Understanding Eagle

Before you launch into laying out your design, you need to understand the basic principles of Eagle's user interface.

The Command Bar

While Eagle is brimming with buttons it's much quicker to use the command bar to tell it what you want.

In the command bar you can type commands. You often don't have to type the complete command name, just two or three letters will do. You can supply arguments for those commands to speed things up.

For example, to name a signal "GND" you could type "na GND" and then click the signal you want to name. This is short for "name", and we're providing the argument "GND" to say what the next thing we name should be callled.

The Grid

The grid is a powerful ally in Eagle, helping you get a sense of the scale of your design and keep things aligned tidily. I often align to 1cm and 8mil grids. A mil ( a.k.a. a thou ) is distinct from a millimeter and represents one thousandth of an inch, or 0.0254mm.

Tips and tricks

TODO:

• use VCC and GND supply symbols to clarify your layout
• use named signals and separate concerns
• LABEL. EVERYTHING!

• NAME and > VALUE markings in text

• Orientation dot
• the circle end of a Pin is where the wire connects
• group things logically in symbols
• VSS = GND, VDD = Power
• Once things are grouped you must use CTRL+RIGHT-CLICK to apply the current command, IE:
  • Type “gro” to group
  • select your items
  • type “mov” to move
  • hold ctrl, right click and drag your items to move
  • Essential Commands net - only works in schematic view, lets you connect components together label - apply a label to a net, displaying its signal name name - apply a name to a net mirror - will mirror a label add - add a new component to your design text - add free form text labels to document your design group - make a temporary group for manipulating multiple items move - move items