The Draftsman – Primitive Defaults page of the Preferences dialog
Summary
The Draftsman – Primitive Defaults page of the Preferences dialog allows the default values and settings to be configured for drawing and objects placed in a Draftsman document. These default settings can be overridden in the Draftsman Properties panel once an object or view has been placed in a document.
Access
The dialog is accessed by clicking Primitive Defaults under the Draftsman folder in the main Preferences dialog (DXP » Preferences).
Options/Controls
Primitives
Select a Primitive in the list to present the list of Defaults for the selected primitive.
Defaults
This region dynamically changes depending on the selected Primitive. Find the desired Primitive in the list below for the Defaults controls of that primitive.
Board Views
Assembly View
- Assembly View – shows the board outline with cutouts, holes, and component graphics with additional notation. The component graphics are automatically generated and take data on a priority basis from the following sources:
- The projection of a board component's three-dimensional model (3D model) – used by default.
- A component's silk screen graphic taken from Top/Bottom Overlay layer – used when a 3D model is not available.
- A graphic of the component's dimensions derived from its contact pads (its Bounding Box) – used when both a 3D models and screen overlay are not available.
The Assembly View page
- Position – sets the object's rotational orientation to choices of 90º increments.
- Rotation – use the drop-down to select the rotation: 0º, 90º, 180º, or 270º.
- Title – sets a view's title name, its font/color and visibility settings. System or custom Parameters can be used in the title.
- Show Title – enable to show the title.
- Title – enter the title name.
- Use Document Font – enable to force the placed view to adopt the font style defined in the global Draftsman Document Options dialog.
- Title Font – use to open the Font dialog to select the desired font. This option is available only when Use Document Font is not checked.
- Title Color – use the drop-down to select the color for the title.
- Styles – sets the color and line weight/style for the board and component outlines.
- Component Line Style – use to open the Line Style dialog to choose the line style for components.
- Board Line Style – use to open the Line Style dialog to choose the line style for the board.
- Font – the font settings for component designators, which also defines the minimum and maximum size for the automatic scaling to fit into component graphics.
The font style for individual components can be overridden in the Component Display Properties dialog.
- Use Document Font – enable to force the placed view to adopt the font style defined in the global Draftsman Document Options dialog.
- Font – use to open the Font dialog to select the desired font.
- Minimum size, pt – enter the minimum point size of the font.
- Maximum size, pt – enter the maximum point size of the font.
- View – use the following options to configure the view settings:
- View – use the drop-down to select the direction of view: Top, Bottom, Left, Right, Front, or Back.
- Display holes – use the drop-down to select how to display holes:
- None – show no holes.
- All – show all holes.
- Pads only – show only construction holes.
- Minimum diameter only – show only large holes.
- Minimum Diameter – if Minimum diameter only was selected for Display holes, enter the size threshold setting.
- Component Caption – select the parameter source for the text captions associated with components (Designator or BOM Item reference) from the drop-down.
- Show SMD Pads – check to display surface mount component pads in the drawing. Use the associated drop-down menu to select the rendering color.
- Show Through-Hole Pads – check to display any Through-Hole type pads that exist in the drawing. Use the associated drop-down menu to select the rendering color.
- Show Silkscreen – check to show the board design's Silk Screen overlay on the drawing view, where the correct overlay (Top or Bottom) will be shown for the currently selected View setting.
- Component Display Settings – use the following options to configure how components are displayed.
The Component Display Properties dialog also can be used to configure how components are displayed in an Assembly view.
- Geometry Source – use the drop-down to select the data source used for rendering the component's graphics. Choices include:
- Assembly drawing – the component graphic data contained on a Mechanical Layer, as nominated in the Draftsman Document Options dialog.
- Bounding box – dimensions derived from the component's contact pads.
- Silk screen – the silk screen printing layer.
- 3D Body projection – the component's 3D model, if available.
- Default – the component graphics will be taken, in order of priority, from three of the options below (3D Body projection, Silk screen or Bounding box).
- Color – use the drop-down to select the color of component graphics.
