Tutorial on using Split effectively

[ken]

The split function confuses me greatly and I can't figure out how to use it without ending up with a jumbled mess of traces that look like a maze 🙂  The help function did not help.

I'm used to a very clean split function in PADS Pcb where you just click on a trace, right click and select split, right click again if you need to swap which side moves, then just move the trace and everything stays nice and orthogonal and tidy.  In Eagle, the split makes one side diagonal and doesnt seem to just let you move a trace up and down or left and right as a whole segment.  There MUST be an easier way.  Is there a ctrl or shift or some setting I can set to just do a fast simple split to just split and move a whole segment orthogonality? 

[C.Nicks · Accepted solution]

Hi Ken,
The SPLIT tool is a bit different than the PADS version. I've used it as a primary routing tool for years and I think it has gone under the radar of most. These days the loop removal setting of the route tool tends to be all that's needed to reroute.
I do still use split all the time though, especially in the schematic where there are no preserve angle moves or smart routing tools. Split is especially useful when combined with the alternate DELETE mode.

Check out this video tutorial I posted last year. It should give you a better understanding on some use cases for the SPLIT and MITER tools.

https://youtu.be/e6LX1FTlMPA

[C.Nicks]

I will also mention that the split tool only activates for one side at a time, there is no way to quickly switch to the other side. I really wish there was, but the thing to remember is that the side it starts at is selected from where you start. Essentially whichever side you are closest to it will start from there.

[havlicek6TH3H]

Hi,

I watched your video and I´m curios how did you achieve the special shape of traces near the small vias (there are used 4 traces). Is there any script or option to enable this?

Thanks, Vojta

[C.Nicks]

I think the shape you are mentioning is the teardrop. Those are added before the final step before sending out using a teardrops script. The included one with Eagle is a destructive process and you cannot undo the operation, so I would suggest using this one.
https://github.com/loneFunction/Library/tree/master/ULP/BRD/TEARDROP
It generates an undo file in case you need to remove them, but I would suggest making a backup before making the changes just in case.

Here is a little background on teardrops.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teardrop_(electronics)

[C.Nicks]

I just updated the teardrop ulp with the latest version. There was a bug in the undo files that did not work properly with curved traces.

[ken]

@@C.Nicks wrote:

I will also mention that the split tool only activates for one side at a time, there is no way to quickly switch to the other side. I really wish there was, but the thing to remember is that the side it starts at is selected from where you start. Essentially whichever side you are closest to it will start from there.

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Thanks for the video and for this tip.  Very helpful.  I misunderstood the Ctrl right click function as it seemed from the help file it was implying thats how you do which side swap, but now I understand.