Layout
The Layout view is a visual representation of the physical layout of the harness. In this view you can add Connector, Terminal and Branch Point Components and connect them together with Bundles. You can then assign specific Parts to each component, such as Coverings on bundles and Boots on branch points.
Canvas
This is where Components are placed and connected together with Bundles.
right-click anywhere on the canvas to open the context menu and add Components.
right-click any component to assign a Part.
How the Layout Is Drawn
The layout draws the harness much as it will look when built. What is drawn is set for each harness under Main Menu → Harness settings → Layout, and everything is on by default:
- Bundles are drawn at their estimated thickness, with their outermost covering drawn along them, or their wires side by side when they have no covering. See Bundle Appearance.
- Connectors are drawn as their part’s top or side drawing where it has one, otherwise as the connector symbol, in the part’s colour.
- Terminals have their sleeve drawn in the part’s colour, and grow to fit the thickest bundle connected to them. A Loose Wire End is drawn as the end of its wire: as wide as its bundle, in the bundle’s first wire colour, with the bare conductor showing at half that width.
- Branch points are drawn as one shape that fits the bundles meeting at them, in the colour of their boot or covering. See Branch Point Appearance.
- Bundle labels and wire idents follow their bundle or wire round its bends.
A selected connector, terminal or branch point is outlined with a halo, white in dark mode and light grey in light mode. The PDF export draws the layout the same way.
Buttons
Fit to view - Fits the entire schematic within the viewable area
Fit to view - If an item is selected, it will center and zoom in on the selected item
Highlight nets - Toggles between showing the complete path of conductance and showing what is directly connected to the selected component. More info
Set all bundle lengths to scale - Shown in formboard mode. Moves components so every bundle is drawn at its set length. More info
Dash empty bundles - Bundles with no wires routed through them appear as dashed.
Show inline components - Toggles the visibility of Splices, Diodes and Resistors on the layout. Hide them to declutter a layout where their exact position doesn’t matter; the bundles they sit on stay in place, and a component selected in the Schematic view is always shown. Hidden inline components are also left off the layout PDF export. Press
Jto toggle.Show parts - Toggles visibility of assigned parts
Show destinations - Toggles the visibility of destinations on the selected connector or terminal. More info
Show component IDs - Toggles the visibility of IDs on components. More info
Show warnings - Toggles the visibility of errors on the harness