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Specifying Design Requirements during Design Capture

Created: February 14, 2022 | Updated: May 20, 2022 | Applies to version: 5

This documentation page references Altium NEXUS/NEXUS Client (part of the deployed NEXUS solution), which has been discontinued. All your PCB design, data management and collaboration needs can now be delivered by Altium Designer and a connected Altium 365 Workspace. Check out the FAQs page for more information.

 

Parent page: Capturing Your Design Idea as a Schematic

Design Directives are objects that are placed on the schematic during design capture, providing a way of specifying instructions to be passed to other parts of the software. A variety of Design Directives are available, for use in the following two ways:

  • Directives associated with the automatic compilation of source schematic documents.
  • Directives used to pass information defined on a schematic sheet through to the PCB.

The following sections take a closer look at these areas and the associated directives.

Compilation-related Directives

Designs evolve over time and are captured in stages. As each stage is bedded down, it's not uncommon to want to check them in isolation to the rest of the design. Compilation of an individual schematic document (or the entire project) at intermittent stages in the capture process will often yield a number of error messages, caused by circuitry that is yet to be captured, or interface wiring between circuit fragments that are still incomplete. Such messages are of no real value since they only create noise around the real information. The quickest and easiest way to suppress these compilation errors is by placing No ERC or Compile Mask directives.

No ERC Directive

The No ERC directive is placed on a node in the circuit to suppress all reported Electrical Rule Check warnings and/or error violation conditions that are detected when the schematic project is compilated. Use a No ERC directive to deliberately limit error checking at a certain point in the circuit that you know will generate a warning (such as an unconnected pin), while still performing a comprehensive check of the rest of the circuit.

The No ERC directive supports a number of different styles and can be displayed in any color. Use this ability to reflect the design intent for this point in the circuit.

Choose a No ERC style that best reflects its function at that point in the circuit.
Choose a No ERC style that best reflects its function at that point in the circuit.

The No ERC directive has two modes of operation:

  1. Suppress All Violations – in this mode, all possible warnings and/or error conditions are suppressed. The directive is often referred to as a Generic No ERC directive, in this mode.
  2. Suppress Specific Violations – in this mode, only the selected warnings or error conditions are suppressed; any other warnings or errors will be detected and reported. The directive is often referred to as a Specific No ERC directive, in this mode.
Suppressed errors can be displayed in the Messages panel by enabling the Report Suppressed Errors in Messages Panel option, on the Error Reporting tab of the Project Options – Error Reporting dialog. This feature can be used in the final stages of design to ensure that no critical errors have been inadvertently suppressed.

Placement

A No ERC directive can be placed into a schematic document in a number of ways:

  • Place a generic No ERC directive by choosing the Place » Directives » Generic No ERC command from the main menus, by clicking the button on the Wiring toolbar, or by right-clicking in the design space, and selecting Place » Directives » Generic No ERC command.

  • Place a specific No ERC directive on a point in the circuit that is already showing a violation, by right-clicking over a violating object in the design space (highlighted by a wavy colored line) and choosing the Place NoERC to Suppress command, from the context menu.

    Using the right-click context menu to place a specific No ERC directive.
    Using the right-click context menu to place a specific No ERC directive.

  • Place a specific No ERC directive on a point in the circuit that is already showing a violation, by right-clicking on a warning/error in the Messages panel, choosing the Place Specific NoERC for this violation command, then jumping straight to that point in the schematic and placing a No ERC directive configured to suppress that warning/error.

    Using the right-click context menu in the Messages panel to place a specific No ERC directive.
    Using the right-click context menu in the Messages panel to place a specific No ERC directive.

    The command will only be available if the message is a Net-related compiler violation.

Editing

During placement, and while the No ERC object is still floating on the cursor, the following editing actions can be performed:

  • From the No ERC Properties panel. This method of editing uses the associated Properties panel mode to modify the properties of an object.

    The No ERC mode of the Properties panel
    The No ERC mode of the Properties panel

    During placement, the No ERC mode of the Properties panel can be accessed by pressing the Tab key.

    After placement, the No ERC mode of the Properties panel can be accessed in one of the following ways:

    • Double-click on the placed directive.
    • Placing the cursor over the directive then right-click and choose Properties from the context menu.
    • If the Properties panel is already active, select the directive.
    The properties can be accessed prior to entering placement mode from the Schematic – Defaults page of the Preferences dialog. This allows the default properties for the object to be changed, which will be applied when placing subsequent objects.

  • From the No ERC dialog. This method of editing uses the No ERC dialog to modify the violation types and connection errors of a Specific No ERC object.

