Accidently deleting symbols and shapes

Agree with Redwire. A

fter getting several boards back over a period of time that had the random missing reference desiginator, I was SURE it was a bug in the program. Well it turns out is was my own doing. Now I ALWAYS do a "All Off" in the find window and select exactly what I want to delete BEFORE executing the delete function. Kind of a pain but once you get into the habit it becomes second nature.

Tom

The problem I have is I have the find set correctly then in the process if deleting items allegro adds items for the find selection. is there a way to stop having allegro automatically add items to the find options.

For example you select vias and clines. Delete a via and cline, then select add connect, the software adds items to the find options. Now if you go back and try to delete vias and clines you can also accidently delete shapes.

I agree that you should always look at the find options before deleting but wouldn;t it be better to be able to have it prompt you before deleting items you did not want to deleted like shapes and symbols. ?

To remedy your problem just assign your favorite mode settings to the keys. Then there is no need for you to constantly review the filter. Keys assignments are there way to go to speed up your design process. You don't want your mouse spending valuable time rummaging around in all those menus. Better to have your  mouse pushing the board's graphics around.  Here are two examples that I use, all within "General Edit mode".  My "a'" key allow me to route the board. The filter is settings- Pins, Vias, Cline segs.  Then right next to the route key "s" I have assigned the "slide" command. The filter is set to- Vias and Clines segs. Outside of the routing commands I have assigned Move, Done and delete to keys as well. These are the commands most used throughout the design process. So best to put them all on the keys to keep you out of those menus. For the less used stuff then go and change the filter manually.    

Hi Dale,

Great solution. I will add that to my key settings. That way any time I want to delete traces and vias it will only delete those items.

Thanks!

You can add a Locked property to the dra file which will stop any objects of the symbol being deleted, Open the filename.dra and use Edit - Properties then in the Find pane change the Find by Name dropdown to Drawing and choose Locked as the property to add to the drawing level. Save the symbol and then update in a design. This will gve you a message in the command window if you try to delete or move any item that is part of the symbol. You can however still move the refdes text.

Thanks Steve. Good to know as you can select the shapes on a symbol and move or delete those items. The problem I have is accidently deleting the whole symbol ,

Thanks Steve. Good to know as you can select the shapes on a symbol and move or delete those items. The problem I have is accidently deleting the whole symbol ,

Just so you are aware the Find Pane is command driven so if you invoke Route - Connect and set the Find pane these will be remembered the next time you run the connect command. If you set different Find settings for delete, the tools will remember those. If you are worried about certain objects in each design you can add a Fixed property to the symbol or shape which will stop you deleting them by mistake. The drawing pin icon will start this command.

Thanks. The problem I have seen is if you have clines and vias enabled and delete items  the items in find change. Usually it adds symbols and/or shapes. This is how I accidently deleted shapes and symbols.

I need to try and duplicate this and it does not happen all the time. Perhaps it has something to do with your comments above. Interesting.