DocumentPreferences

Applied Parameters: None

Summary

This command is used to access the Board Options dialog. This dialog provides a range of options - including measurement units, sheet display, and snap settings - that affect the active PCB document only. They can therefore collectively be thought of as local-level options, rather than global options that are set for all PCB documents in the Preferences dialog.

Access

This command is accessed from the PCB Editor by choosing the Design » Board Options command, from the main menus.

Use

After launching the command, the Board Options dialog will appear. The dialog includes options and controls to:

• Set the document's measurement units - either Imperial or Metric.
• Choose to display logical or physical designators for components in the workspace.
• Control visualization of the route tool path on a panelized PCB when viewed in 3D.
• Control the size, location, and display, of the PCB 'back sheet' in the workspace. You can also have it auto-size based on objects on mechanical layers that have been linked to this sheet.
• Specify a template to use in relation to auto-naming of polygon pours.
• Control aspects of the PCB Editor's Unified Cursor-Snap system, including access to the Grid Manager and Snap Guide Manager, with which to define and manage local grids and workspace guides, respectively.

Tips

1. Toggling units at any time does not affect system accuracy as all numerical calculations are carried out at system resolution.

2. When choosing to display the logical designators for components in a multi-channel design, these will be displayed on the PCB and in any output generated such as prints and Gerbers. The unique physical designators, however, are always used when generating a Bill of Materials.

Applied Parameters: Tab = Options

Summary

This command is used to access the Board Options dialog. This dialog provides a range of options - including measurement units, sheet display, and snap settings - that affect the active document only. They can therefore collectively be thought of as local-level options, rather than global options that are set for all documents in the Preferences dialog.

Access

This command can be accessed from both PCB and PCB Library Editors:

• PCB Editor - the following methods of access are available:
  • Right-click in the design workspace (over an object or not) and choose the Options » Board Options command from the context menu.
  • Use the O keyboard shortcut, then choose the Board Options entry on the subsequent pop-up menu.
• PCB Library Editor - the following methods of access are available:
  • Choose the Tools » Library Options command, from the main menus.
  • Right-click in the design workspace (over an object or not) and choose the Library Options command from the context menu.
  • Right-click in the design workspace (in free space) and choose the Options » Library Options command from the context menu.
  • Use the O keyboard shortcut, then choose the Board Options entry on the subsequent pop-up menu.

Use

After launching the command, the Board Options dialog will appear. The dialog includes options and controls to:

• Set the document's measurement units - either Imperial or Metric.
• Choose to display logical or physical designators for components in the workspace.
• Control visualization of the route tool path on a panelized PCB when viewed in 3D.
• Control the size, location, and display, of the PCB 'back sheet' in the workspace. You can also have it auto-size based on objects on mechanical layers that have been linked to this sheet.
• Specify a template to use in relation to auto-naming of polygon pours.
• Control aspects of the PCB Editor's Unified Cursor-Snap system, including access to the Grid Manager and Snap Guide Manager, with which to define and manage local grids and workspace guides, respectively.

Tips

1. Toggling units at any time does not affect system accuracy as all numerical calculations are carried out at system resolution.

Applied Parameters: Tab = Sheet

Summary

This command is used to access the Board Options dialog. This dialog provides a range of options - including measurement units, sheet display, and snap settings - that affect the active document only. They can therefore collectively be thought of as local-level options, rather than global options that are set for all documents in the Preferences dialog.

Access

This command can be accessed from both PCB and PCB Library Editors:

• PCB Editor - the following methods of access are available:
  • Right-click in the design workspace (over an object or not) and choose the Options » Sheet command from the context menu.
  • Use the O keyboard shortcut, then choose the Sheet entry on the subsequent pop-up menu.
• PCB Library Editor - the following method of access is available:
  • Use the O keyboard shortcut, then choose the Sheet entry on the subsequent pop-up menu.

