Parent page: A Fresh User Interface
Altium Designer 18.0 delivers on a comprehensive review of the user interface, and the experience of using that interface. The interface is fresher, more logical, and also streamlined - enabling you reach your optimal productivity quickly and efficiently, without sifting through countless menus, toolbars and dialogs. Features that were seldom used, legacy, or redundant, have been cut loose, and options for documents and their objects are now defined through a single Properties panel. In effect, an interface that has undergone a quantum refurbishment, resulting in a design environment that is cleaner, leaner, and more visually appealing - with all the powerful features and functionality you have come to rely on, made ever more accessible.
This page collates a number of frequently asked questions relating to the new UI, fed back by you, our Beta Users.
For a detailed look at the changes brought about by the new user interface, take a look at the document
A Fresh User Interface.
General
Can the new color theme be customized?
It is not possible to change the color theme, however changes will continue to be made to the icons and other elements to improve the contrast levels.
Can the Active Bar be hidden, moved or customized?
The Active Bar can be disabled through the Advanced Settings dialog accessed through the System - General Preferences dialog. As with other menus and toolbars, the Active Bar can be customized via the Customizing Editor dialog – note that the Active Bar entries will dock to the top menu bar during this process.
What messages will appear in the new System Notifications area?
This area will be used to display various types of notifications, such as product updates, in a single go-to point, rather than popping up dialogs.
How can I enable the Full Path in the Title Bar?
This functionality will be implemented in the next update.
I can't see the DXP menu - where did the menu commands go?
You can access the License Management page, Extensions and Updates page, and Preferences dialog using the buttons towards the top-right of the application.
Where are the Inspector panels?
These have been removed - replaced by the new Properties panel.
What do the options on the Data Management - Component Rule Checks page of Preferences control?
These options are for managed content server components only.
How do I open the Selection Memory dialog now?
The Selection Memory menus and shortcuts are still available. Use the Ctrl+Q shortcut to open the dialog.
How do I use formulas in the new Properties panel?
This functionality is currently not possible. It will be restored in a future build.
Is there another way to quickly open Workspaces?
Yes - use the commands available on the File » Recent Design Workspaces sub-menu. This menu can also be accessed by right-clicking on the active workspace (*DsnWrk) in the Projects panel.
How do I run a process now?
You can run most processes directly through the search box (at the top-right of the application). Currently you can only open the Process Browser dialog when in menu\toolbar Customization.
Where did the Rubber Stamp commands go?
This has been renamed Duplicate, but still uses the Ctrl+R keyboard shortcut.
I'm trying to select items and they won't select - why?
This is likely to be due to the current configuration of the Selection Filter - accessed and defined through the Properties panel, when no objects are currently selected in the design workspace. Try resetting the filter - to allow all object types to be selected - by clicking the All Objects button.
Is the List panel still available?
Absolutely - and the applicable panel can be accessed from the Schematic Editor, Schematic Library Editor, PCB Editor, and PCB Library Editor by clicking the Panels button at the bottom-right of the main application window then choosing the respective entry from the menu.
Access DbLibs do not work for me - why?
When using Microsoft Access as the backend database for your components, there is one important difference between using 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Altium Design Software:
- 64-bit Altium Design Software (Altium Designer 18.0 and later; Altium NEXUS) - requires 64-bit Microsoft Access Database Engine to be able to use MS Access DbLibs.
- 32-bit Altium Design Software (Altium Designer 17.1 and earlier) - requires 32-bit Microsoft Access Database Engine to be able to use MS Access DbLibs.
Typically, the appropriate version of Microsoft Office would be installed, of which Access is a constituent part. However, it is likely that many users will have both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Altium Design Software running on the same computer. The issue is that Microsoft does not officially support, nor endorse, the coexistence of both 32-bit and 64-bit Office applications and drivers on the same computer. For information on three possible solutions, see Using Database Libraries with 32-bit and 64-bit Altium Design Software on the same Computer.
