Wire Tool (Select Tool): Use the Wire tool to connect elements together in circuits. This tool forms a wire between two nodes, usually located on two separate objects. Each element has two nodes (except the double switch, which has three). In Schematic View, all nodes look like this black dot . For the locations of nodes in Realistic View, consult the help pages of individual elements. The Wire Tool also doubles as the Select Tool.

To connect two objects with a wire, click down on a node of one object. (Fig. 1). Then hold down the mouse button and drag the cursor toward the target node of the target object (Fig. 2). If handles appear and/or the object starts moving, you have selected the object. Let go of the mouse and try again.


Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Fig. 3

Fig. 4

When the cursor gets close to the target node, a yellow box will start flashing around the node (Fig. 3). At this point, you can release the mouse button. The Wire Tool will draw the rest of the wire as a straight line (Fig.4 ). Alternatively, you could drag the cursor all the way to the target node.

Newly-formed wires are automatically selected. You must exercise caution when deleting objects immediately after you do some wiring.

You can delete a wire independently, but a wire also disappears when you delete either of the objects it connects. You cannot move wires. Wires resize automatically when connected objects move.

Wires can be colored by potential (voltage) level.

Warning: Most edit functions do not work reliably with wires, including cut, copy, paste, undo, and redo. In particular, you should avoid using undo to undelete wires or circuits (using undo to undelete individual, unconnected elements is OK).