What is the condition of being in selection mode when draw icon is selected?

If I try to draw lines or traces with the “Route Tracks” or “Add graphic lines/poligon” icon selected (blue rectangular selection background drown), sometimes clicking and dragging the mouse pointer draws a selection rectangle, and shows the “Block Operation” pop-up.

What is the cause of this behaviour? Does it mean that I am not allowed draw lines because of certain conditions?

I think most of kicad’s drawing tools are “click on start, click on end” and not “click and drag” to draw. Maybe you are confusing the two? Or maybe I misunderstand what the issue is.

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Hello and welcome @kiking

To elaborate on @qu1cks’ comment:

Click and drag (blue block selection) will temporarily override line and track drawing. ie. you can move a group of items then return to drawing without having to click your drawing icon again.

This is normal behavior. Note: Left to right block selection will give a different result to right to left selection.
Moving and dragging lines and tracks is best done with the hot keys M for move and G for drag.
Just hover mouse cross-hairs over what you wish to move/drag then press hotkey.

If this (selection possible during track route mode) is normal intended behaviour then there could be a bug. But as I don’t use this feature (until now, the mix of working modes seems not consistent/natural to me) I’m not the person to really judge on this.

There is a difference between selecting one ore multiple items during “route mode” with the blue selection-rectangle:

  • if selecting multiple items the working mode stays in “routing mode”
  • if selecting only one item the routing mode is cancelled and instead the cursor changes to “movement mode” (cursor with arrow-cross)

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