diff --git a/src/laybasic/laybasic/NetlistBrowserDialog.ui b/src/laybasic/laybasic/NetlistBrowserDialog.ui
index 7cde819e6..e74ef4cd7 100644
--- a/src/laybasic/laybasic/NetlistBrowserDialog.ui
+++ b/src/laybasic/laybasic/NetlistBrowserDialog.ui
@@ -285,6 +285,23 @@ to load a netlist or a netlist/LVS database</string>
         </property>
        </widget>
       </item>
+      <item>
+       <widget class="QPushButton" name="probe_pb">
+        <property name="toolTip">
+         <string>Select a new by clicking on a shape</string>
+        </property>
+        <property name="text">
+         <string>Probe Net</string>
+        </property>
+       </widget>
+      </item>
+      <item>
+       <widget class="QCheckBox" name="sticky_cbx">
+        <property name="text">
+         <string>Lock</string>
+        </property>
+       </widget>
+      </item>
       <item>
        <spacer>
         <property name="orientation">
diff --git a/src/laybasic/laybasic/NetlistBrowserPage.ui b/src/laybasic/laybasic/NetlistBrowserPage.ui
index 030339e09..e6a06b5be 100644
--- a/src/laybasic/laybasic/NetlistBrowserPage.ui
+++ b/src/laybasic/laybasic/NetlistBrowserPage.ui
@@ -200,13 +200,6 @@
             </property>
            </spacer>
           </item>
-          <item>
-           <widget class="QPushButton" name="probe_button">
-            <property name="text">
-             <string>Probe</string>
-            </property>
-           </widget>
-          </item>
          </layout>
         </widget>
        </item>
@@ -243,7 +236,7 @@
           <bool>true</bool>
          </property>
          <attribute name="headerVisible">
-          <bool>false</bool>
+          <bool>true</bool>
          </attribute>
         </widget>
        </item>
diff --git a/src/laybasic/laybasic/layNetInfoDialog.cc b/src/laybasic/laybasic/layNetInfoDialog.cc
index 36e8b4396..4362ae170 100644
--- a/src/laybasic/laybasic/layNetInfoDialog.cc
+++ b/src/laybasic/laybasic/layNetInfoDialog.cc
@@ -154,6 +154,9 @@ void NetInfoDialog::update_info_text ()
     info.cdata (tl::to_string (tr ("Net")));
     info.end_element ("th");
     info.start_element ("th");
+    info.cdata (tl::to_string (tr ("Circuit")));
+    info.end_element ("th");
+    info.start_element ("th");
     info.cdata (tl::to_string (tr ("Shapes")));
     info.end_element ("th");
     info.start_element ("th");
@@ -177,6 +180,12 @@ void NetInfoDialog::update_info_text ()
       info.cdata (net->expanded_name ());
       info.end_element ("td");
 
+      info.start_element ("td");
+      if (net->circuit ()) {
+        info.cdata (net->circuit ()->name ());
+      }
+      info.end_element ("td");
+
       size_t n;
 
       info.start_element ("td");
@@ -253,23 +262,6 @@ void NetInfoDialog::update_info_text ()
       info.start_element ("hr");
       info.end_element ("hr");
 
-      info.start_element ("h3");
-      info.cdata (tl::to_string (QObject::tr ("Details:")));
-      info.end_element ("h3");
-
-      info.start_element ("p");
-      info.start_element ("b");
-      info.cdata (tl::to_string (QObject::tr ("Net name: ")));
-      info.end_element ("b");
-      info.cdata (net->expanded_name ());
-      info.start_element ("br");
-      info.end_element ("br");
-      info.start_element ("b");
-      info.cdata (tl::to_string (QObject::tr ("Circuit: ")));
-      info.end_element ("b");
-      info.cdata (net->circuit () ? net->circuit ()->name () : "(null)");
-      info.end_element ("p");
-
       std::map<std::string, std::set<std::string> > shapes;
 
       //  map as (layernumber, group of shapes by layer):
diff --git a/src/laybasic/laybasic/layNetlistBrowserDialog.cc b/src/laybasic/laybasic/layNetlistBrowserDialog.cc
index 7d0c21c15..8a72b5280 100644
--- a/src/laybasic/laybasic/layNetlistBrowserDialog.cc
+++ b/src/laybasic/laybasic/layNetlistBrowserDialog.cc
@@ -23,8 +23,9 @@
 