    The No ERC dialog showing Violation Types mode (the first image) and Connection Matrix mode (the second image) 
    The No ERC dialog showing Violation Types mode (the first image) and Connection Matrix mode (the second image)

    The dialog can be accessed by clicking Specific Violations in the Suppressed Violations region of the Properties panel in No ERC mode (mentioned above).

    The Specific No ERC directive can be configured to target multiple violations to support circuits that will generate multiple errors/warnings.

  • From the SCH List and SCH Filter panels. A List panel allows you to display design objects from one or more documents in tabular format, enabling quick inspection and modification of object attributes. Used in conjunction with appropriate filtering – by using the applicable Filter panel or the Find Similar Objects dialog – it enables the display of just those objects falling under the scope of the active filter – allowing you to target and edit multiple design objects with greater accuracy and efficiency.

Deactivating

Rather than deleting a No ERC directive, it can be made inactive (disabled in the eyes of the Compiler). This state can be changed by toggling the directive's Active property – available through any of the methods of editing. An inactive No ERC directive will appear gray in the design space.

If you need to temporarily remove use of a No ERC directive, render it inactive, rather than deleting it.
If you need to temporarily remove use of a No ERC directive, render it inactive, rather than deleting it.

Compile Mask Directive

No ERC directives are great for suppressing a low number of violating pins, ports, sheet entries, or nets within a design. But in some cases, it may be desirable to remove an entire section of the design; including components. Use a Compile Mask directive (Place » Directives » Compile Mask command) or click the Compile Mask button () in the directives drop down on the Active Bar to effectively hide the area of the design it contains from the Compiler, allowing you to manually prevent error checking for circuitry that may not yet be complete and you know will generated compile errors. This can prove very useful if you need to compile the active document, or project, to check the integrity of the design in other specific areas but do not want the 'noise' of compiler-generated messages associated with unfinished portions of the design.

As its name suggests, this directive instructs the Compiler to ignore any objects that fall completely within the bounds of the defined mask. Place the mask exactly as you would a note or rectangle object.

Consider the example schematic circuitry in the following image, where the wiring to the LCD1 device is not yet complete. Compiling just this schematic (Project » Validate PCB Project) will result in numerous violation messages (shown below), each of which is caused by the incomplete circuitry. Hover over the image to see the effect of placing a Compile Mask directive around the incomplete circuitry. These violations will be ignored by the Compiler, while the rest of the circuit on the schematic – which is completely wired – is checked. Notice that objects that are truly masked – those that completely fall within the bounding rectangle of the mask – will appear greyed-out.

Roll over the image to show the effect of using a Compile Mask directive to hide compiler violations due to incomplete circuitry.
Roll over the image to show the effect of using a Compile Mask directive to hide compiler violations due to incomplete circuitry.

A compile mask can be displayed in either expanded (full frame) or collapsed (small triangle) modes. These modes correspond to the mask being enabled and disabled respectively. Toggle the display mode by clicking on the top-left corner of a placed compile mask.
While compile masks can be rotated or mirrored along the X or Y axis, this has no effect on the orientation of the design circuitry within.

Application to Simulatable Designs

Because all elements of a design covered by a Compile Mask directive are invisible to the design compiler, they will be omitted from the design. This feature can be put to great use when simulation is included as part of the design flow.

Voltage and Current sources are necessary elements when running circuit simulations, but they have no place on the completed PCB. By applying a small amount of planning to the structure of the circuit, it is usually possible to group all simulation-specific components in one section of the design – a section that can then be easily covered by a Compile Mask directive.

When the circuit is used for simulation, the Compile Mask directive is disabled to reveal the simulation-specific components. Once the circuit is verified and ready for inclusion in the design, the Compile Mask directive can be re-enabled, so that the simulation-specific components are excluded from the design. If the design should ever need to be changed again in the future, another simulation pass can be quickly executed prior to sign-off by disabling the Compile Mask directive (to reveal the simulation-specific components again).

Initially, the Compile Mask directive is disabled, making the circuit ready for simulation. Roll over the image to show the Compile Mask directive enabled, thereby hiding the simulation sources from the design.
Initially, the Compile Mask directive is disabled, making the circuit ready for simulation. Roll over the image to show the Compile Mask directive enabled, thereby hiding the simulation sources from the design.

PCB-related Directives

As a Unified Design Environment, Altium NEXUS provides the ability for PCB requirements to be defined prior to laying out the board. This is achieved by adding and specifying parameters to objects placed on the schematic sheet(s).