- Reference Marker Display – enable/disable a component's visual reference marker (typically a dot indicating Pin 1 on a component). Use the drop-down to select either Off or Inside contour.
- Show Designator – toggle the visibility of a component's designator notation.
- Designator Location – if Show Designator is enabled, use the drop-down to select the the position settings for a component designator:
- Center/Fit (default) – the designator is placed in the center of the component graphic and automatically scaled to fit.
- Center, Top Left, Left, Bottom Left, Bottom, etc., – the designator is placed close to the component outline, in the position described.
- Assembly Drawing – the designator, its position, and size is defined by the properties of the component designator (generally derived from a Designator special string on a specified Mechanical Layer – see Draftsman Document Options dialog for the Top/Bottom Assembly Layer settings.
- Hatching Pattern – the visual pattern and color used to render the component's profile, such as when it is displayed in a board Section View. Use to open the Fill Style dialog and choose the pattern.
Fabrication View
The Fabrication View page
- Position – sets the object's rotational orientation to choices of 90º increments.
- Rotation – use the drop-down to select the rotation: 0º, 90º, 180º, or 270º.
- Title – sets a view's title name, its font/color and visibility settings. System or custom Parameters can be used in the title.
- Show Title – enable to show the title.
- Title – enter the title name.
- Use Document Font – enable to force the placed view to adopt the font style defined in the global Draftsman Document Options dialog.
- Title Font – use to open the Font dialog to select the desired font. This option is available only when Use Document Font is not checked.
- Title Color – use the drop-down to select the color for the title.
- View – use the following options to configure the view settings:
- View Side – use the drop-down to select the view, either Top or Bottom.
- Drawing Mode – how board conductors are displayed. Use the drop-down to select the drawing mode, either Full (solid and fully rendered) or Simplified (as lines).
- Polygon Fill Mode – how polygons are displayed. Use the drop-down to select: Filled (solid) , Hatched (hatching fill) or Outline.
- Board Line Style – the type, color and weight options for the line that defines the board perimeter. Use to open the Line Style dialog to select the line style.
- Show Out of Board Copper – check to allow the Fabrication View to render any copper areas (tracks, fills, ploygons etc) that lie beyond the board outline perimeter.
Drill Drawing View
Detail View
- Detail View – allows a defined area of a drawing to be brought out to a floating, magnified view of its detail.
Detail Views may be added to all graphical board views, including the Assembly View, Fabrication View, Section View, and Drill Drawing View.
The magnification factor (scale), labeling and line attributes of the detailed view can be configured in the Board Detail View mode of the Properties panel.
The Detail View page
- Position – sets the object's rotational orientation to choices of 90º increments.
- Rotation – use the drop-down to select the rotation: 0º, 90º, 180º, or 270º.
- Title – sets a view's title name, its font/color and visibility settings. System or custom Parameters can be used in the title.
- Show Title – enable to show the title.
- Title – enter the title name.
- Use Document Font – enable to force the placed view to adopt the font style defined in the global Draftsman Document Options dialog.
- Title Font – use to open the Font dialog to select the desired font. This option is available only when Use Document Font is not checked.
- Title Color – use the drop-down to select the color for the title.
- View – use the following options to configure the view settings:
- Label – enter the desired label for the view.
- Display Mode – use the drop-down to select the display mode: Connected, With Leader, or No Leader.
- Styles – sets the color and line weight/style for the board.
- Connection Line Style – use to open the Line Style dialog to select the line style for connections.
- Source Border Line Style – use to open the Line Style dialog to select the line style for the source border.
- Detail Border Line Style - use to open the Line Style dialog to select the line style for the detail border.
Section View
- Section View – provides a profile slice, or sectional, drawing taken from a nominated 'cut' point through a placed PCB Assembly View. The Section View generator takes the available 3D data from the current PCB to create a standalone section drawing that is aligned to the nominated cut point.
Any number of Section Views can be created from an Assembly View, and the section parameters may be modified after they are placed.
The Section View page
- Position – sets the object's rotational orientation to choices of 90º increments.
