Configuring Draftsman Component View Object Properties in Altium Designer

Parent page: Component View

Draftsman object properties are definable options that specify the visual style, content and behavior of the placed object. The property settings for each type of object are defined in two different ways:

• Pre-placement settings – most Component View object properties, or those that can logically be pre-defined, are available as editable default settings on the Draftsman - Defaults page of the Preferences dialog (access from the  button at the top-right of the workspace). Select the object in the Primitive List to reveal its options on the right.
• Post-placement settings – all Component View object properties are available for editing in the Properties panel when a placed Component View is selected in the workspace.

The Component View default settings in the Preferences dialog and the Component View mode of the Properties panel

Scale

• Scale – use the drop-down to choose from a range of preset scale ratios (magnification). This option is not available if the Use Custom Scale option is checked.
• Use Custom Scale – select this option to enter a specific scale in its associated field. The scaling of the drawing object is relative to 1, where 0.9 would represent a scale of 90%.

Title

• Title – the title name string that will be displayed (if enabled) with the Component View object – use the associated button to toggle its visibility. Enter the title name and any desired system/custom parameters to create a meaningful name for the placed view. See the Parameters section in the panel's Document Options mode for a list of the currently available parameters.
• Location – use the drop-down to choose from a range of relative locations for the title. The Manual option is automatically selected if the title is manually moved (dragged and dropped to a new location).
• Font – sets the displayed font used for the view's title string.
  • Use Document Font checkbox selected – the title font used is that defined by the document options. See the Document Font entry in General section of the Properties panel when in Document Options mode.
  • Use Document Font not selected – use the drop-down menus to choose the desired font type and size and select the lower buttons to enable text attributes. The associated color button () opens the color selector where the font color can be specified by RGB or HEX value, by freeform selection, or from a range of presets. Note that the slider control sets the color Opacity level where 0% represents full transparency.

Style

• Border Line – the thickness and style of the Component View's border/outline. Use the line weight drop down menu to choose from a range of line thickness presets, and the line pattern menu to choose from a range of line styles. The associated color button () opens the line color selector dialog, as outlined for Font above.
• Component Line – the line thickness and style used to render the component geometry in the Component View. Use the line weight drop down menu to choose from a range of line thickness presets, and the line pattern menu to choose from a range of line styles. The associated color button () opens the line color selector dialog, as outlined above.
• Distance To Board Edge - specifies the distance from the component view to the edge of the board.

Properties

• Component (Properties panel only)– the board design component that will be rendered in the Component View. Use the drop down menu to select from the list of all available component designators.
• View Side – the direction of view used to render the component drawing. Use the drop down menu to select from a range of preset view directions.

Show Pads

• SMD and Through-Hole checkboxes – check these options for their respective pads shapes to be rendered in the Component View. Select their associated color button to specify the pad display color.