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Date: Mon, 21 Nov 2011 22:08:55 -0500
From: Vanessa Ezekowitz <vanessaezekowitz AT gmail DOT com>
To: geda-user AT delorie DOT com
Subject: Re: [geda-user] PCB with a component hanging off?
Message-ID: <20111121220855.707083ee@rainbird>
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On Mon, 21 Nov 2011 17:09:51 -0500
DJ Delorie <dj AT delorie DOT com> wrote:

> 
> Make the workspace bigger than the board and draw the real outline on
> the "outline" layer.  You can't have parts hanging off the side of the
> workspace, but you can have boards extend outside the board outline.

Actually this isn't entirely correct, by virtue of what is probably a bug in PCB. :-)

Here's what I used to do:

Start with a work area that's big enough to contain the whole design including the off-edge footprints.  Build your layout per your usual preferences.   When you're done moving/placing the connectors, rotate the whole thing (by 90/180/270 degrees) until any two adjacent sides of the layout that are without those off-edge  connectors are at the top and to your left.  Now select the whole layout and drag it flush into the upper-left corner of the active layout area.

Resize the layout area in the preferences dialog so that it contains only the board (i.e. your outline).  Voila, the connectors are now hanging off the edge of the workspace.  Don't try to move them, they'll just jump right back onto the workspace :-)

Personally, I wish one could position parts off the active workspace and keep them there - it makes for a clearer visual cue than the (possibly hidden) outline layer.

-- 
"There are some things in life worth obsessing over.  Most
things aren't, and when you learn that, life improves."
http://digitalaudioconcepts.com
Vanessa Ezekowitz <vanessaezekowitz AT gmail DOT com>