hybridfree/eevblog-posts huggingface dataset:
Combining Buses, Sharing Buses - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: ptoth
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 28, 2020, 12:46:31 pm
content: Hello,I am currently working on a multi-sheet schematic which has a sheet symbol with an 11 bit bus entry. Another sheet symbol has three 8 bit bus entries.My question is, is it possible to connect the 11 bit bus entry composed out of on whole 8 bit bus and one 3 bit bus slice?I was trying to do something like in the attachment, but nothing works out.After this attempt, I was routing out the D Bus with one bus element and 11 bus entries but at one point of time I have to place two netlabels on one net which is also not going to work. Like in attachment 2.Any suggestions for this kind of problem?Thank you for your help in advanceregardsptoth

author: Pseudobyte
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2020, 07:10:29 pm
content: Oh hello again!I would recommend you combine the two buses into a harness.https://www.altium.com/documentation/altium-designer/sch-obj-signalharnesssignal-harness-ad

author: ajb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2020, 03:55:55 pm
content: Altium has pretty rudimentary bus functionality. Your second option could be made to work (nets with multiple names are a warning by default, but sometimes it makes sense to go that way and ignore or disable the warnings) but it's quite clunky.Harnesses are definitely more powerful and flexible, but may not be any more elegant in your situation. I would say that unless IOEX1 is used in multiple places I would have it bring out the actual size of bus you need from the sheet.

author: Relaxe
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2024, 06:23:55 pm
content: This works for me!When changing the name of the bus after the entry, it works and follows logic.Of course, do some test, validate and check out the PCB netlist.
SVNdblib to Offline Integrated Lib no go! - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: mengfei
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2024, 03:44:03 am
content: i have tried to split our svndblib & also create an offline integrated lib & Altium will just stall 4ever everytime!what could be the problem here? I am doing something wrong?thanks for any solution given. AD21.8.53just some info: Manually Placing PCB Footpritns & SCH Symbols from the database takes about a minute for each part to load even thought it is pointing to our local cache on our PC. Another problem that needs to be resolved.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 18, 2024, 06:41:02 pm
content: Don't know, but looks to me like the slow access for placing stuff is what's causing the conversion to appear to be stalled - it is no doubt just taking that long for each part in the library.I wonder if there is some network access involved. Could it be looking up something that isn't available and just sitting there for whatever the timeout is before giving up?

author: mengfei
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2024, 08:04:32 am
content: thanks for the input, I think so too, it seems like it's taking those footprints, although locally cached & it's on my local drive, one by one & simulating the placement process (which takes a minute for each footprint) then converting then to an integrated lib.we still couldn't figure out why some footprints would take like 5 secs while others (LED) would take around 45 seconds. Although this practice of manually placing parts on a specified size PCB is only for testing & not regularly used, the standard SCH > PCB is normal in it's action.

author: mengfei
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 02, 2024, 01:35:02 am
content: now the real problem starts!placing parts in SCH takes like a minute to place & checking their properties another minutehas anyone using SVNDBlib or even DBlib have this problem?footprints & components are cached locally while parametric data & other info are stored in a database in SC & all teams around the world are having the same problem
Changing from Kicad to Altium - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: eTobey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 25, 2024, 10:14:25 am
content: Hi,since Kicad gets really annoying and crashes at least once a day, im thinking about switching to another software.Is it possible to migrate the kicad files to altium?Has anyone done this?What are the problems when migrating if any?Is there the testversion of altium working without timelimit? Does it need to have a internet connection? Are the functions sufficient to design a proper PCB?Cheers,Toby

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 25, 2024, 10:54:34 pm
content: https://www.altium.com/documentation/altium-designer/kicad-importhttps://resources.altium.com/p/moving-altium-designer-kicad"testversion of altium without timelimit?"uhhh that would mean no one would have to license altium then. You can get the Summer 09 viewer with no time limit, but that has no editing functionality.If the only issue is crashing, any way to figure out what is causing it? Could be as simple as a graphics driver, RAM issue, etc.

author: berke
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 25, 2024, 11:23:29 pm
content: Note that some KiCAD versions are crashier than others. I'm still using KiCAD 6.0, crashes do happen but are rare.Sometimes it's corner cases in your design, see if it crashes on a specific project or with a specific symbol/footprint/plugin.Do not hesitate to file a bug report with the KiCAD team, I did it once and the bug was fixed within hours.Finally it could be bad RAM. I was wrongly blaming Teams for being a piece of crashing trash when in reality I had bad RAM on my laptop. Teams was just using excessive amounts of memory poking the bad bits.

