Design Secrets - Video Tips

Design Secrets - Video Tips

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#53 Creating footprints from 3D models.

How do I equalize net lengths? - Marty

Dim Net Names with Color 213

The net name GPIO_PWR_0 shown in the snippet below has no other connections on page or off page in the schematic. 

 

Displaying Net Names which have no other connections can frustrate Technicians and Engineers who have to troubleshoot boards because they will waste time trying to find other non-existent connections for the nets.

Net Names on wires were traditionally used to indicate there are other connections on the same page in the schematic.

So, why would you assign a Net Names to wires when no other connection exists?

Actually there are some useful reasons, during layout it is convenient to know what signals you are routing.  Would you prefer to know you are routing NetR105_2 or GPIO_PWR_0.

Altium has nice feature in layout.  When you are zoomed in the net name is displayed right on the vias and traces.

The PCB Designer may need to create design rules based on Net Names.  Assigning rules to net names like GPIO_PWR_0 is more intuitive than NetR105_2.

One possible solution is to Dim the Net Names.

In the Schematic Change the Single Point Net Name's color to light gray (color 213) or another off white color.

When printed the light colored Net Name in the schematic will not be barely visible in the printed copy.

Now, we have a faint reminder in the schematic that we have an assigned Net Name and in Layout we can  route and use rules based on Net Names.

Underscore characters are commonly used and required to create Differential Pairs and to identify Address Bus Bits. Therefore it is not practical to eliminate the use of underscore characters in Net Names.

Feature Request - Select Net Antennae

Altium Scripts

Getting Started with Scripting
Includes syntax examples to launch other executable files like Notepad.
How to assign a script to a pop up menu.

Scripts - Google Project - Five Stars * * * * *
Numerous scripts that can be downloaded.

Altium Live Forum addons III

Scripting In Altium Designer

VBscript Reference Guide

Output Jobs - Automated

Altium Article - Using the PCB Release View to Automate Output Job File Processing

You may want to edit your *.PrjPcb File.  As shown below I am changing all instances of OutputPath to Project Outputs in the Project.PrjPcb file.

Steps:

1. Set Containers in the Output Job to [Release Managed]
2. Using the Configuration Manager, set the Configuration name to Project Outputs.
3. In the Configuration Manager enable the applicable Output Job.
4. Save the Project.PrjPcb to store your Released Managed Configuration.
5. Use the PCB Release View to run Validation Checks and Generate Outputs.

Menu Selections:

With your Output Job or any other Source Document Open in the Project.

Project > Configuration Manger

Name the Configuration (Output Folder), Enable Output Jobs, then Save *.PrjPcb.

Link to any applicable Variants and the Select Output Jobs.

Note: In the Release Managed Outputs the Variant is applied to all of the outputs.



View > PCB Release View



You can review your Output Folder Structures here. However, you will need to edit your Output Job file if wish to make changes to the folder structures.

If you have setup DRC checks in the Output Job, you can select the Validate Design Button to run only the Design Rule Checks.

Selecting Generate Outputs will Run any Validate Design Checks in the Output Job first.

DRCs will cause the Process to abort without Generating the Outputs.

If you have DRCs, you will need to resolve the DRCs to continue or disable DRC Checks in the Output Job.


The SystemBOM.xml reflects the overall status of the Managed Release.


Randy