Mail Archives: geda-user/2015/10/03/22:14:10
Markus Hitter wrote:
> .. I learned that there are no less than three special modes for
> ignoring text, hiding text and/or ignoring anything but text exist.
My use cases:
1) "lock names"
Many of my SMD symbols have their text placed right in the middle of
the silk artwork. This makes it easy to recognize which symbol the
text belongs to. I tend to shrink my boards as much as sensible to
decrease the cost of production. More often than not this results in
not enough open space to put refdes or value outside the footprints.
So text inside the footprints is the only way to go, anyway.
With the text inside it becomes hard to grab and move a footprint
rather than just its text. So I habitually always activate "only
names" during placement.
BTW, the string "only names" tends to confuse new users at my place.
They don't automatically associate a value with a "name". What this
flag really is about is "text". In addition, text is not actually
locked in place. It will move in parallel with the footprint. The flag
is really more an ignore. How about "ignore text"?
2) "only names"
Once done with placement and routing I like to add some finishing
touches to the silk layer. At this stage I generally don't want to
manipulate the position of footprints. So an option to ignore
everything but text comes handy.
In the same vein as above I propose to rename of this option to read
"only text".
3) "hide names"
Manual routing of densely populated boards benefits from as little
graphical distraction in the main window as possible. Since I let the
rats guide me, refdes strings or values are not needed and just
clutter the view. Deactivating the silk layer completely is an
inferior option because the silk artwork provides valuable hints as to
where components are. It would prevent me from moving footprints, too.
In summary, I am glad all three modes exist. I'd even contemplate to
extend the concept. E.g, shift-click a layer button to ignore it for
mouse driven actions but still keep it visible.
---<)kaimartin(>---
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