author: cearlobe
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 29, 2024, 02:55:21 am
content: Quote from: thm_w on January 25, 2024, 10:54:34 pmIf it existed, "without time limit" doesn't mean "full version without time limit". There are other ways that trial versions of CAD software are crippled:some features not enabledlimits on PCB size or number of layersinability to generate outputsinability to save editsetc...
How to filter components based on 3D height in PCB filter - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: TGPCB
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 25, 2024, 04:07:26 pm
content: I am trying to select all components in my PCB if their height is over 1.25mm so that I can export a Parasolid with only those components in the model.I am using this filter, which does highlight all 3D components with heights over 1.25, but this is selecting the 3D bodies rather than components:((ModelZ > 1.25) or (OverallHeight > 1.25))How can I select components which meet these parameters rather than the 3D bodies?This could be an XY problem as all I need to do is export a parasolid with that includes all components over a certain height. At the moment I am only able to export the model with all components or none at all.

author: ajb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 25, 2024, 05:15:56 pm
content: I don't think ModelZ will do what you want -- that seems to return the Z position of the model's origin, aka its "Standoff Height", not its overall height (unless all of your step files have their origin at their very top, which would be weird).Altium queries in general do not make it easy to link a component to its primitives or select a component based on the properties of its primitives. A very crude way of getting what you want would be to create a component height rule for 1.25mm, run a design rule check for that rule only, and then use the "HasViolations" query filter.I'm not aware of a good way to filter which solid models get exported, do you have that working? I would love a way to easily filter most component bodies out of our 3D exports so they are less problematic in MCAD. In the past I've done that by creating an assembly variant that has all but the most mechanically important components DNIed, but that's a pain to deal with.
Altium 23 won't create split plane!? Help please! - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: thomasx
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2024, 10:42:50 pm
content: HiI am on Altium 23, a 4 layer stackup, signal-plane-plane-signal. All components laid out and time to get started defining split planes.I select layer 2 and draw the lines to create a split plane. But no split plane is generated. I have tried a lot and tried to figure out why not, but I can't manage. What am I missing?I tried both drawing a line from pullback to pullback and also to draw an isolated island in the middle of the layer, but everything to no avail.I noticed that when in 3D mode, the components are shown, but the pcb laminate itself is does not show up. Could that be related. Did I miss something in board planning mode. I mean, the pullbacks are three, right where they should be.Double clicking on a plane layer does nothing, either before or after I add a split line. It's like Altium doesn't recognize the layer as a plane. But it is set as a plane in the Layer Stack Manager.Anyone who can point me in the right direction here?Thanks!

author: thomasx
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2024, 12:26:14 am
content: I found the answer to my problem in this posthttps://electronics.stackexchange.com/a/636010/362436

author: ajb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2024, 06:28:57 pm
content: Plane layers are fairly limited and in most cases I think you're better off using a signal layer and placing polygons these days.

author: asmi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2024, 09:31:17 pm
content: Quote from: ajb on January 22, 2024, 06:28:57 pmThe only problem with this approach is Altium's SI simulator only considers planes as references, so if you want to run SI sims (and get at least somewhat sensible results), you will have to use planes.
Altium CircuitMaker Pro update - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: czorgormez
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 10, 2021, 09:09:04 pm
content: someone from element14 found a hidden playlist about new circuit pro, it seems interesting.https://www.element14.com/community/thread/77885/l/circuitmaker-pro-tutorials

author: Pseudobyte
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 11, 2021, 03:21:50 pm
content: The feature has been in AD for awhile now.

author: czorgormez
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 12, 2021, 02:57:57 am
content: the point is not the feature in the video, this is a new version of cost reduced altium called "circuit maker pro"

author: Pseudobyte
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 12, 2021, 02:14:55 pm
content: Probably just a replacement for CircuitStudio. If it doesn't have AD shortcuts like regular circuit maker, it isn't worth the money.

author: EE-digger
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 18, 2024, 11:12:55 pm
content: Old thread but for completeness ...CircuitStudio was supposed to become CircuitMaker Pro, not related to Circuitmaker. It was to be derived from the Altium Designer code base, sharing more with AD than CircuitStudio did.After 3 - 4 years and even beta testing, the effort appears to be dead (see the CircuitStudio board).
Multiple Symbols in one footprint - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: fayansrehberi
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 18, 2024, 01:47:29 pm
content: Guys, I have a question about multiple symbols in one footprint, I want to design schematic of XILINX Spartan-6 and its pin size is 144 pin. I want to divide FPGA to the banks as seen in attachment. When I divide the banks as part of FPGA, this time, when I validate the project to PCB, it creates 4 footprint on PCB. What I want is to create that symbols in schematic into one footprint on PCB. I am using Altium Designer. I didn't find the solution, how can I do it ?

