ActiveRouteOptions_Cmd-ActiveRouteCmdActiveRouteCmd_AD

Applied Parameters: Action=SelectedPrims

Summary

This command is used to start the ActiveRoute process, on the selected connections, which will then be routed on the layers enabled on the PCB ActiveRoute panel. ActiveRoute is a guided interactive router which focuses on clean, high-quality routing of a set of selected nets.

Access

This command can be accessed from the PCB Editor by:

• Choosing the Route » ActiveRoute command from the main menus.
• Using the Shift+A keyboard shortcut.
• Clicking the  button on the Wiring toolbar.
• Clicking the ActiveRoute button on the PCB ActiveRoute panel.

Use

Before launching the command:

• Select the connection(s) to be routed.
• In the PCB ActiveRoute panel, choose the layer(s) that the selected connections are to be routed on. These are the layers available to ActiveRoute - it will decide which nets to route on each layer.
• If required, click the Route Guide button (in the panel) to define a route path. ActiveRoute will treat the Guide as a fenced path, any connections it is unable to fit within the Guide will be left unrouted.

After launching the command, ActiveRoute will attempt to route the currently selected connections, sharing the routes across the layers enabled on the PCB ActiveRoute panel. The routing progress is displayed in the Messages panel. Once ActiveRouting is complete, the Gloss command is automatically run. To examine the routes as they were at the completion of ActiveRouting, press Ctrl+Z once to undo the glossing.

Tips

1. The most common reason for ActiveRoute to fail is not enough room for the track(s) to fit - it is important to make sure the width and clearance rules are correctly configured.
2. ActiveRoute works on selected connections. Connections can be selected directly, or by selecting a route object, such as a pin, track, via or component.
3. Selected nets are routed at the Preferred width defined in the applicable Routing Width design rule. There is one exception to this, if the selected object is a dangling track stub, then that width is used.
4. For more detail on preparing your design in readiness to ActiveRoute, see Setting up to ActiveRoute.