Properties Panel

Now reading version 17.1. For the latest, read: Properties Panel for version 21
 

The Interactive Properties panel provides universal editing access to the properties of documents and objects in design editors. The panel dynamically determines its content based on the document or object that is currently selected and presents specific properties and settings that relate to that document/object.

The Properties panel is available in all editors and can be opened by selecting the Properties option from the button menu (at the lower right of the workspace) or by choosing View » Panels » Properties from the main menus. You also can double-click on an object in the workspace to open the panel and make it visible.

Schematic Support

When the active document is a schematic document (*.SchDoc) and when no design object is currently selected in the design workspace, the Properties panel presents the Document Options

The following collapsible sections contain information about the options and controls available under the panel's General tab:

The following collapsible section contains information about the options and controls available under the panel's Parameters tab:

When a design object is selected, the panel will present options specific to that object type. The following table lists the object types available for placement on a schematic sheet - click a link to access the properties page for that object.

Arc Bezier
Blanket Bus
Bus Entry Comment
Compile Mask Designator
Ellipse Graphic
Harness Connector Harness Entry
Net Label No ERC
Note Offsheet Connector
Parameter Parameter Set
Part Polygon
Polyline Port
Power Object Probe
Rectangle Round Rectangle
Sheet Entry Sheet Symbol
Sheet Symbol Designator Sheet Symbol Filename
Signal Harness Text Frame
Text String Wire
Pin Harness Connector Type

Schematic Library Support

When the active document is a Schematic Library document (*.SchLib) and no design object is currently selected in the design workspace, the Properties panel presents the Library Options. The following collapsible sections contain information about the options and controls available:

When a design object is selected, the panel will present options specific to that object type. The following table lists the object types available for placement within the library workspace - click a link to access the properties page for that object.

Arc Ellipse
Graphic IEEE Symbol
Pin Polygon
Polyline Rectangle
Round Rectangle Text Frame
Text String Bezier

PCB Support

When the active document is a PCB document (*.PcbDoc) and when no design object is currently selected in the design workspace, the Properties panel presents the Board mode. The following collapsible sections contain information about the options and controls available:

When a design object is selected, the panel will present options specific to that object type. The following table lists the object types available for placement within a PCB document - click a link to access the properties page for that object.

3D Body Accordion
Angular Dimension Arc
Arc Keepout Component
Drill Table Embedded Board Array
Fill Fill Keepout
Layer Stack Table Linear Dimension
OLE Object Ordinate Dimension
Pad Polygon Pour
Radial Dimension Region
Region Keepout String
Track Track Keepout
Via Comment
Standard Dimension Design View

PCB Library Support

When the active document is a PCB Library document (*.PcbLib) and when no design object is currently selected in the design workspace, the Properties panel presents the Library Options. The following collapsible sections contain information about the options and controls available:

When a design object is selected, the panel will present options specific to that object type. The following table lists the object types available for placement within the library workspace - click a link to access the properties page for that object.

3D Body Accordion
Arc Arc Keepout
Fill Fill Keepout
Pad Region
Region Keepout String
Track Track Keepout
Via  

Interactive Routing Support

When the active document is a PCB document (*.PcbDoc) and you are currently using the interactive routing tool, the Properties panel presents options pertinent to that tool. The following collapsible sections contain information about the options and controls available:

Interactive Differential Pair Routing Support

When the active document is a PCB document (*.PcbDoc) and you are currently using the interactive differential pair routing tool, the Properties panel presents options pertinent to that tool. The following collapsible sections contain information about the options and controls available.

Interactive Multi-Routing Support

When the active document is a PCB document (*.PcbDoc) and you are currently using the interactive multi-routing tool, the Properties panel presents options pertinent to that tool. The following collapsible sections contain information about the options and controls available:

Interactive Length Tuning Support

When the active document is a PCB document (*.PcbDoc) and you are currently using the interactive length tuning tool to place an accordion or have interactively selected an accordion object, the Properties panel presents options pertinent to that accordion.

The following collapsible sections contain information about the options and controls available.

Refer to the object page to learn more about the Accordion object.

Refer to the Length Tuning page to learn more about interactive length tuning.

Interactive Differential Pair Length Tuning Support

When the active document is a PCB document (*.PcbDoc) and you are currently using the interactive differential pair length tuning tool, the Properties panel presents options pertinent to that tool. The following collapsible sections contain information about the options and controls available:

Via Shielding Support

When the active document is a PCB document (*.PcbDoc) and you select or double-click on a shielding via, the Properties panel presents options pertinent to that union object. The following collapsible sections contain information about the options and controls available:

The vias in a Via Shielding are members of a Union object. If the Display popup selection dialog option is disabled in the Preferences dialog, a single click on a via in a Via Shielding Union will select just that via. A second click in the same location will select the Via Shielding Union, displaying its properties in the Properties panel.

See the Add Shielding to Net dialog for more information about the Via Shielding options during initial placement.

See Via Stitching and Via Shielding for more information about working with Shielding Vias.

After modifying a value in the panel, the message Changes pending, Apply? will appear at the bottom of the panel. You must click Apply for the changes to be made to the design.

Via Stitching Support

When the active document is a PCB document (*.PcbDoc) and you select or double-click on a stitching via, the Properties panel presents options pertinent to that union object. The following collapsible sections contain information about the options and controls available.

The vias in a Via Stitching are members of a Union object. If the Display popup selection dialog option is disabled in the Preferences dialog, a single click on a via in a Via Stitching Union will select just that via. A second click in the same location will select the Via Stitching Union, displaying its properties in the Properties panel.

See the Add Stitching to Net dialog for more information about the Via Stitching options during initial placement.

See Via Stitching and Via Shielding for more information about working with Stitching Vias.

After modifying a value in the panel, the message Changes pending, Apply? will appear at the bottom of the panel. You must click Apply for the changes to be made to the design.

Multi-board Schematic Support

When the active document is a multi-board schematic document (*.MbsDoc) and when no design object is currently selected in the design workspace, the Properties panel presents the Document Options.

The following collapsible sections contain information about the options and controls available under the panel's General tab.

The following collapsible section contains information about the options and controls available under the panel's Parameters tab:

When a design object is selected in the workspace, the Properties panel will present options specific to that object type – the panel changes to that object 'mode'. The following table lists the object types available for placement within a multi-board schematic document, where each listed entry links to its associated properties information (Properties panel mode) page.

Arc Circle
Connection Line
Module Module Entry
Picture Rectangle
Region Text

ActiveBOM Support

When the active document is a BOM document (*.BomDoc), the Properties panel presents the Document Options.  

The following collapsible sections contain information about the options and controls available.

Draftsman Support

► See the Draftsman Properties panel page.

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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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