 #include "layNetlistBrowserDialog.h"
 #include "tlProgress.h"
-#include "layLayoutView.h"
 #include "tlExceptions.h"
+#include "layLayoutView.h"
+#include "layFinder.h"
 #include "layFileDialog.h"
 #include "layConverters.h"
 #include "layQtTools.h"
@@ -56,6 +57,7 @@ extern const std::string cfg_l2ndb_window_state;
 
 NetlistBrowserDialog::NetlistBrowserDialog (lay::PluginRoot *root, lay::LayoutView *vw)
   : lay::Browser (root, vw),
+    lay::ViewService (vw->view_object_widget ()),
     Ui::NetlistBrowserDialog (),
     m_window (lay::NetlistBrowserConfig::FitNet),
     m_window_dim (0.0),
@@ -67,7 +69,8 @@ NetlistBrowserDialog::NetlistBrowserDialog (lay::PluginRoot *root, lay::LayoutVi
     m_marker_dither_pattern (-1),
     m_marker_intensity (0),
     m_cv_index (-1),
-    m_l2n_index (-1)
+    m_l2n_index (-1),
+    m_mouse_state (0)
 {
   Ui::NetlistBrowserDialog::setupUi (this);
 
@@ -111,6 +114,8 @@ NetlistBrowserDialog::NetlistBrowserDialog (lay::PluginRoot *root, lay::LayoutVi
   connect (layout_cb, SIGNAL (activated (int)), this, SLOT (cv_index_changed (int)));
   connect (l2ndb_cb, SIGNAL (activated (int)), this, SLOT (l2ndb_index_changed (int)));
   connect (configure_pb, SIGNAL (clicked ()), this, SLOT (configure_clicked ()));
+  connect (probe_pb, SIGNAL (clicked ()), this, SLOT (probe_button_pressed ()));
+  connect (sticky_cbx, SIGNAL (clicked ()), this, SLOT (sticky_mode_clicked ()));
 
   cellviews_changed ();
 }
@@ -123,10 +128,188 @@ NetlistBrowserDialog::~NetlistBrowserDialog ()
 void
 NetlistBrowserDialog::configure_clicked ()
 {
+  release_mouse ();
+
   lay::ConfigurationDialog config_dialog (this, lay::PluginRoot::instance (), "NetlistBrowserPlugin");
   config_dialog.exec ();
 }
 
