Reuse Tracks and Vias

Bill Smock's PCB Filter Tip

Click on the link above to visit Bill's blog.

This one of my favorite PCB Filters. This filter simplifies reuse of existing tracks and vias.

Steps:

Select a group of components with the traces and vias.

Enter the next line in to the PCB Filter Panel:

Not( (ObjectKind = 'Component')) And IsSelected

In the Filter Options: 

Object passing the filter check the "Select" box. 

and

Objects not passing the filter check the "Deselect" and choose "Normal" in the drop down box.

This will deselect the components and leave all of the other primitives selected so they can be copied without copying the components to be used on another group of parts.

Bill, Thank you for sharing. 

When I have more time, I'll try to Script this Filter and then assign it to a Hot Key.


Related Links:

Best methods for layout design re-use - Altium Forum

Interactive Routing - Glossing - English documentation - The Altium Wiki

Interactive Routing - Glossing - English documentation - The Altium Wiki:

'via Blog this'

PCB Layout Transparency View

Using the Transparency View Option is a great way to critique how clean the routes are in a design.

The Transparency View Options settings are found under the View Configurations.

Design  > Board Layers and Colors (Short key L)

You can quickly get into a transparent view mode by selecting the 'Altium Transparent 2D' View Configuration.

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

The Film is too small for this PCB"

Why do I get the error "The Film is too small for this PCB" when generating Gerbers

Support Tip - May 2009 - Interactive Routing Options

Interactive Routing Options - The Altium Wiki

Mounting Holes - Generating 3D CAD File - YouTube

Altium Designer - Generating 3D CAD File - You Tube

Are your mounting holes shown in your Altium 3D Step Model?

Robert Feranec has a work around to fix missing mounting holes in the Altium 3D Step Models.

1. Place Circle on any Layer
2. Set Radius for Hole Size
3. Tools > Convert  > Create Board Cut Out From Selected Primitives
4. Delete the Circle
5. Ignore DRC Errors for the Board Cut Outs 

Altium sort'a fixed this problem in one of the releases of AD13. 

Options have been added to Export the Mechanical Mounting Holes in the Outjob Configuration.

Note that the above screen shot is from the output job in AD(13.3).

As shown below the options for Exporting the Step file are different if you export the step model from the file menu selection 'Save Copy As'.

Why are there two different option dialogs for exporting the step models ?

The output job step model export method includes the mounting holes when selected as shown above in the first screen shot.

I reported this as bug #2890 back in May of 2013, the bug has 4 votes, so it will not likely get fixed. If you want it fixed cast your vote at bug  #2890

Interactive Length Tuning Keys