For certain schematic design objects – such as components, sheet symbols, ports, etc – this involves adding the relevant parameter(s) as part of that object's properties. For net objects such as wires and buses, parameters cannot be added directly as a property of the wire or bus. Instead, the parameters required to hold the information are specified using dedicated design directives.

The following information can be specified, using directives, and will be transferred to the appropriate PCB-based definitions during design synchronization:

  • PCB layout constraints
  • Differential pairs
  • Net classes

By including design directives within the Schematic, design engineers can specify explicit design constraints, and it ensures the Schematic remains the master record of the design. Any amendments to the design would be carried out on the schematic side only and pushed across to the PCB. This can become particularly important when multiple people are working on the design – especially if they are geographically separated.  Rather than attempting to communicate with one another through chains of emails, or phone calls, the person capturing the design can ensure that particular constraints are indeed used during the layout phase.

At the heart of this functionality is the Parameter Set directive.

These are essentially user-defined Parameter Set objects, which can be associated with a net object within a schematic design. Place a PCB Layout directive on a wire, bus, or signal harness, to define one or more design constraint targeting the associated net(s). When a PCB is created from the schematic, the information in the PCB layout directive is used to create relevant PCB design rules. The information specified by a PCB Layout directive is applied only to the net (or set of nets) to which the directive is connected.

A Parameter Set directive.
A Parameter Set directive.

This acts as a container for any number of parameters targeting the net that the Parameter Set directive is attached to. A default Parameter Set directive, one that is devoid of parameters, can be placed (Place » Directives » Parameter Set), with the relevant parameter(s) being added to it after. The following sections take a closer look at using these parameter-based directives. Both user-defined (Parameter Set) and pre-defined (Differential Pair) parameter set directives are available. The only difference between an empty parameter set and a pre-defined parameter set is that the pre-defined parameter sets include a parameter, as will be described below.

Placing Parameter Set Directives

Place a directive of this type by choosing the Place » Directives » Parameter Set command from the main menu, or when right-clicking within the design space. When placing a default parameter set directive, there will be no existing parameters. A parameter set is a design directive that allows design specifications to be associated with a net-type object within a schematic design. For example, use a parameter set to declare two nets to be members of a differential pair. It is the presence of specifically named parameters in the parameter set that the software uses to determine which design directive you are placing.

In addition to user-defined parameter directives, a rule-based parameter directive is defined from the Choose Design Rule Type dialog, accessible from the parameter's associated Properties panel mode. Access involves the following:

  1. Press Tab before placing the Parameter Set or double-click an already placed Parameter Set directive to display the Parameter Set mode of the Properties panel.
  2. Next, click the Add button in the Parameters section of the Parameter Set mode of the Properties panel and choose Rule from the drop-down to select a rule from the Choose Design Rule Type dialog.

Editing the value for a rule.
Editing the value for a rule.

Use the Choose Design Rule Type dialog to choose the rule that you wish to add as a rule parameter to the directive. Double-clicking on a rule type will give you access to the relevant Edit PCB Rule (From Schematic) dialog in which you can define the constraints for the rule.

Specifying the constraints for a chosen rule.
Specifying the constraints for a chosen rule.

The entry for the Parameters region will be the rule type chosen, along with the specified constraints. The following image illustrates the defined width constraint rule parameters for a Parameter Set directive. To display the rule within the design space, click the visibility () icon within the Rules region.

Multiple rule constraints defined for a particular net, courtesy of a Parameter Set directive.
Multiple rule constraints defined for a particular net, courtesy of a Parameter Set directive.

When the design is transferred to the PCB, through the synchronization process, the relevant design rules will be created, based on the information contained within a directive. The word Schematic is used in the name for each generated rule, to distinguish the source of that rule.

Generated design rules on the PCB side.
Generated design rules on the PCB side.

Remember that multiple parameters can be added to the same Parameter Set directive, allowing for a neater schematic.

Placing Differential Pair Directives

A Differential Pair directive allows you to define a differential pair object on the schematic. The two nets in the pair must each be identified by a common Net Label with the suffixes _N and _P, and a directive must be attached to each (or the pair must be covered by a Blanket which has a directive attached, as shown below). For example in the image below there are eight differential pairs, the pair on the upper left has the Net Labels V_RX0_N and V_RX0_P.

Custom differential pair suffixes can be defined in the Diff Pairs section on the Options tab of the Project Options dialog.

Place a directive of this type by choosing the Place » Directives » Differential Pair command from the main menus. Each pair of directives (one for the positive net, one for the negative) of this type will yield a single differential pair object when transferred to the PCB.