+bool
+NetlistBrowserDialog::mouse_move_event (const db::DPoint & /*p*/, unsigned int /*buttons*/, bool prio)
+{
+  if (prio && m_mouse_state != 0) {
+    set_cursor (lay::Cursor::cross);
+  }
+
+  return false;
+}
+
+void
+NetlistBrowserDialog::sticky_mode_clicked ()
+{
+BEGIN_PROTECTED
+  if (! sticky_cbx->isChecked ()) {
+    release_mouse ();
+  } else {
+    probe_button_pressed ();
+  }
+END_PROTECTED
+}
+
+bool
+NetlistBrowserDialog::mouse_click_event (const db::DPoint &p, unsigned int buttons, bool prio)
+{
+  if (prio && (buttons & lay::LeftButton) != 0 && m_mouse_state != 0) {
+
+    //  TODO: not used yet, borrowed from net tracer ... TODO: implement short locator!
+    if (m_mouse_state == 2) {
+
+      m_mouse_first_point = p;
+      m_mouse_state = 3;
+
+      view ()->message (tl::to_string (QObject::tr ("Click on the second point in the net")));
+
+    } else {
+
+      bool trace_path = (m_mouse_state == 3);
+
+      if (trace_path || ! sticky_cbx->isChecked ()) {
+        release_mouse ();
+      }
+
+      probe_net (p, trace_path);
+
+    }
+
+  }
+
+  return true;
+}
+
+void
+NetlistBrowserDialog::probe_net (const db::DPoint &p, bool trace_path)
+{
+  //  prepare for the net tracing
+  double l = double (lay::search_range) / widget ()->mouse_event_trans ().mag ();
+
+  db::DBox start_search_box = db::DBox (p, p).enlarged (db::DVector (l, l));
+
+  //  @@@ not used yet ..
+  db::DBox stop_search_box;
+  if (trace_path) {
+    stop_search_box = db::DBox (m_mouse_first_point, m_mouse_first_point).enlarged (db::DVector (l, l));
+  }
+
+  unsigned int start_layer = 0;
+  db::Point start_point;
+  unsigned int cv_index;
+
+  //  locate the seed shape to figure out the cv index and layer
+  {
+
+    lay::ShapeFinder finder (true /*point mode*/, false /*all levels*/, db::ShapeIterator::All);
+
+    //  go through all visible layers of all cellviews and find a seed shape
+    for (lay::LayerPropertiesConstIterator lprop = view ()->begin_layers (); ! lprop.at_end (); ++lprop) {
+      if (lprop->is_visual ()) {
+        finder.find (view (), *lprop, start_search_box);
+      }
+    }
+
+    //  return, if no shape was found
+    lay::ShapeFinder::iterator r = finder.begin ();
+    if (r == finder.end ()) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    cv_index = r->cv_index ();
+    start_layer = r->layer ();
+
+  }
+
+  //  if the cv index is not corresponding to the one of the current netlist, ignore this event
+  if (int (cv_index) != m_cv_index) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  //  determine the cellview
+  lay::CellView cv = view ()->cellview (cv_index);
+  if (! cv.is_valid ()) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  //  determine the start point
+  {
+
+    std::vector<db::DCplxTrans> tv = view ()->cv_transform_variants (m_cv_index, start_layer);
+    if (tv.empty ()) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    db::CplxTrans tt = tv.front () * db::CplxTrans (cv->layout ().dbu ()) * cv.context_trans ();
+
+    start_point = tt.inverted ().trans (start_search_box.center ());
+
+  }
+
+  const db::Net *net = 0;
+
+  db::LayoutToNetlist *l2ndb = view ()->get_l2ndb (m_l2n_index);
+  if (l2ndb) {
+
+    //  determines the corresponding layer inside the database and probe the net from this region and the
+    //  start point.
+
+    db::Region *region = 0;
+
+    const db::Connectivity &conn = l2ndb->connectivity ();
+    for (db::Connectivity::layer_iterator layer = conn.begin_layers (); layer != conn.end_layers (); ++layer) {
+      db::LayerProperties lp = l2ndb->internal_layout ()->get_properties (*layer);
+      if (! lp.is_null () && lp == cv->layout ().get_properties (start_layer)) {
+        region = l2ndb->layer_by_index (*layer);
+        break;
+      }
+    }
+
+    //  probe the net
+
+    if (region) {
+      net = l2ndb->probe_net (*region, start_point);
+    }
+
+  }
+
+  //  select the net if one was found
+  browser_frame->select_net (net);
+}
+
+void
+NetlistBrowserDialog::release_mouse ()
+{
+  m_mouse_state = 0;
+  view ()->message ();
+  widget ()->ungrab_mouse (this);
+}
+
+lay::ViewService *
+NetlistBrowserDialog::view_service_interface ()
+{
+  return this;
+}
+
+void
+NetlistBrowserDialog::probe_button_pressed ()
+{
+BEGIN_PROTECTED
+
+  m_mouse_state = 1;
+
+  view ()->message (tl::to_string (QObject::tr ("Click on a point in the net")));
+  widget ()->grab_mouse (this, false);
+
+END_PROTECTED
+}
+
 void
 NetlistBrowserDialog::unload_all_clicked ()
 {
@@ -510,8 +693,13 @@ NetlistBrowserDialog::activated ()
 void
 NetlistBrowserDialog::update_content ()
 {
+  release_mouse ();
+
   db::LayoutToNetlist *l2ndb = view ()->get_l2ndb (m_l2n_index);
 
