Printout Properties

Now reading version 23. For the latest, read: Printout Properties for version 22
 

The Printout Properties dialogThe Printout Properties dialog

Summary

This dialog allows you to configure the properties of a printout/printout set.

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

Access

To access the Printout Properties and PCB Printout Properties dialog, the UI.Unification.PrintPreviewDialog option in the Advanced Settings dialog must be disabled. The Advanced Settings dialog is accessed by clicking the Advanced button on the System – General page of the Preferences dialog. If any changes are made in the Advanced Settings dialog, the software must be restarted in order for the changes to take effect.

When the UI.Unification.PrintPreviewDialog option is enabled, the Print dialog is used for defining what is printed and which printing device to use, viewing printouts, and editing their setup definitions before actually printing.

The dialog is accessed from the PCB Printout Properties dialog in the following ways:

  • Double-click on the icon to the left of a printout/printout set name.
  • Select a printout/printout set, right-click then choose Properties from the context menu.

Options/Controls

Top Region

The control presented in this region differs depending on the printout being configured:

  • Standard Printout - when configuring a standard printout, this region is titled Printout Name. Use it to change the name for the printout as desired, giving a more meaningful name that will readily identify its nature and purpose.

    The name of a standard printout can be changed in the main grid in the PCB Printout Properties dialog by clicking once on the printout name to access in-place editing, then type the new name as required.
  • Printout Set - when configuring a printout set, this region presents a control for specifying the layer class to be used. A separate printout will be created for each layer in the specified layer class. Use the drop-down to choose from a list of all existing layer classes defined for the board (as reflected in the Object Class Explorer dialog).
  • Drill Printout Set - when configuring a drill printout set, this region presents a control for specifying which drill layer to draw for each distinct layer pair (drill pair). Choose from either Drill Guide or Drill Drawing.

Components

  • Include Top-Side - enable to include all components on the top side of the board (those whose Layer property is set to Top Layer).
  • Include Bottom-Side - enable to include all components on the bottom side of the board (those whose Layer property is set to Bottom Layer).
  • Include Double-Sided - enable to include all components that include both top and bottom layer pads, such as PCB Edge Connectors.

Options

  • Show Holes - enable to include pad and via holes on the printout.
  • Mirror Layers - enable to mirror the layers included in the printout.
  • Enable Font Substitution - check to enable font substitutions.
  • Enable Design Views - check to enable design views.

Pad Display Options

  • Show Pad Numbers - enable to show pad numbers on the printout.
  • Show Pad Nets - enable to show pad net information on the printout.
  • Font Size - use this control to determine the size of the font used for pad numbers and net text.

Layers

This region provides the necessary controls to add, edit, and order the layers that will make up the printout.

  • Layer List - a list of the layers currently included on the printout (or each printout in a printout set). The layer at the bottom of the list will be drawn first in the printer's memory when the image is rendered. Each layer above is then rendered, in turn, on top. Select a layer and use the Move Up and Move Down buttons to change its position in the render order.

    The list can include different types of layer entities - standard layers, iterated layers, or layer classes.
  • Add - use to add another layer to the printout (or each printout in a printout set). The Layer Properties dialog will appear from where you can choose from a list of all layers for the board and configure the properties for the chosen layer as required.

    A new layer will be added to the bottom of the list.
  • Remove - click this button to remove the selected layer entity(ies) from the list.

    You will be prevented from removing all layer entries. At least one layer entry must remain.
  • Edit - click this button to edit the currently selected layer entity in the list. The relevant variation of the Layer Source Properties dialog will appear (Layer Properties/Layer Class Properties/Iterated Layer Properties) to configure the properties for the entity as required.

    This button is unavailable if multiple layers are currently selected in the list. Choose a single layer entry that you want to edit.
  • Move Up - use to move the selected layer entity(ies) upward in the list, changing the print rendering order.
  • Move Down - use to move the selected layer entity(ies) downward in the list, changing the print rendering order.
Multiple layer entities can be selected for moving and removal using standard multi-select techniques (Ctrl+click, Shift+click, and Click&Drag).
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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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