Selecting Board Elements

To select board elements (pads, components, vias, routes, control points, differential insertion points, and silkscreen objects):

1. Single Selection: Click on the element you want to select. For multiple selections, hold down Shift while clicking additional elements of the same type.

   Figure 1: Single and multi-selection of board elements using Shift.

2. Area Select: Click and drag to draw a selection box around multiple elements. Any elements within the box will be selected, respecting the active layer.

   Figure 2: Area selection of board elements respecting the active layer.

Selectable Elements and Conditions

Different board elements have specific conditions under which they can be selected:

• Pads, Routes, Control Points, Differential Insertion Points: These elements are selectable when their respective layers are active. For example, a pad on the top copper layer is only selectable if the top copper layer is active.
• Components: Components are selectable when the copper layer corresponding to the side of the board they are on (top or bottom) is active. They are also selectable when that side's courtyard layer is active.
• Vias: Vias are selectable if any one of the layers they span are active.
• Silkscreen: Silkscreen elements are selectable when the silkscreen layer is active.

(Include visuals here to demonstrate the selection conditions for each element type. Consider using side-by-side images or videos that show elements being selected when their layers are active versus inactive.)

Interactions for Selecting All

JITX provides special selection tools for efficiently managing routes and vias in the board layout:

1. Select Net (a): Select a pad, route, via, control point, or differential insertion point, then press a to automatically select all elements on the same net as the currently selected object(s).

   Figure 3: Select all elements on a net using a.

2. Select Possible Ends (Ctrl + a): Select a pad, via, control point, or differential insertion point, then press Ctrl + a to select all elements on the same net that are not yet routed to the currently selected object(s). This is useful for identifying potential routing endpoints.

   Figure 4: Select possible endpoints on a net using Ctrl + a.

   This operation is useful in conjunction with pin assignment. Pressing a after selecting a pin that has yet to be assigned will not select other ends. Ctrl + a will reveal all possible ends for the assignment.

   Figure 5: Select possible endpoints for pin assignment using Ctrl + a, whereas a has no effect.