Background Theory > Aligning Objects

Aligning objects in Schematic/PCB design is a crucial aspect of creating a well-organized and visually appealing layout. Proper alignment ensures that components, traces, pads, and other elements are precisely positioned relative to each other, making the design easier to understand, manufacture, and troubleshoot. Most Electronic Design Automation (EDA) software tools offer various alignment options to help designers achieve accurate and consistent object alignment. Here are some common methods for aligning objects in PCB design:

Manual Alignment: Most PCB design tools allow you to manually select multiple objects and move them to align with each other. This method gives you fine control over object placement and alignment.

Snap to Grid: Enabling the "Snap to Grid" feature ensures that objects are automatically aligned with the grid lines. This feature is especially helpful when aligning objects along straight horizontal or vertical lines.

Distribute: The "Distribute" function in PCB design software allows you to evenly distribute selected objects horizontally or vertically. This is useful for creating uniform spacing between components or traces.

Centering: You can center objects with respect to the horizontal or vertical axis of the design canvas. Centering is especially useful for aligning components or groups of components within specific areas of the design.

Reference Points: Some tools allow you to set reference points on objects and align other objects to those reference points. This is helpful when aligning objects based on specific points rather than the object's boundaries.

Grouping: Grouping objects allows you to treat them as a single entity, making it easier to align and move multiple objects together while maintaining their relative positions.

Alignment Tools: Many PCB design tools provide dedicated alignment tools that offer various alignment options, such as aligning objects left, right, top, bottom, center, or distributing them evenly.

Using Guides: Creating guides on the canvas helps guide the alignment of objects. You can snap objects to guides to achieve precise alignment.

Keyboard Shortcuts: DEX offers keyboard shortcuts for alignment, making it quicker to align objects without needing to navigate through menus.

When aligning objects, it's important to consider the specific requirements of your design, such as component clearances, trace routing, and signal integrity. Careful alignment helps improve the overall quality and manufacturability of the PCB design.