Multiple parameters can be added to the same parameter set object. In the image below, the Differential Pair directive was placed to touch the edge of the blanket. It was then edited to include a Net Class Name parameter and a Rule parameter. When the design is synchronized with the PCB, these additional elements will be created:

  • Eight PCB differential pairs
  • A PCB net class called ROCKET_IO_LINES, containing the 16 named nets that are under the blanket
  • A Differential Pair Routing design rule, with a scope of InNetClass('ROCKET_IO_LINES')


By using a blanket, only one Differential Pair directive is required. As well as defining the differential pairs, it also specifies a Net Class and a Differential Pair Routing rule.
These nets will become members of that Net Class, and that Net Class will be used to scope the Differential Pair Routing rule.

When the design is transferred to the PCB, through the synchronization process, a single differential pair object is created from each pairing of directives. The name of a generated differential pair object on the PCB side will be the root name for the net pair on the schematic. For example, directives added to D_N and D_P on the schematic will generate a differential pair object on the PCB with the name D. Each resulting differential pair object will be added to the default Differential Pair class: <All Differential Pairs>. You can rename differential pair objects on the PCB side only.

Generated differential pair objects can be quickly verified using the PCB panel, configured in Differential Pairs Editor mode.

Using the PCB panel to view the Differential Pair Editor.
Using the PCB panel to view the Differential Pair Editor.

By attaching a differential pair directive to the perimeter of a Blanket object, you can quickly create differential pair objects based on differential nets within the confines of that blanket.

Placing Net Class Directives

A Net Class directive enables you to create user-defined net classes on the schematic. A Net Class directive can be placed by choosing the Place » Directives » Parameter Set command from the main menus then defining the parameter set as a net class directive as specified in Tip #2 on the command page. When a PCB is created from the schematic, the information in a Net Class directive is used to create the corresponding Net Class on the PCB. To make a net a member of a net class, attach a Net Class directive to the relevant wire, bus, or signal harness, then set the directive's ClassName parameter to the name of the desired class. The Generate Net Classes option (for User-Defined Classes) must be enabled on the Class Generation tab of the Project Options dialog to use this feature.

If a Net Class directive has been defined for a net, then any PCB design rules that are also created by that parameter set object will have a rule scope of Net Class when the design is transferred to the PCB editor. A Net Class directive can be created from your placed Parameter Set directive by adding a class that must have its value set to the required PCB Net Class.

While Net Classes can be created from within the PCB editor, the logical function or grouping of nets is usually much clearer in the schematic, and therefore, it makes more sense to drive the process from there.

When the design is transferred to the PCB, through the synchronization process, the relevant net classes will be created, based on the information contained within a directive.

Attach a Net Class directive to a Blanket object, to create a net class whose members are the individual nets covered by that blanket. If a PCB Layout directive is also attached to that blanket, the PCB Layout directive's rule parameters will target that net class, rather than each individual net. When importing the changes into the PCB document, this results in a single design rule being created (per parameter), with a scope set to target the net class.

Placing Blanket Directives

Parameter Set directives can only target the specific net that they are attached to, but when combined with a Blanket directive, their scope can be expanded to cover all nets within the blanket.

Place a directive of this type by choosing the Place » Directives » Blanket command from the main menus. When placing a blanket, you can either define a simple rectangular shape or a polygonal shape. The latter gives more precise control over coverage of the required net objects on a sheet.

The blanket identifies the nets of interest – place a Parameter Set directive anywhere on the edge of the blanket to apply design requirements to those nets. To apply the perimeter directive to a net under a Blanket directive, an object associated with that net – a pin, a port, a net label, a power port, a wire/bus/harness segment (including both ends) – must fall within the bounds of the blanket. Note that for net identifiers, such as net labels, the hotspot must be within the blanket. If member nets do not come across into the PCB Parameter Set as expected, try adjusting the area of the blanket accordingly.

To check which nets the blanket directive will apply to, use the Net Colors feature to highlight them. Choose the required color from the View » Set Net Colors menu, then click on the perimeter of the required Blanket directive. To clear the highlighting for a specific net, use the View » Set Net Colors » Clear Net Color command, then click on the net you wish to remove the coloring from. To clear net coloring from all schematic sheets, use the View » Set Net Colors » Clear All Net Colors command.

An example of using a Blanket directive to apply a Parameter Set directive to nets within the blanket.
An example of using a Blanket directive to apply a Parameter Set directive to nets within the blanket.