- Rotation – use the drop-down to select the rotation: 0º, 90º, 180º, or 270º.
- Title – sets a view's title name, its font/color and visibility settings. System or custom Parameters can be used in the title.
- Show Title – enable to show the title.
- Title – enter the title name.
- Use Document Font – enable to force the placed view to adopt the font style defined in the global Draftsman Document Options dialog.
- Title Font – use to open the Font dialog to select the desired font. This option is available only when Use Document Font is not checked.
- Title Color – use the drop-down to select the color for the title.
- View – use the following options to configure the view settings:
- Positioning Mode – changes the cut orientation. Use the drop-down to select the positioning mode, either Horizontal or Vertical.
- Flip View Direction – changes the directional view of the selected section cut (the direction from which you are 'looking'). The cut line direction arrows will change accordingly.
- Slice Section – enables/disables the visibility of the objects behind the cut line – it removes the 'background' objects from the section view.
- Label – enter the desired label for the view.
- Board Cut Fill Style – sets the properties of the graphical pattern superimposed on cut objects, and therefore the appearance of the sliced object faces. Use to open the Fill Style dialog to select the style.
- Display Mode – sets the cut line end arrow style. Use the drop-down to select the display mode, either Standard or Alternative.
- Show Connector Line – toggles the line drawn between the cut arrows.
- Styles – use to determine the visual style of the cut line placed on the Assembly View.
- Cutting Line Style - use to define the line's weight, style and color. Use to open the Line Style dialog to select the style.
- Connector Line Style – sets the properties of the line drawn between the cut arrows. Use to open the Line Style dialog to select the line style for connectors.
- Arrow Style – use to set the shape and weight of the cut arrow heads. Use to open the Arrow Style dialog to select the line style for arrows.
Dimensions
Angular
The Angular page
- Units
- Show Unit Names – enable to show unit names.
-
Tolerance
- Tolerance Type – use the drop-down to select the tolerance type: None, Symmetric, Bilateral, Limit.
- Positive Tolerance – enter the desired positive tolerance. This is not available if None is selected for the Tolerance Type.
- Negative Tolerance – enter the desired negative tolerance. This is not available if None or Symmetric is selected for the Tolerance Type.
- View
- Elbow Position – use the drop-down to select the position of elbows: Automatic, Left, or Right.
- Arrow Position – use the drop-down to select the position of arrow: Automatic, Outside, or Inside.
- Precision
- Value Precision – the measured dimension in the base document units. Use the drop-down to select the precision value from the list.
- Tolerance Precision – use the drop-down to select the tolerance precision value from the list.
- Appearance – use the following options to change the line width size, style and color, and arrow graphic style.
- Dimension Line Style – use to open the Line Style dialog to select the dimension line style.
- Extension Line Style – use to open the Line Style dialog to select the extension line style.
- Extension Lines Gap – enter the value desired for extension lines gaps.
- Extension Lines Offset – enter the value for extension lines offsets.
- Arrow Style – use to open the Arrow Style dialog to select the style for arrows.
- Text
- Use Document Font – enable to force the placed view to adopt the font style defined in the global Draftsman Document Options dialog.
- Text Font – use to open the Font dialog to select the desired font. This option is available only when Use Document Font is not checked.
- Text Color – use the drop-down to select the color for text.
- Prefix – use to add prefix text to the dimension text. Enter the desired prefix, if necessary.
- Suffix – use to add suffix text to the dimension text. Enter the desired suffix, if necessary.
Linear
The Linear page
- Units
The units system (Millimeters/Mils/Inches) that applies to a Draftsman document is defined by the
Measurement Unit setting in the
Draftsman Document Options dialog (
Tools » Document Options). However, for individual objects such as Linear/Radial Dimensions, Drill/BOM Tables and the Layer Stack Legend, their default units may be preset here. These settings will override the document's base Units setting when a new object of that type is placed. In turn, the Units used by the placed object can be locally changed through the
Units option in the Draftsman
Properties panel.
