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Handbook Version v2026.04.17.1 Released 2026-04-17
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Workbench

Goal

Help you use one side-panel area for visibility control, selection filtering, object browsing, and local focusing.

Supported Platforms

  • iOS
  • macOS

Intended Audience

  • Users who need visibility control, filtering, and object targeting
  • Testers validating Workbench behavior across 2D and KiCad 3D paths

Prerequisites

  • A board document is already open in the workspace
  • Workbench is visible and the runtime scene is available

Steps

  1. Start with Visibility to narrow the visible scope of the board.
  2. Use Selection Filter to restrict what can be picked.
  3. Use Objects to search, select, and apply actions such as Locate, Highlight, Isolate, or Clear.

Result

  • Workbench helps you reduce visual noise, find the right target quickly, and drive focus actions without taking over object-detail display.

Current Workbench Structure

By default, Workbench contains three main sections:

  1. Visibility
  2. Selection Filter
  3. Objects

Their default states are:

  • Visibility expanded
  • Selection Filter collapsed
  • Objects expanded

What Visibility Can Do

  • switch display presets
  • change the stackup viewing mode
  • show or hide layer groups, individual layers, semantic columns, and technical layers
  • toggle Rat / Board Boundary / Place Boundary / Assembly Outline / Net Labels
  • edit layer colors or reset them to defaults

When you are in 3D and the current document is KiCad, this area also shows an extra 3D section for:

  • Board Surface
  • Show proxy bodies

What Selection Filter Can Do

  • switch quickly to All / None / Default
  • limit which object categories are pickable
  • show Pick Candidates when track/segment disambiguation is needed

The default filter keeps the most common surface targets and routed copper objects available, which fits most everyday browsing.

What Objects Can Do

Objects is the most direct object browser in the current version. You can:

  • switch between facets
  • type text to filter objects
  • select a target from the result list
  • apply actions to the current selection

Current facets include:

  • Nets
  • Layers
  • Via Definitions
  • Rule Classes

Available actions depend on the selected object type. Common ones include:

  • Locate
  • Highlight
  • Isolate
  • Clear

Current Responsibility Boundary

Workbench is responsible for:

  • visibility
  • filtering
  • search
  • focus / highlight / isolate actions

Workbench no longer owns:

  • object-detail presentation

Object detail is now shown through the View Info card in 2D.

Recommendations

  • Tune Visibility first, then Selection Filter, and then use Objects search for the best hit rate.
  • If you cannot find a target, first check whether visibility or selection filtering is too strict.
  • When recording an issue, use Workbench to narrow the target, then return to 2D for the actual detail and copying step.

Common Questions

Why is there no object-detail panel here anymore?

The current design moves the detail card back into 2D so Workbench can stay focused on filtering and targeting.

Why is Isolate sometimes disabled?

Because it only applies to some object types. Certain layer or via-definition targets can be isolated, while nets, tracks, and vias may not support that action.

Why do I see extra visibility controls while in 3D?

Because Workbench exposes additional 3D display options when the 3D + KiCad condition is satisfied.

Last Verified

  • 2026-04-17