Use

After launching the command, the Board Options dialog will appear. The dialog includes options and controls to:

• Set the document's measurement units - either Imperial or Metric.
• Choose to display logical or physical designators for components in the workspace.
• Control visualization of the route tool path on a panelized PCB when viewed in 3D.
• Control the size, location, and display, of the PCB 'back sheet' in the workspace. You can also have it auto-size based on objects on mechanical layers that have been linked to this sheet.
• Specify a template to use in relation to auto-naming of polygon pours.
• Control aspects of the PCB Editor's Unified Cursor-Snap system, including access to the Grid Manager and Snap Guide Manager, with which to define and manage local grids and workspace guides, respectively.

Tips

1. Toggling units at any time does not affect system accuracy as all numerical calculations are carried out at system resolution.

Applied Parameters: Tab = Layers

Summary

This command is used to access the Board Layers And Colors tab of the View Configurations dialog. This tab provides all necessary controls and options to configure the display of layers for the board when viewed in 2D, and colors assigned to those layers.

Access

This command can be accessed from both PCB and PCB Library Editors, when configured in 2D Layout Mode:

• PCB Editor - the following methods of access are available:
  • Choose the Design » Board Layers & Colors command from the main menus.
  • Use the L keyboard shortcut.
  • Right-click in the design workspace (over an object or not) and choose the Options » Mechanical Layers command from the context menu.
  • Use the O keyboard shortcut, then choose the Mechanical Layers entry on the subsequent pop-up menu.
• PCB Library Editor - the following methods of access are available:
  • Choose the Tools » Layers & Colors command from the main menus.
  • Use the L keyboard shortcut.
  • Right-click in the design workspace (in free space) and choose the Options » Library Layers command from the context menu.
  • Right-click in the design workspace (in free space) and choose the Options » Mechanical Layers command from the context menu.
  • Use the O keyboard shortcut, then choose the Mechanical Layers entry on the subsequent pop-up menu.

Use

First ensure that the Editor is placed in 2D Layout Mode. This can be done by choosing the View » 2D Layout Mode command, from the main menus, or by using the 2 keyboard shortcut.

After launching the command, the View Configurations dialog will appear, with the Board Layers And Colors tab active. All currently defined layers for the board are presented, and each layer grouped according to layer category (Signal, Mechanical, Internal Planes, etc..). Use the dialog to:

• Control layer visibility. All layers that are display-enabled, will be visible in the design workspace and accessible from a corresponding layer tab at the bottom of the main design window.
• Control coloring assigned to each layer.
• Enable mechanical layers, and optionally link those layers to the PCB 'back sheet'. The visibility of all linked mechanical layers is disabled if the option to display the back sheet is disabled. If this option is enabled, you cannot disable the visibility of an individual mechanical layer unless it is first unlinked from the sheet.

Tips

1. These options are stored with the document. Changing a document option affects the current document only.

Applied Parameters: Tab = DrillPairs

Summary

This command is used to access the Drill-Pair Manager dialog, from where you can configure the required drill pairs for the active layer stack. Drill pairs must be configured when blind, buried, or build-up type vias are to be used, with a drill pair for each layer-pair that a via spans. It is the presence of drill pairs that lets the system know that blind and/or buried vias are in use. This ensures that when the fabrication output files are generated from the completed board, there are suitable drill files for the various drill jobs that must be performed to create the blind and/or buried vias.

Access

This command can be accessed from both PCB and PCB Library Editors:

• PCB Editor - the following methods of access are available:
  • Right-click in the design workspace (over an object or not) and choose the Options » Drill Pairs command from the context menu.
  • Use the O keyboard shortcut, then choose the Drill Pairs entry on the subsequent pop-up menu.
• PCB Library Editor - the following method of access is available:
  • Use the O keyboard shortcut, then choose the Drill Pairs entry on the subsequent pop-up menu.

Use

After launching the command, the Drill-Pair Manager dialog will appear. The Top and Bottom layers are shown as a drill pair entry in the list of current drill pairs that have been defined for the board. This drill pair is on by default and can not be deleted or modified.

