To remove the Position Dots
DXP Preferences > Schematic > Graphical Editing > uncheck 'Mark Manual Parameters'
or
Select Auto Position in the Parameter Properties.
You can use Find Similar to Change all Occurrences of Auto Position.
That's it!
Monday, July 29, 2013
Orientation Dots - Auto Position
Orientation Dots shown below
Select Auto Position in the Parameter Properties.
You can use Find Similar to Change all Occurrences of Auto Position.
That's it!
Select Auto Position in the Parameter Properties.
You can use Find Similar to Change all Occurrences of Auto Position.
That's it!
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Altium DBLib - Example
The DBLib library is a popular choice for the Altium Library options available.
If you are already using an Altium DBLib Library to maintain your schematic symbols and PCB footprints, or you are just getting started, you can find some useful pointers at the Parts Blog.
A complete ready to run DBLib library is available at Parts Blog on the Download page.
The Parts_Demo.DBLib library includes a few commonly used parts to help you get started.
If you are already using an Altium DBLib Library to maintain your schematic symbols and PCB footprints, or you are just getting started, you can find some useful pointers at the Parts Blog.
A complete ready to run DBLib library is available at Parts Blog on the Download page.
The Parts_Demo.DBLib library includes a few commonly used parts to help you get started.
Friday, July 12, 2013
Using the Connective Graph
Most users are familiar with Altium's Cross Select and Cross Probe features.
Users also have an option in the Preferences to enable the Connective Graph feature.
Preferences > Navigation
The Preferences > Navigation default settings are:
To enable the Inter-Connective Graphing Feature.
Enable Selecting
Enable Connective Graph
Set Cross Select Zoom Options to 'Zoom to All Selected'.
After you have enabled the Inter-Connective Graphing Options.
With the Cross Select Mode Enabled. Tools > Cross Select Mode.
Now we can select a component and all of the connected parts by using the Alt Key + Left Mouse Click.
Click on image to view.
One subtle point missing in the Altium Video is the 'Include Power Parts' in the preferences and what effect it has on the selection process.
Notice in the screen shot above that the components associated with Power were not included in the component selection. This is because we did not select 'Include Power Parts' as shown the preferences.
If 'Include Power Parts' in the preferences is enabled every component on the selected schematic sheet with the same power nets will be selected.
Summary: This is an interesting feature, however selecting parts in the schematic in this mode for PCB layout purposes has limitations when Power Nets are involved.
I chose to go back to using the default settings after playing with this feature.
Related Link: Altium Video - Altium Account Required
Users also have an option in the Preferences to enable the Connective Graph feature.
Preferences > Navigation
The Preferences > Navigation default settings are:
To enable the Inter-Connective Graphing Feature.
Enable Selecting
Enable Connective Graph
Set Cross Select Zoom Options to 'Zoom to All Selected'.
After you have enabled the Inter-Connective Graphing Options.
With the Cross Select Mode Enabled. Tools > Cross Select Mode.
Now we can select a component and all of the connected parts by using the Alt Key + Left Mouse Click.
Click on image to view.
One subtle point missing in the Altium Video is the 'Include Power Parts' in the preferences and what effect it has on the selection process.
Notice in the screen shot above that the components associated with Power were not included in the component selection. This is because we did not select 'Include Power Parts' as shown the preferences.
If 'Include Power Parts' in the preferences is enabled every component on the selected schematic sheet with the same power nets will be selected.
Summary: This is an interesting feature, however selecting parts in the schematic in this mode for PCB layout purposes has limitations when Power Nets are involved.
I chose to go back to using the default settings after playing with this feature.
Related Link: Altium Video - Altium Account Required
Monday, July 8, 2013
Add Move Text to Edit Menu
Design Rules - Rooms with Neck Downs
Using Rooms with Design Rules to solve Clearance Violations
Design > Rooms > Place Room > InComponentClass('xxx ') . . .
Create a Clearance Rule for the Room
Set Priority
Stop Removing Rooms
Project > Project Options > ECO Generation Tab > Remove Rooms > Ignore Differences.
Or
Under the Comparator Tab > Extra Room Definitions > Ignore Differences
Another Room Definition Example
Design > Rooms > Place Room > InComponentClass('xxx ') . . .
Create a Clearance Rule for the Room
Set Priority
Stop Removing Rooms
Project > Project Options > ECO Generation Tab > Remove Rooms > Ignore Differences.
Or
Under the Comparator Tab > Extra Room Definitions > Ignore Differences
Another Room Definition Example
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Splitting Net Names
If you are using Excel 2007 or higher you can use the 'Text to Column' command to split Net names or other delimited text.
Shown below is an example which splitting the text in column A into 3 columns.
Click on images to view.
Why split ? To sort, then concatenate.
Shown below is an example which splitting the text in column A into 3 columns.
Click on images to view.
Why split ? To sort, then concatenate.
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Net Length Analysis
Shown below are good routing examples for Net Length Analysis.
The A to B segment is made of a two tracks, the mid point connection is easy to find.
Both Examples above are Good.
BAD Routing example below for Net length Analysis.
AB segment is made of a single track, the mid point connection can NOT be found.
Where does the vertical section intersect the A to B segment ? There is a bit more complexity involved. For example let look at another case below.
Again A to B is single trace segment which is intersected by C. What's the distance from A to C, and B to C ?
Determining the 'To From' lengths will be simplified if there are 3 trace segments as shown below.
Using Altium's PCB Panel and From-To feature with a Starburst Pattern or Daisy Simple, we can display the lengths of the segments from A to C and from B to C.
Let's look at how we can mess up this From to measurement.
As shown below a via has been added and the traces do not meet in the middle of the via.
The measurements are now wrong.
Now, Let's do it right.
As shown below the line segments now all meet at the center of there intersections.
The grid shown above is 50 mils.
Now the measurements are correct,
The A to B segment is made of a two tracks, the mid point connection is easy to find.
Both Examples above are Good.
BAD Routing example below for Net length Analysis.
AB segment is made of a single track, the mid point connection can NOT be found.
Where does the vertical section intersect the A to B segment ? There is a bit more complexity involved. For example let look at another case below.
Again A to B is single trace segment which is intersected by C. What's the distance from A to C, and B to C ?
Determining the 'To From' lengths will be simplified if there are 3 trace segments as shown below.
Using Altium's PCB Panel and From-To feature with a Starburst Pattern or Daisy Simple, we can display the lengths of the segments from A to C and from B to C.
Let's look at how we can mess up this From to measurement.
As shown below a via has been added and the traces do not meet in the middle of the via.
The measurements are now wrong.
Now, Let's do it right.
As shown below the line segments now all meet at the center of there intersections.
The grid shown above is 50 mils.
Now the measurements are correct,
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)