Example usage of a blanket directive can include:

  • Attaching a Parameter Set directive to a blanket object to have its rule parameters applied to each individual net covered by that blanket.
  • Attaching a Parameter Set directive to a blanket object to create a Parameter Set whose members are the individual nets covered by that blanket.
  • Attaching a Differential Pair directive to a blanket object to create differential pair objects based on differential nets within the confines of that blanket.
Attach a Parameter Set directive to a Blanket object to have its rule parameters applied to each individual net covered by that blanket. If a Parameter Set directive is also attached to that blanket and the Parameter Set also has a Net Class parameter, the Parameter Set directive's rule parameters will target that net class, rather than each individual net. When importing the changes into the PCB document, this results in a single design rule being created (per parameter) with a scope set to target the net class.
You can also copy a perimeter Parameter Set directive and attach it to another Blanket directive or even individual wires, busses or harnesses – the result will be to add all additional nets associated with the same Parameter Set directive, to the same generated PCB Net Class.

A Blanket, in conjunction with a Parameter Set directive, can also be used for applying component classes and parameters for components that are completely within the area defined by the Blanket. For doing this, use the Component Class and Parameter options from the Add button drop-down in the properties of the Parameter Set directive attached to the Blanket. The information about the component class and parameter will be transferred to the project PCB document during the ECO process when updating the PCB.

Indirect (Parameter-based) Directives

Parameter Set directives are necessary when targeting design objects in the Schematic that can't contain parameters, but for those objects that can, design directives can be applied indirectly by adding (and defining) them as parameters to the relevant schematic object. In essence, they are parameter-based directives.

Examples of how parameter-based directives could be used would include limiting the height of a particular component or adding a clearance constraint targeting all objects in the design. The required parameter that defines the constraint is added to the object as a rule.

When synchronized with the PCB, parameter-based directives that have been added to objects in the schematic will become PCB design rules. The scope of the corresponding PCB design rule will be determined by the nature of the object to which the parameter was first assigned. The following table summarizes the schematic parameter-to-PCB rule scope options that are supported.

Add a Parameter (as a rule) to a... From... For a PCB Rule Scope of...
Pin the Parameters tab of the Pin mode of the Properties panel. Pad
Port the Parameters tab of the Port mode of the Properties panel. Net
Component the Parameters region of the Components mode of the Properties panel. Component
Sheet Symbol the Parameters tab of the Sheet Symbol mode of the Properties panel, when Local is selected in the Source region. Component Class
Device Sheet Symbol the Parameters tab of the Sheet Symbol mode of the Properties panel, when Device is selected in the Source region. Component Class
Managed Sheet Symbol the Parameters region of the Sheet Symbol mode of the Properties panel, when Managed is selected in the Source region. Component Class
Sheet the Parameters tab of the Document Options mode of the Properties panel. All Objects

In each case, the method of adding a rule-based parameter is the same. From the respective tab or dialog, perform the following:

  1. Add a parameter as a rule.
  2. Select which rule type to use.
  3. Configure the constraints for the chosen rule type.
When adding design rule parameters to objects on a schematic, a unique ID is given to each rule parameter. The same IDs are given to the corresponding design rules that are created on the PCB. With this Unique ID, the constraints of a rule can be edited on either the schematic or PCB side, and the changes pushed through upon synchronization.

Specifying Component Classes

In a similar vein, component classes can be defined on the schematic by adding a ClassName parameter to targeted components and setting its value to the desired class name. When the design is transferred to the PCB, the defined component classes will be created.

To ensure Schematic defined Component Classes are propagated to the PCB, the following options must be set in the Project Options dialog:

  • Enable the Generate Component Classes option located in the User-Defined Classes region of the dialog's Class Generation tab.
  • On the dialog's Comparator tab, set the Differences Associated with Components » Extra Component Classes Mode setting to Find Differences.

The above-listed Class Generation tab option is displayed in the image below. Hover over the image to view the Comparator tab option setting.

To propagate Component Classes to the PCB, enable the Generate Component Classes option on the Class Generation tab. Hover over the image to show the Comparator tab where you will need to set the Extra Component Classes Mode setting to Find Differences.
To propagate Component Classes to the PCB, enable the Generate Component Classes option on the Class Generation tab. Hover over the image to show the Comparator tab where you will need to set the Extra Component Classes Mode setting to Find Differences.

Once defined, classes may be locked in the Properties region of the Properties panel of the respective component properties.

Controlling the Printing of Directives

By default, all design directives are included in the printing of the schematic sheets. This can, however, be changed:

Control the printing of directives as required. For No ERC directives, you can opt to print certain symbol styles, while excluding others.
Control the printing of directives as required. For No ERC directives, you can opt to print certain symbol styles, while excluding others.

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