- Show Units – enable to show unit names, for example,
10.1mm
rather than just 10.1
.
- Dual Units – check to enable two measurements for each dimension, with one set to show the Primary Units type setting and the other showing the Dual Units type setting (
Millimeters/Mils/Inches
).
- Tolerance
- Tolerance Type – use the drop-down to select the tolerance type: None, Symmetric, Bilateral, or Limit.
- Positive Tolerance – enter the desired positive tolerance. This is not available if None is selected for the Tolerance Type.
- Negative Tolerance – enter the desired negative tolerance. This is not available if None or Symmetric is selected for the Tolerance Type.
- View
- Text Position – use the drop-down to select the position of elbows: Outside, Inside, Inside Aligned, or Outside Aligned.
- Arrow Position – use the drop-down to select the position of arrow: Outside or Inside.
- Show Additional Text – enable to show any additional text. Enter the text in the textbox.
- Precision
- Value Precision – the measured dimension in the base document units. Use the drop-down to select the precision value from the list.
- Dual Value Precision – the measured dimension in the base document units set for the alternative value. Use the drop-down to select the precision value from the list.
- Tolerance Precision – use the drop-down to select the tolerance precision value from the list.
- Dual Tolerance Precision – use the drop-down to select the tolerance precision value from the list, for the alternative unit measurement.
- Appearance – use the following options to change the line width size, style and color, and arrow graphic style.
- Dimension Line Style – use to open the Line Style dialog to select the dimension line style.
- Extension Line Style – use to open the Line Style dialog to select the extension line style.
- Extension Lines Gap – enter the value desired for extension lines gaps.
- Extension Lines Offset – enter the value for extension lines offsets.
- Arrow Style – use to open the Arrow Style dialog to select the style for arrows.
- Text
- Use Document Font – enable to force the placed view to adopt the font style defined in the global Draftsman Document Options dialog.
- Text Font – use to open the Font dialog to select the desired font. This option is available only when Use Document Font is not checked.
- Text Color – use the drop-down to select the color for text.
- Prefix – use to add prefix text to the dimension text. Enter the desired prefix, if necessary.
- Suffix – use to add suffix text to the dimension text. Enter the desired suffix, if necessary.
Radial
The Radial page
- Units
The units system (Millimeters/Mils/Inches) that applies to a Draftsman document is defined by the
Measurement Unit setting in the
Draftsman Document Options dialog (
Tools » Document Options). However, for individual objects such as Linear/Radial Dimensions, Drill/BOM Tables and the Layer Stack Legend, their default units may be preset here. These settings will override the document's base Units setting when a new object of that type is placed. In turn, the Units used by the placed object can be locally changed through the
Units option in the Draftsman
Properties panel.
- Show Units – enable to show unit names, for example,
10.1mm
rather than just 10.1
.
- Dual Units – check to enable two measurements for each dimension, with one set to show the Primary Units type setting and the other showing the Dual Units type setting (
Millimeters/Mils/Inches
).
- Tolerance
- Tolerance Type – use the drop-down to select the tolerance type: None, Symmetric, Bilateral, or Limit.
- Positive Tolerance – enter the desired positive tolerance. This is not available if None is selected for the Tolerance Type.
- Negative Tolerance – enter the desired negative tolerance. This is not available if None or Symmetric is selected for the Tolerance Type.
- View
- Text Position – use the drop-down to select the position of elbows: Aligned With Leader, Next to Leader, On Top of Elbow, or Next to Elbow.
- Arrow Position – use the drop-down to select the position of arrow: Outside or Inside.
- Show Additional Text – enable to show any additional text. Enter the text in the textbox.
- Precision
- Value Precision – the measured dimension in the base document units. Use the drop-down to select the precision value from the list.
- Dual Value Precision – the measured dimension in the base document units set for the alternative value. Use the drop-down to select the precision value from the list.
- Tolerance Precision – use the drop-down to select the tolerance precision value from the list.
- Dual Tolerance Precision – use the drop-down to select the tolerance precision value from the list, for the alternative unit measurement.