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 18, 2024, 06:37:57 pm
content: You make it a multi-part schematic symbol (like, for instance, chips with two or more opamps). This Altium support page should walk you through it:https://www.altium.com/documentation/altium-designer/creating-schematic-symbol#!support_for_multiple_parts
Easy way of creating route toolpath with mousebites? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: vixo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2023, 02:05:07 pm
content: I panelise a lot of my designs, I create an outline from the board primitives and put mousebites at intervals along the board edge, then I rearrange the route tool path around the mousebites - this is time consuming and irritating - one of the annoying things is that when I resize the route tool path by copy/pasting sections and dragging the end of them it I often drag them out of alignment so it's not quite straight and then I spend time manually typing in the exact start and end points.is there a quicker way of doing this? or at very least a way of resizing sections of track so that they don't get dragged from their original axis?

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2024, 10:22:51 pm
content: You can try a third party tool:https://github.com/halfmarble/hm-panelizerhttps://github.com/ThisIsNotRocketScience/GerberToolsBut I would just let the PCB manufacturer do it for you if possible.

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2024, 11:50:05 pm
content: Create the mouse bite as component.Use embedded board/panelize function.It's time consuming to do right. If it would be easy everyone would be an engineer.

author: vixo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2024, 11:11:52 am
content: Quote from: tszaboo on January 02, 2024, 11:50:05 pmit's something that requires very little skill and could easily be automated, saving time for more skilled work.

author: ajb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 04, 2024, 09:43:02 pm
content: I think making the mousebite tab a component is the best you can do. You can then include that in the PCB file, which has the benefit of making it an explicit part of the PCB design (ie, making sure the tab or the breakout process doesn't cause problems), and then replicating it across all instances in a board array. Depending on how you want to panelize, you can include half of the tab on the board and then draw the other half as part of the panel (works best if you're tabbing from instance-to-instance), or draw the complete tab and the full outline of the routed areas as part of the board (works if you're only tabbing instance-to-panel). The latter may require a fair bit of copy-paste, but if you're careful with grid and snap settings it's not a big deal. I have a separate set of layers for board outline/routing vs panel outline/routing, so it's fairly easy to create fabrication outputs for a single board for prototypes and then for the panel via outjobs.
Preparing BOMs for multi-design panels - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: vixo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2024, 09:06:55 am
content: I made a panel containing 3 different designs, but I realised that I need a BOM for the whole panel because the part designators are re-used (for example R1 appears in all three designs). How should I do this? Making a multiboard project seems unnecessarily time consuming.

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2024, 09:16:16 am
content: This is usually not done. Unless the project is very simple, it is going to get panelized per design. So if changes are made in one design you are not required to make changes to everything.
Using EasyEDA library in Altium - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: lutkeveld
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2023, 09:49:11 pm
content: Does anyone know if there are ways, or ongoing efforts, to easily import EasyEDA library items into Altium?Now using the JLC PCBA service more often, I often use chinese parts which already have an EasyEDA library item.Manually copying it is quite tedious and error-prone.I have seen options to export complete designs, but that would be quite tedious still for single library items, if it even works at all.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2023, 09:59:12 pm
content: Can try export it from easyeda:https://docs.easyeda.com/en/Export/Export-Altium/index.html"EasyEDA does not support exporting the Symbol or Footprint in Altium Designer library format, but you can place the libraries with the schematic or PCB and export that in Altium Designer format, and then extract the libraries from Altium Designer."Might also be able to do it through kicad:https://github.com/uPesy/easyeda2kicad.py
Mystery green dot on schematic - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: dnparadice
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2024, 04:20:35 pm
content: Hello,I have a mystery green dot on my schematic. I can't click it, I cant drag select it, I cant find an object it is associated with. Can anyone identify this mystery dot (see image, arrow points to dot) and let me know what it is?Thanks-J

author: ajb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 04, 2024, 09:34:34 pm
content: Does it persist across opening/closing altium? Recompiling the project?If you can't get rid of it any other way, you might move all of the components to a new schematic file. Doing that via cut/paste will generally fuck up your component links, but there's a way to avoid that. Edit » Refactor » Move Selected Subcircuit to Different Sheet:https://www.altium.com/documentation/altium-designer/design-refactoring#!moving-selected-sub-circuitry-to-a-different-sheet

author: dnparadice
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 05, 2024, 12:12:40 am
content: QuoteYes to both. I will try a new schematic, thanks for the tip.-J

author: mengfei
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2024, 03:40:08 am
content: if you select ALL can it be moved?

author: dnparadice
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2024, 02:29:13 pm
content: Quote from: mengfei on January 12, 2024, 03:40:08 amNo I cant find a way to select it. I resigned myself to ignoring it.

