we had 100% shared membership...... Element14 is the "official" place although I often get better and faster options here. I have in fact had entirely different answers from each forum and i use the term "forum" with respect to E14 very very loosely...

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 22, 2018, 07:51:22 am
content: Quote from: T3sl4co1l on May 16, 2018, 09:55:15 amNo such option, I guess that is why the damn thing is so buggy, they took a load of stuff out and have loads of half cocked ways of doing things with what is left...

author: jmarkwolf
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2018, 03:03:52 pm
content: In the PcbDoc, manually select all the items of interest (ex. reference designators) with the 'Shift key" and left mouse button, then got to 'View' and 'Object Inspector'. The items you selected will appear in the drop down dialog, and give you the option of editing the parameters.I'm hoping they add the AD "Find Similar" select option in the next release, which does a global select of any parameters you specify, then edit as above with the Object Inspector. Fast and easy.

author: aandrew
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2018, 04:10:51 pm
content: I do not have silk layer enabled when I do layout.When it's close to finished, I turn on the top silk, select one designator, then right-click select similar and include all designators. Then I set the height to 20mil and the width to 5mil.I usually select all the vias as well and make sure they're tented (I un-tent specific ones I want access to). Then I turn off all layers except for top soldermask and silk, and go around placing designators. Repeat for the bottom.

author: jmarkwolf
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2018, 05:36:54 pm
content: Quote from: aandrew on May 22, 2018, 04:10:51 pmPrecisely where are you finding this "select similar" option?Never mind. Just realized you were referring to "manually" selecting similar items, not selecting "Find Similar". My bad.

author: xjordanx
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2018, 06:16:08 pm
content: One option:Select All (CTRL+A) in the PCB editorF11 opens the InspectorSet the object filter at the top to Components onlyClick the blue "Name" text link - takes you to the child designator text objects as a selectionMake changes to TrueType font, adjust to your tasteClick blue "Owner" link text in inspector - takes you back to the selected componentsRepeat step 4 for "Component Comment" links

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 22, 2018, 06:43:06 pm
content: The other way as suggested on E14 is to place a part manually and during placement hit the TAB key and what you set will be the default on that layout. Delete the part and then import from the schematic.

author: xjordanx
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2018, 01:08:46 am
content: I was just reminded by a colleague that the PCB filter panel can similarly do selections of text items in CS.

author: OleMi
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 01, 2019, 02:44:09 pm
content: This way doesn't work for resizing designators in the buggy CS. CTRL+A will not select designators. The only workaround to change the size of all designators is the following:1. Switch on just layers with them and/or set filter to Texts2. Move them all to be at some distance from one others (they are overlayed on the taught design)3. Now click on them one by one holding Shift4. Now they are all selected and you can use Inspector to change parameters.

author: voltsandjolts
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 01, 2019, 04:16:13 pm
content: Ctrl-A does work for designators.e.g. Use the PCB Filter, select > Components > Text > Layer (if required). Click in the PCB view, press Ctrl-A.

author: OleMi
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 02, 2019, 07:10:57 am
content: Doesn't work to me, that's why above solution.

author: voltsandjolts
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 02, 2019, 12:56:15 pm
content: What doesn't work for designators is click-drag to group select them, which is a nuisance.Oh, and of course there is no 'find similar objects' functionality, so you can't easily select and change one size of designators. Grrr.