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Select Anything using the Smart Selection Filter

Smart Selection Filter- Quickly select any objects or attributes for editing.


  • To activate Smart Select, go to menu:  Edit | Smart Filter...                                        Shortcut key:  F5
  • To toggle Smart Selection On/Off, go to menu:  Edit | Smart Filter (On/Off)             Shortcut key: F6

Smart Filter Dialog: 




Filter Settings:  Open, Save, and manage your Find Filter settings for later reuse.   Select any existing Filter Names from the drop-down. 

  • Save: Save the filter settings to any name for later reuse.
  • Delete: Remove the current filter setting.

Object types:  Check or Uncheck all Object types.


Numbers / Ranges Filter: Enter numbers/ranges separated by commas or semicolon(;)  Ex: 10,13,15-22   To Exclude begin with an exclamation mark (!): !10,!30-45   To assign a Range, use either colon(:) or dash(-) between numbers: 23:45,54-100 

  • Dcodes:   Locate objects by their Dcode number or ranges.    Default: None
  • Layers:  Locate objects by their Layers number or ranges.  Default: None
  • Composite Levels:  Locate objects by their Composite level number or ranges.  Default: None
  • NC Tools:  Locate objects by their NC tool number or ranges.  Default: None

Names Filter:   Locate objects based on their names and/or optional parameters.  All names and any parameters are not case-sensitive.  Multiple names are separated by semicolon(;).  Wildcards(*) are acceptable for All Names.   For more information about Names Filter view the following link, https://support.numericalinnovations.com/support/discussions/topics/14000019467 

  • IMPORTANT: Some Name Filters have unique PARAMETERS to help locate specific object types (see below). The units used for parameter values is the current units of the FAB 3000 editor.   Multiple parameters are separated by a comma.
  • Attributes:  Attributes are defined by pair NAME:VALUE   and are not case sensitive.  Note: Not all objects have attributes. To view attributes available for any object, select the object, go to menu: Edit | Properties..., and select tab "Attributes". 
    • For example, to select only objects with attribute name .smd and also attribute name mycolor with a value of "blue" Ex .smd;mycolor:blue   
      • NAME is required. 
      • VALUE is optional.  
  • Nets:   Locate objects using Net names.  Use semicolon(;) for multiple net names.
  • Apertures/Shapes:   Locate objects using Aperture filter parameters: [shape], Width, and/or Height. Replace [shape] with any aperture shape available in FAB 3000. The units used for parameters: Width and Height, are the current units of the FAB 3000 editor.  
    • Each aperture filter can accept the following format: [shape],width=x,height=x separated by a semicolon if there are multiple aperture filters. Only 1 parameter minimum is required.   
    • For example, to select only Circle aperture shapes would be:      circle    
    • For example, to select Rectangle Shapes with a height less than 0.254 and also Circle shapes greater than or equal to 0.5 would be: rectangle,height<0.254;circle,width>=0.5  
    • PARAMETERS.  Multiple parameters are separated by a comma.   
      • [shape]: Replace [shape] with any aperture shape available in FAB 3000.  For a complete list of all available aperture shapes go to the Apertures Table (menu: Setup | Apertures Table...), and select the "Shape" dropdown.
      • Width:   Size of Aperture in horizontal X direction.  5 math operators are available for width (=,<,>,<=,>=).  The units for Width is the current units of the FAB 3000 editor.  
      • Height:  Size of Aperture in vertical Y direction.  5 math operators are available for height (=,<,>,<=,>=).   The units for Height is the current units of the FAB 3000 editor.
  • Components:    Locate components using Refence Designator and Package names. 
  • Inserts:  Locate inserts by reference name.  Use semicolon(;) for multiple insert names.
  • Text Strings:  Locate text objects by the strings and sizes.  Use semicolon(;) for multiple text names.
  • Pad Stacks:   Locate objects by pad stack name.   Use semicolon(;) for multiple pad stack names.





References and Related Links:

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