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2024, 02:34:29 pm
content: Update video card drivers. Get an nVidia card if you don't have one. That's what I see visual bugs with most of the time.

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2024, 06:19:45 am
content: Try deleting objects until it goes away, narrow it down until you find the culprit. If still there, try saving the template separately, edit that and see if it's in that way.There are also ways to select things with queries that can't be selected by double/clicking.Tim

author: voltsandjolts
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 08, 2024, 08:03:50 am
content: Welcome to Altium.Place something over it to hide it

author: Pseudobyte
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2024, 12:30:38 pm
content: You can try selecting each item in the SCH List panel and see if it is in there. It almost looks like the "Show Graph" functionality that is available in the Navigator panel.

author: doklevise
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 19, 2024, 10:44:48 pm
content: Have you tried Shift+c ?

author: mengfei
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2024, 02:00:27 am
content: open a new blank SCH Template copy your design & paste it- if the green dot follows it could be attached to one of the components- if that happens, try copying by sections until you narrow it downi'm slightly OCpd
DXF export problem - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: poorchava
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 29, 2013, 12:31:58 am
content: What I'm trying to accomplish: export pcb outline and hole pattern to dxf. Holes are supposed to be circles of adequate diameter (as opposed to crossed, dots and the like). Would be nice if I could do whole panel like that. I want to use that DXF as an input to CamBam 0.9.8, which i typically use to setup my cnc mill and generate g-code.Problem 1:Altium seems to omit vias, which are part of footprints (eg. thermal pads). I have found that even when I export ALL layers to dxf, all parts of the component are exported correctly, but not thermal vias. If i use 'explode to primitives' vias seem to appear, but then i get a ton of drc errors for shorts, clearances and the like. Is this a known bug or maybe I'm doing something wrong? Checking 'export components as primitives' in the dialog for dxf/dwg options doesn't seem to do that.Problem2:My design is panelized as a 3x3 array (using embedded board array function, in separate .pcbdoc file). How do i export to dxf WITH internal features of single PCB? I don't seem to be able to export anything that is a part of the base pcb. Altium seems to just not see it.Excellon drill/mill files are no good with Mach3/CamBam combination because they contain esotheric gcodes like G05 and also don't contain feedrate or z-axis informations.When using Diptrace, this export is totally trivial, but here I can't seem to get a proper simple dxf....One note: I'm not doing isolation routing, only drilling holes and milling the outline.

author: AntCh
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 19, 2023, 01:52:53 pm
content: Hi! Have you solved issues with dxf/dwg export from embedded board array in Altium since then? I have encountered the same problem.
Renesas buys Altium - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: jmarkwolf
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2024, 07:26:55 pm
content: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-02-14/japan-s-renesas-to-buy-software-firm-altium-for-6-billion

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2024, 07:38:15 pm
content: There are multiple active topics on this already. Literally the second topic (would have been the first at a time of posting) in this sub-forum is about that.

author: Doctorandus_P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 20, 2024, 05:33:01 am
content: I.E. This one:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/altium/japan-chipmaker-renesas-to-buy-software-company-altium-for-$5-9-billion/
Auto spacing tracks after routing - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: ricko_uk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2023, 04:42:38 pm
content: Hi,is there a way to space traces evenly after routing manually a PCB?I tried glossing but it kind of does it but it does not have any settings and it often pushes traces very close to each other when there is no need to.Thank you

author: cearlobe
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: November 16, 2023, 03:46:20 am
content: I'm fairly certain Altium has no spreading tool.The best I can think of would be to have two clearance rules - one for "minimums" and one for "preferred" - and selectively enable and disable them depending on the task at hand.Alternatively get creative with rules based on rooms, net classes, etc.

author: ricko_uk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 20, 2023, 07:07:25 pm
content: Thank you @cearlobe
update from library component that is of "Graphical" type - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: majlo
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: November 18, 2023, 02:00:44 pm
content: Hello all, this is my first post in this forum.I have the following problem.I created a component in my schlib that is of the type "Graphical" as explained here:https://www.altium.com/documentation/altium-designer/sch-dlg-schcomponentpropertiesformproperties-for-schematic-component-ad?version=17.0I do not want this component to show up in my PCB nor BOM, hence why i choose "Graphical".I want to update the instances of this component that are in my schematics of my project, however when i go for "update from libraries" it does not work as it would for non "Graphical" components.Any ideas?I am using AD22.
Is Circuit Maker different to Altium at all? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Faringdon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2023, 01:44:04 pm
content: HiIs Circuit Maker different to Altium at all?Or is it just a cut down copy of it?I understand its free.?If i want to find out how to use it, would i use standard Altium tutorial videos.?