To manually define a drill pair, click the Add button to access the Drill-Pair Properties dialog. Choose a start layer and a stop layer for the desired drill pair - after clicking OK the new drill pair will be added to the list.

Tips

1. Unless the board includes blind and buried vias, only one drill pair is required, comprising the Top and Bottom layers.
2. Drill pairs must be defined to suit the layer stack-up style. This should be done in consultation with your board manufacturer to ensure that your design matches their fabrication technology.
3. Drill pairs are configured for the active layer stack. The active stack is changed by clicking on the required stack graphic, in the Layout region of the Layer Stack Manager dialog. A board always has a default Board Layer Stack, which reflects the overall stackup for that board. Additional user-defined stacks can be added and defined. These are typically used in Rigid-Flex designs, where different regions of the board require different layer stackups.

Applied Parameters: Tab = DrillSymbols

Summary

This command is used to access the Drill Symbols dialog, from where you can configure the assignment of symbols / letters to hole sizes (of pads and vias) used in the design. These assignments are used in a drill drawing table, also known as a drill table or a drill drawing legend. The drill table lists the size and number of holes for each drill used on the board. Each drill size can be represented by a symbol, a letter or the actual hole size. When a drill drawing is generated for the board, each actual drill site is marked by the assigned symbol.

Access

This command can be accessed from both PCB and PCB Library Editors:

• PCB Editor - the following methods of access are available:
  • Right-click in the design workspace (over an object or not) and choose the Options » Drill Symbols command from the context menu.
  • Use the O keyboard shortcut, then choose the Drill Symbols entry on the subsequent pop-up menu.
• PCB Library Editor - the following method of access is available:
  • Use the O keyboard shortcut, then choose the Drill Symbols entry on the subsequent pop-up menu.

Use

After launching the command, the Drill Symbols dialog will appear. The software automatically assigns a symbol for each hole size detected in the design. Use the dialog to override this automatic assignment, if required.

Tips

1. There are a total of 15 symbols available. If there are more than 15 different hole sizes in the PCB, then letters are automatically assigned.

Applied Parameters: Tab = LayerStack|ShowInBoardPlanner=1

Summary

This command is used to access the Layer Stack Manager dialog, in which to configure and fully define the Layer Stack(s) for the board design. A new PCB has a default layer stack - Board Layer Stack - that comprises all of the layers that are used in the overall PCB design. A variety of types of layer can be included in the layer stack: including copper, dielectric, surface finish and mask layers. Each layer must be completely specified in terms of its material and mechanical requirements, including: the material used, the thickness, the dielectric constant, and so on.

In addition, and to support Rigid-Flex design, the dialog facilitates the definition of multiple layer stacks, that can be fashioned to include different layer content, and can ultimately be associated to different regions (rigid and flex) of the board.

Access

This command can be accessed from both PCB and PCB Library Editors:

• PCB Editor - the following methods of access are available:
  • Choose the Design » Layer Stack Manager command from the main menus.
  • Right-click in the design workspace (over an object or not) and choose the Options » Layer Stack Manager command from the context menu.
  • Use the O keyboard shortcut, then choose the Layer Stack Manager entry on the subsequent pop-up menu.
• PCB Library Editor - the following method of access is available:
  • Choose the Tools » Layer Stack Manager command from the main menus.
  • Right-click in the design workspace (in free space) and choose the Options » Layer Stack Manager command from the context menu.
  • Use the O keyboard shortcut, then choose the Layer Stack Manager entry on the subsequent pop-up menu.

Use

After launching the command, the Layer Stack Manager dialog will appear. For a new board, its single default stack comprises: a dielectric core, 2 copper layers, as well as the top and bottom solder/coverlay and overlay layers.

