Configuring PCB String Object Properties in Altium Designer

Parent page: String

PCB Editor 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 String object properties, or those that can logically be pre-defined, are available as editable default settings on the PCB Editor - Defaults page of the Preferences dialog (accessed from the  button at the top-right of the design space). Select the object in the Primitive List to reveal its options on the right.

• Post-placement settings – all String object properties are available for editing in the Text dialog and the Properties panel when a placed String is selected in the design space.

Location (Properties panel only) 

The   icon to the right of this region must be displayed as   (unlocked) in order to access the below fields. Toggle the lock/unlock icon to change its lock status.

• (X/Y)
  • X (first field) - the current X (horizontal) coordinate of the reference point of the string, relative to the current design space origin. Edit to change the X position of the string. The value can be entered in either metric or imperial; include the units when entering a value whose units are not the current default.
  • Y (second field) - The current Y (vertical) coordinate of the reference point of the string, relative to the current origin. Edit to change the Y position of the string. The value can be entered in either metric or imperial; include the units when entering a value whose units are not the current default.
• Rotation - specify the rotation of the String. The minimum angular resolution is 0.001 degrees.

Properties

• Text - enter the desired text. Click  to access a drop-down from which you can select the type of special string(s) to add if desired. Refer to the String object page for a list of special strings and descriptions of each.

  Use Shift+Enter to add a new line.
• Layer - use the drop-down to select the desired layer. Enable Mirror if desired.
• Text Height - specify the height of the string.

Font Type

• TrueType - select to use fonts available on your PC (in the \Windows\Fonts folder). TrueType fonts offer full Unicode support. By default, the software links to a used TrueType font (they are not stored in the PCB file), which means the same font must be present on each PC to which the design is moved. Alternatively, embed used TrueType fonts in the PCB file using the options in the PCB Editor - True Type Fonts page of the Preferences dialog, where you can also select a Substitution Font to be used if a non-embedded Font is not available.
  • Justification - use these controls to set the horizontal and vertical alignment of the text.
  • Font - use the drop-down to select the desired TrueType font. Use the B (bold) and/or I (italic) options to add emphasis to the text as required.
  • Inverted - enable to have the text displayed as inverted with control over the size of the border around the text (using the associated Width and Height fields that become available).
• Stroke
  • Justification - use these controls to set the horizontal and vertical alignment of the text.
  • Font - use the drop-down to select the desired Stroke font. Choices are:
    • Default - a simple vector font designed for pen plotting and vector photo plotting.
    • Sans Serif - a complex font that will slow down vector output generation, such as Gerber.
    • Serif - a complex font that will slow down vector output generation, such as Gerber.
  • Stroke Width - displays the width of the stroke.
• BarCode - used to tag and identify PCBs, streamlining inventory tracking, for example, through the use of automated scan machines.
  • Type - select one of the following bar code types:
    • Code 39 - the US Department of Defense standard; often referred to as Code 3 of 9. It is also used in the automotive industry.
    • Code 128 - the global trade identification standard; supports any of the ASCII 128 character set (all digits, character, and punctuation marks).
  • Render Mode - choose a render mode for barcode display: Min Single Bar Width or Full BarCode Width.
    • Full Width - specify the overall width of the bar code. This option is not available if Min Single Bar Width is selected.
    • Full Height - specify the overall height of the bar code.
    • Min Width - specify the minimum width of the bar code. This field is not available if Full BarCode Width is selected.
    • Horizontal Margin - this field defines the size of the margin on the left and right edges.
    • Vertical Margin - this field defines the size of the margin on the top and bottom edges.
    • Font Name - use the drop-down to select the font.
      • Show Text - enable to display the actual text string from which the barcode is derived (i.e. the string entered in the Text field).
      • Inverted - when enabled, the bars are inverted and a border is added on all four sides.
• Border Mode
  • Margin - click this button to enable the editing of the Margin Border option.
    • Text Offset - the amount the designator is offset back from the edge/corner that it is justified against. This option has no effect when the Center justification mode is chosen. This option is not available for Margin.
  • Offset - click this button to enable the editing of the Text Offset option.
    • Margin Border - use to specify the size of the margin border surrounding the designator. This option is not available for Offset.