KB: Specify via style during interactive routing
Created: May 07, 2024 | Updated: November 22, 2024
Altium Designer
Starting in version: 18
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[Why] Specify via style (size, type, with or without solder mask tenting, etc.) during interactive routing
[What] It is governed by Routing Via Style rule specified on a given *.pcbdoc by default. As one-off, it can be overridden by User Choice mode during interactive routing.
[How] Design ► Rules ► Design Rules ► Interactive Routing ► Routing Via Style to define the rule. To overide, User Choice in Preferences, PCB Editor - Interactive Routing, under Interactive Routing Width Sources, on Via Size Mode pulldown. There is also a keyboard shortcut '4' to cycle through the modes on the fly. The User Choice can be changed further by Shift+V keyboard shortcut.
Solution Details
By default, via size during interactive routing is determined by Routing Via Style rule specified on a given *.pcbdoc, but if you insist, it could be changed to User Choice in Preferences, PCB Editor - Interactive Routing, under Interactive Routing Width Sources, on Via Size Mode pulldown. There is also a keyboard shortcut '4' to cycle through the modes on the fly. The User Choice can be changed further by Shift+V keyboard shortcut. Please refer our online manual for further details:https://www.altium.com/documentation/altium-designer/interactive-routing-pcb#!changing-the-via-size-mode-while-routing
Obviously, prescribing via definition upfront is a more recommended practice, and if it needs to be managed/reused across multiple designs within your team, it is best to manage it in a form of *.pvlib Pad Via template library from which each *.pcbdoc can reference in its rule.
There is also a seperate default setting in Preferences, PCB Editor - Defaults , Via located under Primitive List, which only applies during a standalone Place » Via menu command, and NOT on a via placed during interactive routing.
In a given *.pcbdoc, you can access the Routing Via Style rule by going to: Design ► Rules ► Design Rules ► Interactive Routing ► Routing Via Style.
Make sure that a Routing Via Style rule with the desired size is created and enabled the Routing Via Style rule in the PCB Rules and Constraints Editor.