author: jc101
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2023, 01:49:36 pm
content: Suspect it's very different, like Circuit Studio is. You do know this requires an internet connection to work, plus the following may be important to you...Quote

author: matrixofdynamism
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2023, 05:50:12 pm
content: Please also look into KiCAD. It might be better (free) option than circuitmaker. I had assumed that circuit maker would be similar to Altium itself but its not.

author: Jackster
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 29, 2023, 08:46:31 pm
content: CM and Altium are quite far apart but you can jump from one to another without much of a learning curve.If you are new to ECAD, it is a great bit of software.The recent 2.0 update has made it even closer to Altium but without all the bells and whistles.A lot of people will suggest KiCAD over it but it really depends on what your needs are.CM is so much more user-friendly than KiCAD full stop.

author: voltsandjolts
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 04, 2023, 09:13:12 am
content: Quote from: Faringdon on May 07, 2023, 01:38:35 pm
PCB trace 4G LTE Antenna - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Batang
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2023, 02:33:32 am
content: Hi Guys,Does anyone know of a library in Altium format for premade 4G LTE PCB Trace antenna?Thanks

author: czorgormez
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 25, 2023, 12:39:30 pm
content: this antenna needs to be specially designed according with the pcb material. antennas are affected by the pcb dielectric, surrounding objects and cavities and outer box even it is plastic.This type of ready-made antennas are used in low power transmitters such as wifi, bluetooth and ism. but this is not a good idea in a transmitter that generates around 2w power such as 4.5g-gsmAt the same time, 4.5 is not on a single frequency like wifi/BT/ISM. it contains many different bands, so it may not be easy to design, test and realise such an antenna.

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 25, 2023, 01:14:21 pm
content: 4G goes from 450Mhz and goes to 3.8GHz or so, and depending on which bands you support, should provide good return loss at 30+ different frequencies. I find it difficult alone to find the best matching circuit an off the shelf antenna for such a large frequency range, and outsource it. It's incredibly difficult to design an antenna like that.
Annoying "expired license" message for perpetual license - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: szlovak
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2023, 07:00:01 am
content: HiIs there a way to turn this off? I have 23.8.1 version and my updates are just over.

author: myworkaccount
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 18, 2023, 07:54:16 pm
content: This will not get rid of it entirely, but should make it substantially less noxious:Preferences -> Advanced (bottom right) -> Uncheck "System.LicenseManagement2023"

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2023, 12:22:21 am
content: Blocking inbound/outbound connections for altium.exe in windows firewall can also be used where necessary.

author: ajawamnet
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 20, 2023, 09:10:25 pm
content: Is that a standalone license? I shut off all the networking options in Pref > System > Networking except for Built in Browser and Crash Reports.
Layer appears negative when gerbers are generated - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Mark
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2023, 01:56:27 pm
content: I converted a design from PADS to Altium and generated the gerbers from the (modified) Altium design.I imported the PADS gerbers and Altium gerbers into CAMtastic files for comparison.It looks like one of the internal layers is now a negative:(old PADS vs new Altium)I've never seen this before, is it a problem with settings or will the PCB fabricator know it is negative? (Yes, I did ask them, but no response to the question, just a quote).thanks.Edited to add: This is the only layer that shows up as a "plane". Normally I would just use a poly pour but this is the way it imported.

author: ajb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2023, 02:41:27 pm
content: That's just how Altium exports plane layers. Your only options AFAIK, are to leave the gerber negative and let your fabricator know, or to replace the plane layer with a signal layer and place a polygon. Since plane layers are pretty straightforward, it should be fairly low risk to do the latter, as long as there aren't any complicated clearance/connection rules or voided areas.
Select Revision State is not yet Released - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: miller196
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 13, 2023, 06:24:38 pm
content: Class Document Source Message Time Date No.[Fatal Error] 539 (CMP-001-00087-1) Component Validator Cannot link to model: PCC-004-000001-1. The select revision is not yet released. 2:19:16 PM 10/13/2023 1Class Document Source Message Time Date No. PCB - CAPACITOR - MLCC - CAP 0_2 RADIAL DISC (PCC-004-000001-1) Component Validator PCB - CAPACITOR - MLCC - CAP 0_2 RADIAL DISC (PCC-004-000001-1) revision is in inapplicable state 2:19:16 PM 10/13/2023 3I know this is a simple fix, but I've recently gained control over a library with the task of updating the component parameters. In doing so I've been coming across the error, "Select Revision State is not yet Released". I feel like Altium can be such a never ending black hole when trying to find any form of specific information. So upon stumbling into this forum I hope someone whose much more informed than I am can lend me some assistance. I greatly appreciate any assistance!Just a couple more details this error originated from when I attempted to simply apply an updated parameter to a component. This happens when I do both a batch edit and a single component edit as well.