The dialog has two modes. In its Simple mode, the dialog provides the features and functionality needed to manage the layers in the stack for a traditional rigid PCB. For rigid-flex PCBs, you need to be able to create and manage multiple stacks. This is performed by entering the dialog's Advanced mode - by clicking the Advanced button at the bottom-left of the dialog. In this latter mode, the dialog is visually and functionally divided into two key regions:

• Stack region (the lower region) – providing controls to add, delete and re-order layer stacks.
• Layer region (the upper region) – providing controls to manage the layers available to the defined stacks (add, remove, enable/disable, and re-order layers, as well as defining layer properties).

Use the options and controls available, to configure and define the layers as required, then craft the stack(s) as needed, based on that bucket of available layers.

Tips

1. The selection of materials and their properties should always be done in consultation with the board fabricator.
2. A range of predefined layer stack definitions are available, as well as the ability to load a previously save definition (in a *.stackup file). Ideally, a preset layer stackup should be chosen, or a saved stackup loaded, when the PCB is first created - before any primitives have been placed, and routed. If you attempt to load a saved layer stack while existing layers are in use, you will be presented with the Merge Layer Stacks dialog, with which to control how the layers in the existing stack and the layers in the stack being loaded are to be used. The result will be the required final stack to be used for the board.
3. It is important that the properties of the layer stack - copper thicknesses, materials, stack-up style, dielectric constants, etc... - are set up correctly in order to achieve realistic results when using impedance controlled routing. Impedance formulae (Microstrip and Stripline) can be accessed through the Impedance Formula Editor dialog - accessed by clicking the Impedance Calculation button.
4. Click the Drill Pairs button to access the Drill-Pair Manager dialog, to configure the required drill pairs for the active layer stack. Drill pairs must be configured when blind, buried, or build-up type vias are to be used, with a drill pair for each layer-pair that a via spans. It is the presence of drill pairs that lets the system know that blind and/or buried vias are in use. This ensures that when the fabrication output files are generated from the completed board, there are suitable drill files for the various drill jobs that must be performed to create the blind and/or buried vias.

Applied Parameters: VisibleGridKind=Toggle

Summary

This command is used to toggle the markers used for the fine-level display of the default Global Board Snap Grid, between lines and dots.

Access

This command can be accessed from both PCB and PCB Library Editors:

• PCB Editor - the following methods of access are available:
  • Choose the View » Grids » Toggle Visible Grid Kind command from the main menus.
  • Choose the Toggle Visible Grid Kind entry on the Grids drop-down () of the Utilities toolbar.
  • Use the V keyboard shortcut, then choose the Grids » Toggle Visible Grid Kind entry on the subsequent pop-up menu.
• PCB Library Editor - the following method of access is available:
  • Choose the View » Grids » Toggle Visible Grid Kind command from the main menus.
  • Choose the Toggle Visible Grid Kind entry on the Grids drop-down () of the PCB Lib Standard toolbar.
  • Use the V keyboard shortcut, then choose the Grids » Toggle Visible Grid Kind entry on the subsequent pop-up menu.

Use

After launching the command, the marker type used for the Global Board Snap Grid's fine-level grid display will change to either dots, or lines, depending on the type that was previously in use.

Tips

1. This command only toggles the marker type used for the fine-level display, and not the coarse-level display.
2. The marker type can also be changed through the Cartesian Grid Editor dialog, when editing the default Global Board Snap Grid.

Applied Parameters: ElectricalGridEnabled = Toggle

Summary

This command is used to cycle to the next mode of object Hotspot Snapping. Often referred to as an Electrical Grid, object hotspot snapping provides an aid to routing electrical objects, especially those which may not fall on the default Global Board Snap Grid, or a defined custom grid. What it does is give you a distance, or tolerance, in which the cursor can be away from an object but still snap to the object's hot-spot (eg. the center of a pad). Object hotspot snapping overrides a snap grid, allowing you to easily connect to an off-grid object.

