Hide RefDes? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Dago
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2014, 06:10:31 pm
content: Does anybody know how can I hide RefDes on the board? I have some testpads that I would like to be named after the signal and not by RefDes. I'd like the silkscreen text to be for example +3.3V instead of TP5. I can always add the text separately but can I somehow hide the refdes?

author: Kremmen
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2014, 08:19:37 pm
content: You can hide all RefDes on the entire board in the PCB layout by selecting from the menu View / Pattern marking -> Main (or -> auxiliary) and turn them all on or off.If you just want to change the RefDes of one component, then do it in the Schematic capture. Just right click the component to get the pop-up menu and the RefDes will be the first item on the list. Select and retype whatever you want.

author: Dago
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2014, 02:37:08 pm
content: Thanks for the help but neither of those solutions is what I'm looking for. I'd just like to hide certain RefDes from the board (not all) but I don't want to change the testpads RefDes to something like "+3.3V" which might be confusing. I'll just have to live with the testpad names on the board (or drag them over the border or something)...

author: Kremmen
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2014, 04:07:06 pm
content: Well then just delete the text and you will have no text if that is what you want. OK?

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 02, 2014, 05:40:57 pm
content: Quote from: Dago on January 01, 2014, 06:10:31 pmQuote from: Dago on January 02, 2014, 02:37:08 pmMake your mind up.Seems the other poster told you exactly how to do what you asked.

author: Dago
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2014, 06:23:41 pm
content: Quote from: Lurch on January 02, 2014, 05:40:57 pmThere's no conflict, there could be a testpad named TP5 with the silkscreen text +3.3V. You also can't for example put any spaces to a RefDes name. At least in eagle you can display "values" on the PCB and hide the name.Quote from: Kremmen on January 02, 2014, 04:07:06 pmHow can I delete a RefDes text? I only get "Paste" and "empty clipboard" when I right-click when in the mode where you can move silkscreen texts.

author: Kremmen
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2014, 07:39:18 pm
content: The component must be selected / focused / highlighted. Then click _on_ the component, not elsewhere on the screen.Familiarize with the menu itenm View / Pattern Marking. You can display several variations under the main and additional marking.

author: martinv
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 05, 2014, 03:58:04 am
content: I double click the component (making sure the component itself is highlighted and not just a pad or trace), then delete the text in the 'RefDes' cell.

author: dpnebert
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 18, 2024, 09:54:07 pm
content: This was one of the first link in the search results, so I'd figure I'd post to a stale topic.In Layout, click on the component you want to hide the refdes. In the menustrip (File, Edit, View, ...), click Edit. Go down to the bottom and click Properties. If Properties is grayed out, you didn't select the component correctly. Click on the Markings tab. For the row 'RefDes' and column 'Show', change to 'Hide'.Not sure why they made it such a pain. That properties option should be available when you right click a component.I hope this helps all those searching and find this (stale) post.

author: MarkF
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 04, 2024, 11:55:09 am
content: Quote from: dpnebert on January 18, 2024, 09:54:07 pmIt is a right click option.But, you have to select the component and not a pad or trace.If it's a single pad, you can slightly move the mouse to change the selection(the color will change as you move the mouse).

author: robduarte
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 02, 2025, 09:39:51 pm
content: Quote from: dpnebert on January 18, 2024, 09:54:07 pmThis is the answer. Everyone pointing to an easier way - it just doesn't exist. (And yes, I am selecting correctly). This is the only answer that works.