Changing width of length tuned nets - Altium Discussion Forums

Changing width of length tuned nets - Altium Discussion Forums

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Altium 365 - Clear the Local Components Cache

 Preferences > Data Management > Servers > Known Servers > Clear Cache

Data Management - Servers - Altium

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Working Remotely - Altium 365, Teams and GitHub

Click on Images below to explore the possibilities.

Schematic Color Legend

 

Bulk Component Changes in Altium 365 Managed

Bulk changes like changing all symbols or footrpints can be made to Components in Altium 365 Managed Content using the Batch Component Editor. The Batch Component editor can be accessed by Multi-selecting components using the [Shift] or [Ctrl] key in the Explorer panel then right-clicking the selection and choosing Edit.or from the Single Component Editor using Tools>>Switch to Batch Editor.

https://www.altium.com/documentation/altium-designer/component-editor-batch-component-editing-mode-ad

Differential Pair Rules

Pair to Pair Rule with Track to Track Clearance of 0.4mm


Same Diff Pair Rule

The Same Diff Pair Rule is useful when the diff pair gap is less than the global (All to All) clearance rule.

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Grids

Grids can be turned on/off (visible/invisible) in the View Configuration panel.

click on image to view

Snap Grid, Snap Distance, Grid. Can't Set "Grid", What Does "Grid" Mean. - Altium Discussion Forums

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Rats Nest Disappeared

Try . . . Design > NetList > Clean All Nets



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Get a Room !

To edit Room Vertices use Control Click

Rooms can be combined with Filters to Copy and Paste selected primitives. 

Example:

click on image to view

(WithinRoom('CPU') And OnBottom) And (InPolygon Or IsTrack) And InAnyNet

Example 2: Vias and Copper Features On Top Layer

(WithinRoom('CPU') And IsVia) OR (OnTopLayer And NOT InAnyComponent AND WithinRoom('CPU'))

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High-Speed Constraints Values and PCB Layout Methods by Charles Pfiel

Charles Pfiel has graciously created and released an eBook.



Charles also included a nice calculator.



Here is the link for the download.

https://pcdandf.com/pcdesign/index.php/constraints

Thank you Charles Pfiel

Project Outputs V2.5 Script

Custom Menu with &Outputs

ProjectName=C:\Altium_RJC\Altium_Central\Scripts\Outputs\Outputs.PrjScr|ProcName=Outputs.vbs>Start

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AD20 - Home Page

Preferences > General > Open Home page on start > UnCheck/Check

click on image to view

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McAfee <> Altium

If you are using Altium's cloud based license server and McAfee to secure your PC you may need to edit the McAfee Firewall and Net Guard settings to allow Altium access to the internet. 

What is Net Guard?

It’s a layer of protection that McAfee provides that it monitors the connection and validates it against trusted IP address info. It has been known to cause problems with some applications.

To allow Altium access through the McAfee Firewall . . . 

Right-click on the McAfee Icon in the Task Bar > Select Change Settings > Firewall or Open McAfee > Select Firewall > Internet Connections for Programs > Add or Edit X2.exe.

McAfee > Firewall > Internet Connections for Programs > X2.exe

Altium > Select Preferences > System > Network Activity 

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Test Point Manager Design Rules

Example: Assembly Test Point Style for Bottom Side



The Set Scope Button can be used to define Where The object Matches

The Constraints can be used to define the pads and test point clearances

Example: Assembly Test Point Usage for All Nets

Or a Net Class can be defined and used to exclude specific Nets.



After the Design Rules are in place the Test Point Manager can be used.

Tools > Test Point Manager

Tips: Test Point Manager > Rclick > Clear All , then Assign All to update.

YouTube: Adding Test-points | Altium Designer 17 Advanced | Module 16

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Unique Identifiers

In AD18 and later you can enable Show Unique ID in Preferences > Advanced

click on image to view

Source: Altium Online Forum

AD20: Capability of editting the unique Identifiers for components are still missing

Restore Missing Panels

I'm hoping this trick will also fix a missing Properties Panel



Source: Altium's Online Forum
 AD20 Project Panel doesn't display

Board Cutouts - Performance Issues

To select a Board Cutout use the PCB Filter:  

(ObjectKind = 'Region') And (IsBoardCutoutRegion = 'True')

Note: In AD20 Find Similar Object is creating expressions with IsCutoutRegion, which is incorrect, it should be IsBoardCutoutRegion

Also performance issues have been identified and should be fixed soon.

Links: 

AD20 slow when moving components in schematic and dragging is unusable in pcb editor - Altium Discussion Forums  

Altium BugCrunch #12874

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So many Short Cuts

Try Pressing the R Key while dragging a component to cycle through placement options.
Try Holding down the Ctrl Key while Routing to Override Snapping Options.

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How to Identify which version of Altium was used to save a project

Interesting Discussion in the Altium Online Forum

How to identify which version of Altium was used to save a project - Altium Discussion Forums

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AD20 - Free Viewer

Altium now allows everyone to join the Altium Community and use a FREE Viewer.

Nice - Kudos to Altium

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Draftsman - Solid Hatch for Not-Fitted Parts

Links:

Design Documentation with Draftsman | Module 26 - YouTube
How To Customize a Draftsman Sheet Template | YouTube

Solid Hatching for Not Fitted Parts

Click outside the board to bring up the Document Options

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Menu - Short Cut Keys

Click + Ctrl  to edit a menu



In the example shown above in the PCB Editor I pressed the M key, then held down the Ctrl key and selected Move Selection by X,Y... and added the & in front of Y as shown below.

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