Managing Hole Sizes using the PCB Panel in Altium Designer

 

Hole Size Editor mode of the PCB panel.
Hole Size Editor mode of the PCB panel.

Summary

The PCB panel allows you to browse the current PCB design using a range of filter modes to determine which object types or design elements are listed, highlighted or selected. The panel also has editing modes for specific object types or design elements that provide dedicated controls for editing procedures. Note that you can access the properties for any element listed in the panel.

In the PCB panel’s Hole Size Editor mode, the three main list regions of the panel will change to reflect, in order from the top:

  1. The general filtering for hole types and their status.
  2. Hole objects arranged in groups, as determined by size and shape.
  3. Individual primitives that constitute each group of hole objects (pads, vias and slots).
While the middle sections change between modes, the top and bottom portions of the PCB panel remain the same. For a panel overview and information on those sections, please see the PCB panel page.

Panel Access

When the PCB Editor is active, click the button at the bottom-right corner of the workspace and select  PCB from the context menu. Alternatively, you can access the panel through the View » Workspace Panels » PCB » PCB sub-menu.

Panels can be configured to be floating in the editor space or docked to sides of the screen. If the PCB panel is currently in a group of panels, use the PCB tab located at the bottom of the panels to bring it to the front.

Once the PCB panel has been opened, select the Hole Size Editor option from the dropdown menu at the top of the PCB panel to enter Hole Size Editor mode.

Using the Hole Size Editor

The panel sections show the cumulative filtering applied to hole types, styles and status.
The panel sections show the cumulative filtering applied to hole types, styles and status.

The groups of holes can be collectively edited in the Unique Holes section of the panel by entering values in the appropriate column cell. You can enter a value in mm to change the current hole size for pads and vias in the Hole Size column.

Editing the hole size for the selected group of six matching hole styles.
Editing the hole size for the selected group of six matching hole styles.

You can also change the corresponding Length, Type, and Plated entries for holes where applicable.

Changing the hole type (from round to square) for the selected group of six matching hole styles.
Changing the hole type (from round to square) for the selected group of six matching hole styles.

Individual pad/via objects belonging to the selected holes group are listed in the lower Pad/Via section of the PCB panel. Right-clicking on an object in the list and selecting Properties (or double-clicking on the entry directly) will open the matching dialog for that primitive, where its properties can be viewed and edited.

As you click on an entry in the PCB panel's lists a cumulative filter will be applied based on that entry. The visual result of this (in the design editor window) is determined by the highlighting methods enabled (Mask/Dim/Normal, Select, Zoom). In this way you can quickly highlight all holes of a particular status, holes of a particular style or size, or an individual hole primitive (pad/via) that exits in that filtered group. Multiple entries can be selected in each list section, using standard SHIFT + Click and CTRL + Click features.

The panel selections filter down to hole primitives of a specific type. Four are selected and displayed here from the '0.75mm & Round' group, as selected above.
The panel selections filter down to hole primitives of a specific type. Four are selected and displayed here from the '0.75mm & Round' group, as selected above.

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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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