author: ANTALIFE
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 16, 2023, 12:00:14 am
content: Sounds like you are working with a managed/workspace component library? If so, have you checked that revision 1 of PCC-004-000001 actually exits?

author: miller196
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 17, 2023, 04:28:07 pm
content: Huh, it seems that it didn't exist. Thanks for your help.
Linking 2 PCBs' 64 pin connectors and Length matched lines - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: samihawasli
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 06, 2023, 02:43:33 pm
content: Hello,I am working on a project that has experienced some serious mission creep and went from a 1 off research project to me having to design a full 3U chassis. The picture (possibly above) shows a cartoon of what I am trying to do. I've got a back plane which has a number of vertical 64 pin connectors where varying transceiver boards will be plugged in. On the bottom is what I'm calling a Reference clock card. As the name suggests this daughter board will be generating and distributing a reference clock through the system. Phase coherence is quite important, so i need to phase match the reference lines from the Reference card to the various 64 pin connectors in the black plane. The one caveat is, I dont have much real estate on the backplane, so I want to do all my "wiggle wiggle wiggle yeaaaaaah" on the Reference card rather than the backplane. Fun little bonus, those clock lines are differential.Up till now i've been using pencil and paper (more like excel) to keep track of all my line lengths and pinouts between the various daughter/mother board connections, and making individual PCB rules in 2 different PCB project files. But its starting to get out of hand, fast! There has to be a good method in altium of either linking two project files together, or having 1 project with 2 PCBs. TBH, i'm not really worried about the 64 pin pinouts being link. That pinout is fixed across all boards. But linking the line lengths of reference lines on the backplane and reference card into 1 PCB rule is the ultimate goal.Happy to provide more context,Thanks in advance,SamiPS: What did I do wrong with posting the picture?

author: ajawamnet
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2023, 02:41:05 pm
content: If you update to Pro or have a grandfathered license, you can use Multiboard projects for something like this. Also - maybe look at using a rigid-flex-rigid design and get rid of the connectors...Also - I just did a GigE switch like that thing using ribbons... seems to work. Flood pinged the system using Pingplotter on all channels simultaneously with zero packet loss... the ribbons and connectors were rated to 6GHz...
Help with broken option to mirror gerber - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: dmendesf
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 24, 2023, 04:33:01 pm
content: I´m stuck with altium 23.0.6 (stopped paying for it). I think from 22 to 23 the gerber generation panel was all changed. Nothing new was added that I could notice but a very nasty bug:The option to mirror the gerber is missing from the bar (seems it´s hidden at right but I can´t move it). Can someone with a newer Altium version generate two Outjob files, one with a layer mirrowed, so I can open it with a text editor and track how to mirror a layer by hand?

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 25, 2023, 08:56:27 pm
content: Your license should always let you install an earlier version of Altium as well.I guess its in here:QuoteThen you'll need to add the layer eg "TopLayer" or something like that.

author: dmendesf
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 25, 2023, 10:54:19 pm
content: Quote from: thm_w on September 25, 2023, 08:56:27 pmGot this idea after some time. Thank you!
room questions - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Sniper1
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2023, 08:39:04 am
content: So i am sort of new to rooms and i have 2 problems/questions:1 is it possible to center a component in a room as in make the room origin the center of a component ?2 i know you can align rooms but what about makeing some of them rotated by 180 deg?

author: Pseudobyte
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2023, 12:47:47 pm
content: I would draw the room on a grid and then place the component on the center of that grid.When you copy the room format, it will account for rotation if the room dragged/rotated.
Altium Designer Keepout Region for Defined Polygon Nets - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: electronx
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2023, 06:08:14 am
content: I want to create a keepout zone for ethernet transformer sub in altium, but only the polygon pour of gnd will be blocked in this zone. I want to allow other polygon pours made in this other zone, how can I do that? i.e. how can I define a custom keepout for gnd?