I can't configure my 3D Space Navigator, and Defaults are not right - what can I do?
Use the following temporary workaround while a solution is sought with 3DConnexion:
- If it exists, remove the file X2.EXE.xml from the \Users\<ProfileName>\AppData\Roaming\3Dconnexion\3DxWare\Cfg folder.
- Edit the file AltiumDesigner.xml (in the \Program Files\3Dconnexion\3DxWare\3DxWinCore64\Cfg folder), by adding the X2 executable to the <Signature> section as shown below:
Solution from 3DConnexion:
- Download and unzip the AltiumDesignerX2.xml.zip file.
- Stop the driver: 3DxService.exe.
- Copy the AltiumDesignerX2.xml driver configuration file to the same location as the original AltiumDesigner.xml driver configuration file (in the \Program Files\3Dconnexion\3DxWare\3DxWinCore64\Cfg folder).
- Restart the driver: 3DxService.exe.
After following this procedure, the driver should identify X2.exe as expected.
The Clear command has gone from the Edit menu - what do I use now?
While the Clear command has indeed been removed, its functionality has been refactored into the existing Delete command, available as before from the Edit menu. The Delete command now functions in two modes, catering for whether or not object(s) are currently selected in the workspace.
After launching the command, what happens next depends on whether object(s) are currently selected in the workspace:
- Object(s) currently selected - the selection will be removed from the document.
- No object(s) currently selected - the cursor changes to a crosshair and you will enter object deletion mode. Simply position the cursor over an object and click or press Enter to delete it. Continue deleting further objects, or right-click, or press Esc, to exit object deletion mode.
Schematic-only
How can I place a Specific No ERC?
Select a placed No ERC object in the workspace to open the Properties panel in No ERC mode. Under the Suppressed Violations region of the Properties panel, click Specific Violations then click the Add button to open the No ERC dialog which allows you to specify violation types.
How do I place Hyperlinks on my schematics?
While the Hyperlink object has been removed, its functionality has been absorbed into the Text String object - use the URL field of the Properties panel.
PCB-only
Where have the Perspective and Orthographic modes gone?
This functionality is now located on the View Options tab of the View Configuration panel in the General Settings region (when 3D is set to On).
Where can I now find board information?
The information for the active PCB that used to be presented in the PCB Information dialog (Reports » Board Information) can now be found in the Board Information section of the Properties panel - available as part of the options for the board when no design object is currently selected in the design workspace.
How can I place Work Guides now?
Guides are now defined and managed through the Guide Manager section of the Properties panel in Board mode when no objects are selected in the design workspace.
Where are the snap options that used to be available from the Snap button?
These options are now available through the Snap Options section of the Properties panel in Board mode when no objects are selected in the design workspace.
Where did the Mask Level settings go?
The mask-related slider controls are now available through the Mask and Dim Settings section, on the View Options tab of the View Configuration panel.
How do I save and load View Configurations?
This functionality is located on the View Options tab of the View Configuration panel in the General Settings region.
Where is the Net Color Override command now?
No longer available from the main View menu. This is now in the Additional Options region of the View Configuration panel. The F5 keyboard shortcut is still available.
How many mechanical layers are available in Altium Designer 18.0?
32 - the same as was available in previous versions of the software.
There is no Flipped on Layer property for a component in Altium Designer 18.0 - what do I do now?
In relation to the use of embedded components, the Flipped on layer property has been removed from a component's properties in Altium Designer 18.0. The approach now is to define the component orientation for the layer, in the Layer Stack Manager dialog. Choose to have the components oriented toward the Top or Bottom of the board. This setting will then be applied for all components on that layer.
Note that using the X or Y keyboard shortcuts while placing or moving a component simply mirror that component's geometry about the X- or Y-axis. This does not perform the same action as the now-removed Flipped on layer property.
Altium Designer Documentation
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New Feature Summaries (Altium Designer 18.0)
A Fresh User Interface (New Feature Summary)