Access

This command can be accessed from both PCB and PCB Library Editors:

• PCB Editor - the following methods of access are available:
  • Choose the View » Grids » Toggle Object Hotspot Snapping command from the main menus.
  • Choose the Toggle Object Hotspot Snapping entry on the Grids drop-down () of the Utilities toolbar.
  • Use the Shift+E keyboard shortcut.
  • Use the V keyboard shortcut, then choose the Grids » Toggle Object Hotspot Snapping entry on the subsequent pop-up menu.
• PCB Library Editor - the following method of access is available:
  • Choose the View » Grids » Toggle Object Hotspot Snapping command from the main menus.
  • Use the Shift+E keyboard shortcut.
  • Use the V keyboard shortcut, then choose the Grids » Toggle Object Hotspot Snapping entry on the subsequent pop-up menu.

Use

After launching the command, object hotspot snapping will cycle to the next mode within the following modes, depending on its previous state:

• ON - hotspot snap is enabled for the current layer. That is, the cursor will snap to object hotspots on the current layer only.
• ON (All Layers) - hotspot snap is enabled for all visible layers. That is, the cursor will snap to object hotspots on any layer, not just the current layer.
• OFF - hotspot snap is diabled.

Tips

1. Hotspot snapping can also be enabled/disabled and its range defined, in the Board Options dialog, using a combination of the Snap To Object Hotspots, Range, and Snap On All Layers options.
2. Hold the Ctrl shortcut key to temporarily disable object hotspot snapping during interactive routing.

Applied Parameters: MeasurementUnit=Toggle

Summary

This command is used to toggle the measurement units for the current document, between metric (mm) and imperial (mil).

Access

This command can be accessed from the PCB Editor, and PCB Library Editor, by:

• Choosing the View » Toggle Units command, from the main menus.
• Using the Q keyboard shortcut.
• Using the V keyboard shortcut, then choosing the Toggle Units entry on the subsequent pop-up menu.

Use

After launching the command, the measurement units for the current document will become either metric or imperial, depending on the measurement units previously in force.

Tips

1. The current measurement units for the document can be checked/changed in the Board Options dialog.
2. In a properties dialog for a PCB design object, you can quickly change the units of measurement used in that dialog - between metric (mm) and imperial (mil) - using the Ctrl+Q shortcut. This affects the dialog only and does not change the actual measurement unit employed for the board.

Applied Parameters: MaskLevel=Increase

Summary

This command is used to increase the Masked Objects Factor, and therefore decrease the extent of dimming in the workspace, for all objects not falling under the scope of a currently applied filter.

Access

This command can be accessed from the PCB Editor by:

• Choosing the View » Increase Mask Level command, from the main menus.
• Using the ] keyboard shortcut.

Use

After launching the command, the level, or intensity, of masking applied in the workspace will be decreased. Design objects that do not fall under the scope of the currently applied filter will become less faded. Continue using this command to further increase the display intensity of objects not belonging to the filtered set.

Tips

1. Use of this command corresponds to sliding the Masked Objects Factor slider to the right (increasing its value). This slider is part of the Dim Control region of the pop-up accessed by clicking the Mask Level button, to the immediate left of the Clear button, at the bottom-right of the main design window.

Applied Parameters: MaskLevel=Decrease

Summary

This command is used to decrease the Masked Objects Factor, and therefore increase the extent of dimming in the workspace, for all objects not falling under the scope of a currently applied filter.

Access

This command can be accessed from the PCB Editor by:

• Choosing the View » Decrease Mask Level command, from the main menus.
• Using the [ keyboard shortcut.

Use

After launching the command, the level, or intensity, of masking applied in the workspace will be increased. Design objects that do not fall under the scope of the currently applied filter will become more faded. Continue using this command to further decrease the display intensity of objects not belonging to the filtered set.

Tips

1. Use of this command corresponds to sliding the Masked Objects Factor slider to the left (decreasing its value). This slider is part of the Dim Control region of the pop-up accessed by clicking the Mask Level button, to the immediate left of the Clear button, at the bottom-right of the main design window.