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 07, 2023, 10:31:15 pm
content: If you want to define the area with another polygon, you can pour that and set its priority higher than Gnd in the polygon manager.https://www.altium.com/documentation/altium-designer/pcb-dlg-polygonmanagerformpolygon-pour-manager-ad?version=22Otherwise, may be able to draw some region and have a DRC rule for InNet GND, IsPoly, etc. not sure on the specific step though. Keepout wouldn't work.
License Managment 23.8.1 - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Pseudobyte
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2023, 09:34:37 pm
content: Anyone else having issues with the new license management interface?

author: Fire Doger
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2023, 05:34:41 am
content: Preferences -> Advanced (bottom right) -> Uncheck "System.LicenseManagement2023"
AD18 Pin Properties -- Can't find "connect to" - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: sonicsmooth
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 01, 2018, 05:18:36 pm
content: Before AD18 when I hid a pin, either in library editor or in the schematic, there was an obvious place to write the net it connects to.Now in AD18 I can hide the pin via a checkbox in the Component Pin Editor, but there is no place to specify the net this pin connects to.Obviously before I hide the pin (typically power and grounds for dumb logic devices) I need to make sure it's connecting to something.So how do I do this in AD18?I've searched many days and can't find anything.Documentation doesn't say anything about connect to:https://www.altium.com/documentation/18.0/display/ADES/Sch_Dlg-SchComponentPinsPropertiesForm((Component+Pin+Editor))_ADHowever AD17 documentation does cover the topic (even if the link indicates AD18)https://www.altium.com/documentation/18.0/display/ADES/Sch_Dlg-PinPropertiesDialog((Pin+Properties))_AD

author: voltsandjolts
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 01, 2018, 08:45:43 pm
content: Easy answer: Don't hide pinsThink of the poor techs who might have to fault find your boards..../rant. And sorry, I don't have an answer for you. I'll get my coat on the way out.

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 01, 2018, 09:13:30 pm
content: I wonder if they infer connectivity from other Parts if the pins are common (belongs to Part 0)?I like to hide redundant pins (like power pins on multipart components; note that this serves to improve clarity to the tech), but I haven't updated to '18 yet so I don't have an answer...Tim

author: D3f1ant
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 03, 2018, 08:04:13 am
content: It's still there, requires a few more clicks. From component properties panel, click the Pins tab. Click the little pencil icon near the bottom. That brings up Component Pin Editor, from there you can edit individual pin and assign 'connect to' for hidden pins.Also, from memory, if you unlock pins you can double click a pin on the schematic and it opens the same edit pin panel.

author: vlago
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: November 08, 2018, 03:00:26 pm
content: Hello D3f1ant,In the component Pin editor, I cannot find the 'connect to' field anywhere.I'm using Altium version 18.1.9. Is it perhaps hidden somehow and needs to be enabled from the preferences?Peter

author: Nucleo
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 04, 2023, 09:23:13 am
content: Quote from: vlago on November 08, 2018, 03:00:26 pmFind theSCH Listpanel followingView->Panels.In theSCH List,Show Hidden Pinsis the same asconnect to.
netlist generation - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Lyndsay_Doyle
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2023, 10:50:52 am
content: Hi all,I have searched the forum about this and found something similar from 2013.I also went to Altium help and followed what they said.I want to be able to see a net for the guys in my test department.Altium suggests generating a "NET Status Report"OK I did that.Then you can click on the net and it highlights.No it doesnt.It just sends my cursor to a random area on the screen, off the PCB.I would have expected a text file to say exactly where a net goes, in this instance +12VYes the blokes have a schematic, but they are tracing this on a big board, with lots of sheets in the design.Having a netlist will greatly help them fault find.All help greatfully recieved.

author: Pseudobyte
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2023, 11:30:25 pm
content: Use the PCB panel, if you pay for maintenance you can always give view access to a A365 workspace which provides the same sort of interface where you can select the net and it highlights.
Preventing Altium ECO from deleting things - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Mark
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2023, 01:50:02 pm
content: I'm slightly embarrassed to even ask this as I'm sure there is a simple solution.There are often a number of items in the SCH (such as Z1, Z2, Z3, screws, nuts, washers and other HW items) that are added to the SCH because they will then show up in the BOM.There are some items in the PCB only with designators such as mounting holes (X1, X2, X3 etc).When going from SCH to PCB, the ECO wants to add the Z1, Z2 etc hardware to the PCB and remove the X1 X2 etc mounting holes.Is there a way to prevent this by changing a parameter for Z? X? components or by locking them?

author: ajb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2023, 02:36:08 pm
content: In the schematic symbol, you can define the component type:Quotefromhttps://www.altium.com/documentation/altium-designer/schematic-part-properties?version=19.0#!general-tabThat will solve a lot of problems like this. You can also adjust comparator settings (Project > Project Options > Comparator tab) to cause Altium to ignore specific differences between the sch and pcb, but that's an extremely blunt instrument. It would be an option if the design is finished as far as adding/removing components and you can't edit the types of the parts that are already in the design, though.
Highlighting Differential Pairs in Altium - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: electronx
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2023, 11:48:49 am
content: The PCB was designed, the gerbers were extracted in rs274x format. But it doesn't include the rs274-x2 version (so doesn't include differential pair impedance information). What can I do to highlight the differential pairs in Altium as below to show the manufacturer that some traces contain differential pairs?

