Defining Device Sheet Preferences for Altium Designer

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The Data Management - Device Sheets page of the Preferences dialog
The Data Management - Device Sheets page of the Preferences dialog

The Data Management - Device Sheets page of the Preferences dialog
The Data Management - Device Sheets page of the Preferences dialog

Summary

The Data Management – Device Sheets page of the Preferences dialog allows you to manage the device sheet related features.

Device Sheets are building blocks developed with the intent of being re-used in different designs. They usually contain predefined circuits that are useful in multiple projects, for example a power supply. A Device Sheet is created and stored as a normal schematic document, in a declared Device Sheet Folder. Rather than being added as a document, they are placed and referenced in a project in a similar way as a component. When the project is compiled, Device Sheets are included in the project hierarchy and can be distinguished from standard schematic documents by a different document icon in the Projects Panel.

By default, Device Sheets are usually configured to be read-only. This gives all designers in the team confidence that they are complete and ready-for-use, and also insures that no one in the design team can inadvertantly modify them. Because they are configured to be read-only, the component designators cannot be changed, nor can the schematic sheet number. The fundamental difference between a device sheet and a regular schematic sheet is that the software has additional features to handle component annotation and the schematic sheet numbering when the project includes Device Sheets.

For more information, see Device Sheets.

Access

The Data Management – Device Sheets page is part of the main Preferences dialog that is accessed by clicking the  control in the upper-right corner of the workspace then selecting the Device Sheets entry under the Data Management folder.

Options/Controls

Device Sheet Folders

  • Device Sheet Folder List - lists all the added device sheet folder locations.
    • Include Sub-folders - check this option so all sheets in sub-folders also can be used as a device sheet.
  • Move Up - click to move the selected entry up in the list of device sheet folders.
  • Move Down - click to move the selected entry down in the list of device sheet folders.
  • Add - click to search for and select a folder containing device sheet files to add.
  • Remove - click to remove a selected device sheet folder from the list.

Options

  • Make Device Sheets In Projects Read-Only - disable this option to edit the objects on the device sheet that is associated by the device sheet symbol on a parent sheet. By default, this option is enabled meaning you cannot edit device sheets.
  • Display "Read Only" Watermark - enable this option so the device sheets will have 'Read Only' as the watermark for the background and to denote that device sheets are not editable.
If the Display "Read Only" Watermark option is enabled, you will be able to see quickly if the device sheet is read-only or editable. This option is accessible only when Make Device Sheets In Projects Read-Only is enabled.
  • Display Device Sheets Watermark - enable this option so the device sheets will have the recycle symbol as the watermark for the background.
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Note

The features available depend on your Altium product access level. Compare features included in the various levels of Altium Designer Software Subscription and functionality delivered through applications provided by the Altium 365 platform.

If you don’t see a discussed feature in your software, contact Altium Sales to find out more.

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