Is this possible ? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: snoopy
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 11, 2014, 05:48:02 am
content: Is it possible to select and copy a certain layer of a component without exploding it first ?I embed mechanical details in the parts on the mechanical layers so when I plonk down the components everything is in the right place. However I would like to copy the mechanical layer information only and create a new part based on this copy. In Protel 99SE I had to manually explode each component before it would let me copy the mechanical layer. Altium appears to work in the same way but perhaps there is some other trick to it. I know you can save dxf and dwg drawings but I need to create a component first so I can do a mechanical layout of all of the boards first.cheers

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 11, 2014, 03:32:17 pm
content: double click part. uncheck 'lock primitives'

author: snoopy
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 12, 2014, 04:32:35 am
content: Quote from: free_electron on December 11, 2014, 03:32:17 pmI think I tried that in 99 but you still can't 'select all on layer' to select the relevant layer. The only way was to explode component into free primitives and make sure you didn't accidentally save the board.EDIT. You can use 'Find Similar Objects' for all objects on a particular layer or layers and it seems to select the relevant items. But it still won't copy the select items to the clipboard. I also observed that whether or not primitives are locked you can still use 'Find Similar Objects' to select them but you can't copy the selected items to the clipboard unless they are free primitives.cheers

author: zeke
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 12, 2014, 08:44:04 am
content: Yes. I do this all the time in Altium.Isolate the layer you desire with Shift-S then clicking on the layer tab you want ie: Mech1.Select all objects on that layer using the mouse.Copy - CNTL-CSet the point of reference to the origin, for example.Click left mouse button to set the copy origin reference point.Then switch over to your new component editor window.Select the desired mech layer ie:Mech1Edit-->Paste special - Current layer optionLeft click to drop it down.Et Voila!Alternatively, you could copy the entire component into a new footprint editor window then rip off all the layers and details that you don't want. Just isolate the layer (Shift-S), pick the desired layer (shift-mousewheel), select the stuff on that layer you want to delete with a selection box, then delete it with the Delete button. Repeat this until you are satisfied.

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 12, 2014, 01:00:08 pm
content: Probably also works to, something like,PCB FilterInComponent('<designator>') AND OnLayer('Mechanical <n>')CTRL+CTim

author: snoopy
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 13, 2014, 12:13:18 am
content: Quote from: zeke on December 12, 2014, 08:44:04 amI couldn't get that to work but I did find another way.Select components of interestCopy to clipboard [Ctrl+C]Paste into PCB Lib Editor [Ctrl+V]Select AllSwitch to layer of interest and deselect all on layer and repeat for other layers that you want to keepClick Delete to delete the remaining selected stuff and you are left with the layers of interestcheers