+  probe_pb->setEnabled (l2ndb != 0);
+  release_mouse ();
+
   if (! l2ndb) {
     central_stack->setCurrentIndex (1);
   }
@@ -554,6 +742,8 @@ NetlistBrowserDialog::update_content ()
 void
 NetlistBrowserDialog::deactivated ()
 {
+  release_mouse ();
+
   if (lay::PluginRoot::instance ()) {
     lay::PluginRoot::instance ()->config_set (cfg_l2ndb_window_state, lay::save_dialog_state (this).c_str ());
   }
diff --git a/src/laybasic/laybasic/layNetlistBrowserDialog.h b/src/laybasic/laybasic/layNetlistBrowserDialog.h
index b686caf40..429eb2827 100644
--- a/src/laybasic/laybasic/layNetlistBrowserDialog.h
+++ b/src/laybasic/laybasic/layNetlistBrowserDialog.h
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 #include "ui_NetlistBrowserDialog.h"
 #include "layBrowser.h"
 #include "layNetlistBrowser.h"
+#include "layViewObject.h"
 #include "layColorPalette.h"
 
 namespace lay
@@ -34,6 +35,7 @@ namespace lay
 
 class NetlistBrowserDialog
   : public lay::Browser,
+    public lay::ViewService,
     private Ui::NetlistBrowserDialog
 {
   Q_OBJECT
@@ -49,7 +51,11 @@ private:
   virtual void activated ();
   virtual void deactivated ();
 
-  bool configure (const std::string &name, const std::string &value);
+  virtual bool configure (const std::string &name, const std::string &value);
+
+  virtual bool mouse_move_event (const db::DPoint &p, unsigned int buttons, bool prio);
+  virtual bool mouse_click_event (const db::DPoint &p, unsigned int buttons, bool prio);
+  virtual lay::ViewService *view_service_interface ();
 
   //  implementation of the lay::Plugin interface
   virtual void menu_activated (const std::string &symbol);
@@ -68,6 +74,8 @@ public slots:
   void unload_clicked ();
   void unload_all_clicked ();
   void configure_clicked ();
+  void probe_button_pressed ();
+  void sticky_mode_clicked ();
 
 private:
   lay::NetlistBrowserConfig::net_window_type m_window;
@@ -86,6 +94,8 @@ private:
   std::string m_l2ndb_name;
   int m_l2n_index;
   std::string m_open_filename;
+  db::DPoint m_mouse_first_point;
+  int m_mouse_state;
   QAction *m_open_action;
   QAction *m_saveas_action;
   QAction *m_export_action;
@@ -94,8 +104,8 @@ private:
   QAction *m_reload_action;
 
   void update_content ();
-  void scan_layer ();
-  void scan_layer_flat ();
+  void release_mouse ();
+  void probe_net (const db::DPoint &p, bool trace_path);
 };
 
 }
diff --git a/src/laybasic/laybasic/layNetlistBrowserPage.cc b/src/laybasic/laybasic/layNetlistBrowserPage.cc
index 6c114b8a2..f59681ddc 100644
--- a/src/laybasic/laybasic/layNetlistBrowserPage.cc
+++ b/src/laybasic/laybasic/layNetlistBrowserPage.cc
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 #include "layLayoutView.h"
 #include "layMarker.h"
 #include "layNetInfoDialog.h"
+#include "tlProgress.h"
 #include "dbLayoutToNetlist.h"
 #include "dbNetlistDeviceClasses.h"
 
@@ -1203,8 +1204,16 @@ NetlistBrowserModel::hasChildren (const QModelIndex &parent) const
 }
 
 QVariant
-NetlistBrowserModel::headerData (int /*section*/, Qt::Orientation /*orientation*/, int /*role*/) const
+NetlistBrowserModel::headerData (int section, Qt::Orientation /*orientation*/, int role) const
 {
+  if (role == Qt::DisplayRole) {
+    if (section == 0) {
+      return tr ("Object");
+    } else if (section == 1) {
+      return tr ("Attribute");
+    }
+  }
+
   return QVariant ();
 }
 
@@ -1295,6 +1304,13 @@ NetlistBrowserModel::colors_changed ()
   emit dataChanged (index (0, 0, QModelIndex ()), index (rowCount (QModelIndex()) - 1, 0, QModelIndex ()));
 }
 
+QModelIndex
+NetlistBrowserModel::index_from_net (const db::Net *net) const
+{
+  void *id = make_id_circuit_net (circuit_index (net->circuit ()), net_index (net));
+  return index_from_id (id, 0);
+}
+
 const db::Net *
 NetlistBrowserModel::net_from_index (const QModelIndex &index) const
 {
@@ -1818,6 +1834,18 @@ NetlistBrowserPage::current_index_changed (const QModelIndex &index)
   }
 }
 
