The editors
The layout both editors share, navigation and selection.
Both editors share one layout:
| Area | Board editor | Schematic editor |
|---|---|---|
| Top action bar | track width, via size, grid, units, routing mode, undo/redo | grid, units, undo/redo |
| Left view bar | grid, units, cursor, ratsnest, zone display (filled/outline/fractured), pad/via/track sketch, high contrast, flip board | grid, units, cursor |
| Left panel | Appearance: Layers (groups, colours, eye, opacity, active layer, presets), Objects (opacities, net-highlight dimming), Nets (net classes, highlight); Libraries; Items | Sheets (hierarchy, drawing tools), Nets, Items, Libraries (symbols) |
| Canvas | three.js, 2D and 3D | three.js, 2D |
| Floating tool bar | select, route, via, zone, rule area, graphics, text, dimensions, measure, place footprint | select, highlight net, wire, bus, junction, no-connect, labels, sheet and sheet pin, place symbol, power, shapes (line, rectangle, circle, arc, polygon, Bézier), text and text box, image |
| Right panel | Properties of the selection (editable), Checks (DRC), Overlays, 3D | Properties, Checks (ERC) |
| Status strip | cursor position, grid, units, active layer, selection, unrouted count | cursor, grid, units, selection |
Navigation: scroll to zoom at the cursor (Shift+scroll pans vertically), middle- or right-drag (or Space+drag) to pan, Home to zoom to fit, F1/F2 zoom in/out, F4 centre on the cursor. Alt+3 (or KiCad: 3D view) opens the 3D view and KiCad: 2D view returns.
Selection: click, Shift+click to add, Ctrl+click to toggle; drag on empty space for a box (left to right selects what is enclosed, right to left what it touches; Shift adds, Ctrl+Shift removes); drag on an item moves the selection. The Layers tab’s selection filter limits what can be picked (with Pads unchecked a click on a pad selects its footprint alone, without the pad). Ctrl+Alt+A selects everything (Ctrl+A opens Add component, see below), ` highlights the net under the cursor, ~ clears it. E or double-click opens the item’s properties; edits commit on Enter or when the field loses focus (Esc reverts) and are checked against the board’s design rules first.