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        Tue, 23 Aug 2016 15:30:18 -0700 (PDT)
From: "James Battat (jbattat AT wellesley DOT edu) [via geda-user AT delorie DOT com]" <geda-user AT delorie DOT com>
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Subject: [geda-user] pcb: moving portions of a layout around
Message-Id: <199EEF6F-3BCF-4AA5-AB60-9EA59EDE899F@wellesley.edu>
Date: Tue, 23 Aug 2016 18:30:15 -0400
To: geda-user AT delorie DOT com
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Reply-To: geda-user AT delorie DOT com

What are some recommended ways to move around portions of a pcb layout?

For example, say I want to move a set of 60 components (with inter-connecting traces) and shift them up and over by a few inches?
I know that I can drag select, but often only parts of components are selected that way (some pads, but not the whole element), and then I spend a fair amount of time individually selecting traces/elements that were not captured by the drag select. This is especially true in a dense region of board where a drag select of components that I want would also select the components that I want to leave alone.  I always end up with a lot of Shift-clicking to select what I want (and only what I want).

I usually end up turning off silk & pins/pads, then drag selecting the traces + vias, then turning back on the silk & pins/pads to grab the elements.  But I’m sure that there’s a better way.

Thanks,
James