Careful! In the schematic, this is achieved with the shortcut D, U, while using this in the PCB editor will cause changes on the PCB to be pushed back to the schematic, not something you usually want to do!

PCB Designer Generalĭ, I: Import changes from schematic to PCB. You can use T, A, U instead to perform a “quick annotate”. Can only be used when a schematic sheet is selected (the top-level design). J, C: Jump to component (works in PCB designer also)ĭ, P: Synchronises schematic symbols with ports (to update the sheet with the new ports you’ve added on the schematic). P, W: Start placing wires (similar to P, T in the PCB designer). T, C: Cross-probe a net, pin or component between the SCH and the PCB (or between the PCB and the SCH). Q: Toggle the measurement unit system between metric and imperial. This is where you can edit the snap grid, change from imperial to metric units (I never thought I’d say this, but I recommend staying with imperial units in the schematic editor), change the sheet template, and add schematic parameters. Careful! In the PCB editor, this is achieved with the shortcut D, I, while using D, U in the PCB editor will cause changes on the PCB to be pushed back to the schematic, not something you usually want to do!ĭ, O: Open the “Document Options” window. Schematic Designer GeneralĬtrl-M: Measure (works in PCB designer also)Īlt-(X, S):Choose a script to run (works in any Altium window).ĭ, U: Update the PCB with any schematic changes. You may notice that although some keyboard shortcuts that perform the same function are the same key combo when switching between the schematic and PCB editor, other keyboard shortcuts in each are radically different! This is likely due to the fact Altium acquired the PCB editor from another company after they had already started writing the schematic editor, and decided to keep some of the proprietary PCB keyboard shortcuts. If you’ve never used Altium before, you’ll soon see why they are needed when you see the menus for the first time :-).

It is in no-way a complete guide but just lists the ones you’d normally care to remember. This is a selection of some of the most useful shortcuts in Altium.

Altium measure distance