+void
+NetlistBrowserPage::select_net (const db::Net *net)
+{
+  if (! net || ! net->circuit ()) {
+    directory_tree->clearSelection ();
+  } else {
+    NetlistBrowserModel *model = dynamic_cast<NetlistBrowserModel *> (directory_tree->model ());
+    tl_assert (model != 0);
+    directory_tree->setCurrentIndex (model->index_from_net (net));
+  }
+}
+
 std::vector<const db::Net *>
 NetlistBrowserPage::selected_nets ()
 {
@@ -1962,15 +1990,21 @@ NetlistBrowserPage::info_button_pressed ()
 
 static QModelIndex find_next (QAbstractItemModel *model, const QRegExp &to_find, const QModelIndex &from)
 {
-  if (! from.isValid ()) {
-    return from;
+  QModelIndex index = from;
+
+  if (! index.isValid () && model->hasChildren (index)) {
+    index = model->index (0, 0, index);
   }
 
+  if (! index.isValid ()) {
+    return index;
+  }
+
+  QModelIndex current = index;
+
   std::vector<QModelIndex> parent_stack;
   std::vector<std::pair<int, int> > rows_stack;
 
-  QModelIndex index = from;
-
   while (index.isValid ()) {
 
     parent_stack.push_back (model->parent (index));
@@ -1983,13 +2017,15 @@ static QModelIndex find_next (QAbstractItemModel *model, const QRegExp &to_find,
   std::reverse (parent_stack.begin (), parent_stack.end ());
   std::reverse (rows_stack.begin (), rows_stack.end ());
 
-  QModelIndex current = from;
+  tl::AbsoluteProgress progress (tl::to_string (tr ("Searching ...")));
 
   do {
 
+    ++progress;
+
     bool has_next = false;
 
-    if (model->hasChildren (current)) {
+    if (model->hasChildren (current) && rows_stack.size () < 2) {
 
       int row_count = model->rowCount (current);
       if (row_count > 0) {
@@ -2008,7 +2044,7 @@ static QModelIndex find_next (QAbstractItemModel *model, const QRegExp &to_find,
 
       ++rows_stack.back ().first;
 
-      if (rows_stack.back ().first == rows_stack.back ().second) {
+      if (rows_stack.back ().first >= rows_stack.back ().second) {
 
         //  up
         current = parent_stack.back ();
@@ -2033,7 +2069,7 @@ static QModelIndex find_next (QAbstractItemModel *model, const QRegExp &to_find,
 
     }
 
-  } while (current != from);
+  } while (current.internalPointer () != from.internalPointer () || current.row () != from.row ());
 
   return QModelIndex ();
 }
@@ -2098,6 +2134,7 @@ NetlistBrowserPage::set_l2ndb (db::LayoutToNetlist *database)
   //  NOTE: with the tree as the parent, the tree will take over ownership of the model
   NetlistBrowserModel *new_model = new NetlistBrowserModel (directory_tree, database, &m_colorizer);
 
+  delete directory_tree->model ();
   directory_tree->setModel (new_model);
   connect (directory_tree->selectionModel (), SIGNAL (currentChanged (const QModelIndex &, const QModelIndex &)), this, SLOT (current_index_changed (const QModelIndex &)));
   connect (directory_tree->selectionModel (), SIGNAL (selectionChanged (const QItemSelection &, const QItemSelection &)), this, SLOT (net_selection_changed ()));
diff --git a/src/laybasic/laybasic/layNetlistBrowserPage.h b/src/laybasic/laybasic/layNetlistBrowserPage.h
index 1bd372d92..707a66039 100644
--- a/src/laybasic/laybasic/layNetlistBrowserPage.h
+++ b/src/laybasic/laybasic/layNetlistBrowserPage.h
@@ -123,6 +123,7 @@ public:
   QModelIndex index_from_id (void *id, int column) const;
 
   const db::Net *net_from_index (const QModelIndex &index) const;
+  QModelIndex index_from_net (const db::Net *net) const;
 
 private slots:
   void colors_changed ();
@@ -252,6 +253,10 @@ public:
    */
   void set_l2ndb (db::LayoutToNetlist *database);
 
+  /**
+   *  @brief Selects a net or clears the selection if net == 0
+   */
+  void select_net (const db::Net *net);
 
   /**
    *  @brief Set the window type and window dimensions