author: cearlobe
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 16, 2023, 01:32:31 pm
content: Assign colours and generate plot using Net Classes and Differential Pair Classes maybe?Normally diff pairs can be identified / selected in Gerber plots because their tracks will have (or can be made to have) unique widths, for instance use 0.145mm rather than 0.15mm.
Preserving unused via pads on plane layers - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: edddd
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 11, 2023, 08:31:29 pm
content: How do I preserve unused via pads on plane layers? The remove / restore unused pad shapes function appears only to affect signal layers (not plane layers). I'm using Altium Designer 23.2.1.

author: Doctorandus_P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2023, 11:37:58 pm
content: The industry term for these is "NFP" which is: Non-Functional Pad. I did some reading about this just yesterday and there does not seem to be much reason to ever keep them on the PCB, while removing has quite noticeable advantages.So to turn the question around, why do you want to keep them?

author: langwadt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2023, 11:43:09 pm
content: Quote from: Doctorandus_P on August 11, 2023, 11:37:58 pmafaiu some pcb manufacturers will even remove them by default, so they only thing you get from keeping them is bigger holes in the planes and less space for routing

author: edddd
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 12, 2023, 01:52:47 am
content: In general, I totally agree with you. Unused pads are just a waste of space.In this case, it's a 10 layer board with blind vias (L1-L5 and L6-L10), where L5 and L6 (in addition to L2 and L9) are plane layers (power and ground). The PCB house complained about missing via pads on L5 and L6. Apparently, they would like pads on start / end layers for the blind vias.
How to disable or avoid "Un-Routed Net constraint" checking for some pins - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: msimunic
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 12, 2023, 07:15:04 am
content: Hi all,I have a connector onto which another device should be plugged and that device will give few different power rails. Same rails (same net labels) are present on pins on both sides of connector.Some of those rails I don't need in my design, thus I'm don't want to make connections, but I do want to have net labels in schematics (for a documentation).In PCB layout, because of multiple pins with same net label are not connected, DRC is giving "Un-Routed Net constraint" error for all of these pins.Is there a way to avoid check for Un-Routed Net constraint on some pins/nets? - Just to have clear and error-free DRC report.Small digression:Yes, I can remove net labels and place text labels for documentation. I would prefer to have net labels.Creating a blanket and putting those nets in a Net Class, then changing DRC Rules for that Net Class didn't help to stop DRC check.Maybe I've made a mistake about Rule conditions, but I didn't find it.I guess, everyone run into this kind of question sometimes.It looks to me like a good candidate subject for Zachariah Peters on Altium Academy.

author: asmi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2023, 02:36:43 pm
content: I typically deal with that by creating a custom symbol for that connector, which would include net names as pin names. This symbol would reuse the same footprint as the "generic" symbol for that connector, so pin designators are the same, but pin names are different. For example, I've attached a version of a 10 pin tag-connect symbol which is specialized as a Xilinx programming connector.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2023, 09:15:13 pm
content: You could unlock primitives -> edit jumper IDs for those pins you know are joined -> lock primitiveshttps://www.altium.com/documentation/altium-designer/pads-vias#!jumper-connections

author: c64
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 15, 2023, 01:03:44 am
content: I remember I had similar issue. Trick with jumper IDs didn't work for some reason.I ended up adding dummy copper layer with dummy traces connecting required pins. When hide this layer and exclude it from gerbers
How to narrow down search in SVNDBLIB? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: mengfei
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2023, 02:56:38 am
content: is there a way to narrow down the search in SVNDBLIB? I can only search for one line & no separator can work.say searching for a 75ohm 0402 5% Yageo type, i can only place 75ohm in the search bar, is there a way to filter a search? thanks

author: ajb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2023, 03:10:31 am
content: Not as far as I know, but you can select columns for hierarchical grouping which may help:https://youtu.be/7id84tbtCPQI’ve set up my dblib to take advantage of this, with a set of hierarchical category columns used for grouping. So for example I can select resistors > 0402 and then search for ‘75R’ (or more likely, just sort by value and scroll through the list). Works well enough.

author: mengfei
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2023, 05:43:21 am
content: OK, thanks.I'll look into that
How to Use Chat GPT for Altium Scripting - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: mengfei
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2023, 02:42:59 am
content: we're doneEngineer Ari Mahpour shows you how to write DelphiScripting for Altium using ChatGPT. He walks you through both how to generate this script from scratch with the assistance of ChatGPT, as well as how to modify existing scripts using the tool.