Adding Rectangles to Schematics and PCBs Designs
Drawing rectangles is one of those basic CAD operations that you'll use surprisingly often when creating schematics and PCB graphics.
In this short AutoTRAX DEX tutorial, we'll demonstrate two simple ways to create rectangles using the Add ribbon and your mouse.
The same techniques work in both schematic and PCB designs.
What you'll learn
• How to select a rectangle tool from the Add ribbon.
• How to define a rectangle using two corner points.
• How the rectangle changes dynamically as you move the mouse.
• How to create rectangles using click-and-drag.
• How to complete the shape by releasing the mouse button.
Method 1 — Click, move and click
Open the Add ribbon and select one of the rectangle buttons.
Position the cursor at the first corner and click.
Move the mouse to adjust the rectangle's width and height, then click again when the shape is the size you want.
Method 2 — Click and drag
For a quicker approach, select the rectangle tool, position the cursor at the starting corner, then hold down the left mouse button.
Drag the mouse until the rectangle has the required dimensions, then release the button.
And that's it.
Two ways to draw a rectangle. Neither requires a ruler, a pencil or a particularly expensive education in geometry.