Layer Source Properties

Created: January 17, 2023 | Updated: January 17, 2023 | Applies to version: 21

This document is no longer available beyond version 21.0. Information can now be found here: Configuring a Layer for version 25

Variations of the Layer Properties dialog

Summary

The Layer Properties dialog provides controls to configure the properties of a newly-added or existing layer entity. This could be a standard layer, a layer class, or an iterated layer (created automatically when adding a new printout set, or drill printout set).

While the controls of the dialog largely remain the same, the actual use of the dialog and its banner text will vary depending on the type of layer entity being created/edited.

Access

The dialog is accessed in the following ways:

From the PCB Printout Properties dialog:
- Double-click on the entry for an existing layer entity.
- Select an existing layer entity, right-click then choose Properties from the context menu.
From the Printout Properties dialog:
- Double-click on the required layer entity in the Layers region.
- Select the required layer entity in the Layers region then click Edit.
From the PCB Printout Settings page of the Smart PDF Wizard (File » Smart PDF), right-click in the layers grid then select Insert Layer or Insert Layer Class from the context menu.

Options/Controls

Top Region

The controls presented in this region differs depending on the layer entity being configured:

Standard Layer - when configuring a standard layer, this region presents the Print Layer Type field. Use it to choose/change the required layer. The drop-down presents all layers defined for the board.
Layer Class - when configuring a layer class, this region presents the Layer Class Name field. Use it to choose/change the required layer class. The drop-down presents all existing layer classes defined for the board (as reflected in the Object Class Explorer dialog).
Iterated Layer (associated with a printout set) - when configuring the iterated layer associated with a printout set, this region presents the Iterated Layer field. This is a read-only field that simply states One Layer In <LayerClass>, where <LayerClass> is the specific layer class chosen for the parent printout set.
Iterated Layer (associated with a drill printout set) - when configuring the iterated layer associated with a drill printout set, this region presents the Iterated Layer field. This is a read-only field that simply states <DrillLayer> For One Layer Pair, where <DrillLayer> is the specific drill layer (Drill Drawing or Drill Guide) chosen for the parent drill printout set.

Free Primitives

This region provides controls to determine how the free primitives on a layer are displayed on the printout. For the following free primitive objects, use the associated drop-down field to choose whether to display the object fully (Full), in outline mode only (Draft), or hide the object (Off).

Arcs
Fills
Pads
Strings
Tracks
Vias
Regions

The following buttons are available at the bottom of the region to quickly switch the setting for all objects in a single action:

Full - click this button to set the display option for all free primitives to Full.
Draft - click this button to set the display option for all free primitives to Draft.
Hide - click this button to set the display option for all free primitives to Off.

Component Primitives

This region provides controls to determine how the component primitives on a layer are displayed on the printout. For the following component primitive objects, use the associated drop-down field to choose whether to display the object fully (Full), in outline mode only (Draft), or hide the object (Off).

Arcs
Fills
Pads
Strings
Tracks
Vias
Regions

The following buttons are available at the bottom of the region to quickly switch the setting for all objects in a single action:

Full - click this button to set the display option for all component primitives to Full.
Draft - click this button to set the display option for all component primitives to Draft.
Hide - click this button to set the display option for all component primitives to Off.

Others

This region provides controls to determine how other objects on a layer are displayed on the printout. For the following objects, use the associated drop-down field to choose whether to display the object fully (Full), in outline mode only (Draft), or hide the object (Off).

Designators
Comments
Polygons
Dimensions
Coordinates

The following buttons are available at the bottom of the region, to quickly switch the setting for all objects in a single action:

Full - click this button to set the display option for all objects to Full.
Draft - click this button to set the display option for all objects to Draft.
Hide - click this button to set the display option for all objects to Off.

Drill Layers

Use this region when configuring a drill layer (Drill Drawing/Drill Guide).

First - use this field to specify the starting layer for the required drill pair. The drop-down lists all available signal and internal plane layers defined in the board's layer stack.
Last - use this field to specify the finishing layer for the required drill pair. The drop-down lists all available signal and internal plane layers defined in the board's layer stack.

When configuring the Iterated layer entity associated to a drill printout set, these fields are unavailable. Since the process is iterative when creating the printouts in the set, the First and Last drill pair layers for the layer in each printout, are determined automatically from the layer stack.

Configure Drill Symbols

Click this button to open the Drill Symbols dialog to configure drill symbols.

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