- Appearance – use the following options to change the line width size, style, color, and arrow graphic style.
- Dimension Line Style – use to open the Line Style dialog to select the dimension line style.
- Extension Line Style – use to open the Line Style dialog to select the extension line style.
- Extension Lines Gap – enter the value desired for extension lines gaps.
- Extension Lines Offset – enter the value for extension lines offsets.
- Arrow Style – use to open the Arrow Style dialog to select the style for arrows.
- Text
- Use Document Font – enable to force the placed view to adopt the font style defined in the global Draftsman Document Options dialog.
- Text Font – use to open the Font dialog to select the desired font. This option is available only when Use Document Font is not checked.
- Text Color – use the drop-down to select the color for text.
- Prefix – use to add prefix text to the dimension text. Enter the desired prefix, if necessary.
- Suffix – use to add suffix text to the dimension text. Enter the desired suffix, if necessary.
Ordinate
The Ordinate page
- Ordinate Dimensions – a table arrangement showing the Value and Tolerance settings for the individual dimensions that make up a set of Ordinate Dimensions – drag and drop the heading names to reorder the list columns. This table is populated in the Properties panel when Ordinate Dimensions are placed on a drawing view.
- Units
The units system (Millimeters/Mils/Inches) that applies to a Draftsman document is defined by the
Measurement Unit setting in the
Draftsman Document Options dialog (
Tools » Document Options). However, for individual objects such as Linear/Radial Dimensions, Drill/BOM Tables and the Layer Stack Legend, their default units may be preset here. These settings will override the document's base Units setting when a new object of that type is placed. In turn, the Units used by the placed object can be locally changed through the
Units option in the Draftsman
Properties panel.
- Show Unit Names – enable to show unit names, for example,
10.1mm
rather than just 10.1
.
- Dual Units – check to enable two measurements for each dimension, with one set to show the Primary Units type setting and the other showing the Dual Units type setting (
Millimeters/Mils/Inches
).
- Precision
- Value Precision – the measured dimension in the base document units. Use the drop-down to select the precision value from the list.
- Dual Value Precision – the measured dimension in the base document units set for the alternative value. Use the drop-down to select the precision value from the list.
- Tolerance Precision – use the drop-down to select the tolerance precision value from the list.
- Dual Tolerance Precision – use the drop-down to select the tolerance precision value from the list, for the alternative unit measurement.
- Appearance – use the following options to change the line width size, style and color, and arrow graphic style.
- Dimension Line Style – use to open the Line Style dialog to select the dimension line style.
- Extension Line Style – use to open the Line Style dialog to select the extension line style.
- Extension Lines Gap – enter the value desired for extension lines gaps.
- Extension Lines Offset – enter the value for extension lines offsets.
- Arrow Style – use to open the Arrow Style dialog to select the style for arrows.
- Text
- Use Document Font – enable to force the placed view to adopt the font style defined in the global Draftsman Document Options dialog.
- Text Font – use to open the Font dialog to select the desired font. This option is available only when Use Document Font is not checked.
- Text Color – use the drop-down to select the color for text.
- Prefix – use to add prefix text to the dimension text. Enter the desired prefix, if necessary.
- Suffix – use to add suffix text to the dimension text. Enter the desired suffix, if necessary.
Drawing Tools
Circle
The Circle page
- Geometry
- Center Point X – enter the center point for the X axis.
- Center Point Y – enter the center point for the Y axis.
- Radius – enter the radius.
- Styles – sets the line weight/style.
- Line Style - use to open the Line Style dialog to select the line style.
Graphic
The Graphic page
- Geometry
- Start Point X – enter the X axis starting point for the graphic image.
- Start Point Y – enter the Y axis starting point for the graphic image.
- Width – enter the image width.
- Height – enter the image height.
- Rotation – use the drop-down to select the image graphic rotation: 0º, 90º, 180º, or 270º.
- Image
- Maintain Aspect Ratio – enable to maintain the image width/height ratio.
Line
The Line page
- Geometry
- Start Point X – enter the line start point for the X axis.
