Cross-select entities

This example shows you how to cross-probe PCB entities between the interactive tables and the viewer.

When using the assembly, comparison, or collaboration functionality, you can explore the PCB design by selecting an entity from an interactive table and graphically highlight it in the viewer. In this example, you explore a difference in one PCB restriction area of two PCB designs on the Compare main page.
  1. On the Compare loading page, open the two PCB designs.
  2. On the Compare main page, click the Areas tab.
  3. In the interactive table, click Filters to open the Filters toolbox.
  4. Expand the Status group and clear the Select All check box to filter the components by status.
  5. Select the New check box to display only the new restriction areas in the design.
    Interactive PCB entities table listing added copper areas filtered by status

    The PCB design has two new copper areas.

  6. In the interactive table, select both added areas.
  7. On the main page, click the Viewer tab to display the 2D layout of the PCB design.
  8. On the viewer command ribbon, click Selection Toolbox .
    In the Selection toolbox, notice that the PCB entities you selected in the interactive table now display under the Selected Objects list.
  9. From the Selected Objects list, select any entity to highlight it on the PCB design.
    PCB area entity selected in toolbox and highlighted with a red border on the graphical design.

    The application highlights the border of the selected entity on the 2D layout of the PCB design. You can also define a custom color to highlight elements you select on the Settings page.

  10. On the viewer command ribbon, click Overlays Toolbox .
  11. In the Overlays toolbox, expand the Comparison Results > Areas Changes groups.
  12. Next to the entity name, click to zoom in to the selected entity.

    You can use the search box to limit the list of available area changes.

    PCB area entity selected in toolboxes, with graphical design close up shown and highlighted with a red border.

    The application displays a close up of the PCB entity, which you can inspect in greater detail.

  13. On the viewer command ribbon, click Reset Camera View to return to the original view of the model.