Anyone who works with PCB-Investigator on a regular basis quickly realizes that it’s not always the big features that make the biggest difference. More often, it’s the small shortcuts and everyday functions that become second nature—and quietly save you a surprising amount of time.
Here are ten practical features that can make your daily PCB design workflow faster and more efficient.
1. Default View – Get Your Bearings Instantly
If you’ve zoomed in too far or lost track of where you are in the layout, simply right-click and select Default View. It immediately restores a clean overview of your design, helping you get back on track without wasting time.
2. Ctrl + W – Quickly Switch Between Views
When working with different views or display modes, Ctrl + W lets you switch between them instantly. It’s a small shortcut that helps keep your workflow smooth and minimizes unnecessary mouse movement.
3. F11 – Toggle the Ruler
Need more workspace or want precise visual guidance while measuring? Press F11 to quickly show or hide the ruler, depending on the task at hand.
4. Mouse Gestures (Strokes) – Execute Commands with a Simple Movement
Many commands can be executed without opening menus or using keyboard shortcuts. Simply hold down the middle mouse button and perform a short mouse gesture.
Two particularly useful examples are:
- Zoom Home: Move the mouse from the lower right to the upper left to instantly return to the default view.
- Clear Selection: Draw a U-shaped gesture to immediately clear the current selection.
A complete overview of all available mouse gestures can be found under Help → Strokes Help.
Once you’ve incorporated these gestures into your daily routine, they become a fast and intuitive way to navigate and work with your designs.
5. Ctrl + A – Select Everything
A classic shortcut that’s just as useful in PCB design. Press Ctrl + A to instantly select all objects, making global edits and analyses much easier.
6. Ctrl + C – More Than Just Copying
In PCB-Investigator, Ctrl + C does much more than simply copy objects. Depending on your selection, you can copy component references as text, SVG graphics, images, or complete PCB-Investigator objects. The copied content can be pasted directly into applications such as PowerPoint, Paint, or any text editor. PCB objects can also be pasted onto a different layer, making it easy to reuse and modify existing design elements.
7. Net Selection – Highlight an Entire Net with One Click
Instead of selecting individual trace segments, Net Selection highlights the complete electrical net in a single step. This makes analysis much faster while reducing the risk of overlooking part of a connection.
8. Measure Tool – Check Distances in Seconds
The Measure function is available directly from the context menu. Whether you’re checking trace clearances, verifying component spacing, or measuring critical dimensions, the Measure Tool provides accurate results without the need for external software.
9. Navigate Naturally with Zoom and Drag
Using the mouse wheel to zoom and dragging the layout to pan quickly becomes second nature. These simple navigation features eliminate countless unnecessary clicks and make working with large designs much more comfortable.
10. Spacebar – Find Commands Instantly
Instead of searching through menus, simply press the Spacebar to open the command search. Functions, tools, and commands can be found and executed within seconds—especially useful for features you don’t use every day.
Conclusion
When working with PCB layouts, it’s rarely the major new features that save the most time. More often, it’s the small everyday shortcuts and workflow improvements that make the real difference. Mastering these features not only helps you work faster, but also makes your daily design process more efficient and enjoyable.
Want to try these features yourself? Download PCB-Investigator for free today: https://www.pcb-investigator.com/en/download-pcb-investigator/