- Start Point Y – enter the line start point for the Y axis.
- End Point X – enter the line end point for the X axis.
- End Point Y – enter the line end point for the Y axis.
- Line Style
- Style – use to open the Line Style dialog to select the line style.
Rectangle
The Rectangle page
- Geometry
- Start Point X – enter the rectangle start point for the X axis.
- Start Point Y – enter the reactange start point for the Y axis.
- Width – enter the rectangle width.
- Height – enter the rectangle height.
- Style – sets the line weight/style.
- Style – use to open the Line Style dialog to select the style.
Text
Table
Drill Table
The Drill Table page
- Title – sets a view's title name, its font/color and visibility settings. System or custom Parameters can be used in the title.
- Show Title – enable to show the title of the drill table.
- Title – enter the title name.
- Use Document Font – enable to force the placed view to adopt the font style defined in the global Draftsman Document Options dialog.
- Font – use to open the Font dialog to select the desired font. This option is available only when Use Document Font is not checked.
- Text Color – use the drop-down to select the color for text.
- Styles – sets the color and line weight/styles.
- Table Line Style – use to open the Line Style dialog to select the line style for the table.
- Even Row Color – use the drop-down to select the color for even rows.
- Non-Even Row Color – use the drop-down to select the color odd rows.
- Use Document Font – enable to use the document font.
- Font – use to open the Font dialog to select the desired font. This option is available only when Use Document Font is not checked.
- Text Color – use the drop-down to select the color for text.
- Show Footer – enable to show the footer, which displays totals in the bottom table row.
- Columns – use the following options to manage the table data sort order, and column visibility and position order.
- Visible – enable the checkboxes of the column captions you want to appear.
- Order – click to toggle the sort order of the column: off, ascending, or descending.
- Up – click to move the selected caption up one position in the list.
- Down – click to move the selected caption down one position in the list.
- Units
The units system (Millimeters/Mils/Inches) that applies to a Draftsman document is defined by the
Measurement Unit setting in the
Draftsman Document Options dialog (
Tools » Document Options). However, for individual objects such as Linear/Radial Dimensions, Drill/BOM Tables and the Layer Stack Legend, their default units may be preset here. These settings will override the document's base Units setting when a new object of that type is placed. In turn, the Units used by the placed object can be locally changed through the
Units option in the Draftsman
Properties panel.
- Show Unit Names – enable to show unit names, for example,
10.1mm
rather than just 10.1
.
- Dual Units – check to enable two measurements for each dimension, with one set to show the Units type setting and the other showing the Dual Units type setting.
- Primary Precision – use the drop-down to select the precision value from the list.
- Dual Precision – use the drop-down to select the dual precision value from the list.
- Data Filtering
- Pads / Vias – use the drop-down to select the desired items to filter: Pads, Vias, or All.
- Plated / Non-Plated – use the drop-down to select the desired items to filter: Plated, Non-Plated, or All.
Table
The Table page
- Title – sets a view's title name, its font/color and visibility settings. System or custom Parameters can be used in the title.
- Show Title – enable to show the title of the drill table.
- Title – enter the title name.
- Use Document Font – enable to force the placed view to adopt the font style defined in the global Draftsman Document Options dialog.
- Font – use to open the Font dialog to select the desired font. This option is available only when Use Document Font is not checked.
- Text Color – use the drop-down to select the color for text.
- Border
- Outer Line - use the first drop-down to select the line type of the outer line border; use the second drop-down to select the color.
- Inner Line - use the first drop-down to select the line type of the inner line border; use the second drop-down to select the color.
- Cell Properties - use to set the prooperties of the cells within a table.
- Column Width - enter the desired column width.
- Cell Background Color - use the drop-down to select the desired background color.
- Cell Padding Vertical - enter the desired vertical cell padding.
- Cell Padding Horizontal - enter the desired horizontal cell padding.
- Font - use to open the Font dialog to select the desired font. This option is available only when Use Document Font is not checked.
- Text Color - use the drop-down to select the color for text.
- Horizontal Alignment - select the desired alignment for text.