hybridfree/eevblog-posts huggingface dataset:
3D STEP bodies showing as rectangle blocks in PCB document - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: kian0079
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2022, 12:38:34 pm
content: Hi all,I am having a strange problem. My components all have embedded 3D STEP bodies. However, when I view my PCB file, all the components shows up as rectangle block instead. I am using Altium V21. Can one help and tell me what is wrong? Thanks in advance.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2022, 09:26:38 pm
content: https://www.altium.com/documentation/knowledge-base/altium-designer/3d-bodies-missing-from-pcb-3d-view

author: kian0079
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2022, 12:37:59 am
content: Thank you for the reply. But my setting are correct. The 3D bodies are showing, but they are not showing up a the correct 3D model that comes with the component. Everything just appears a rectangle block. It seems like Altium did an extrude instead of using the STEP files from the component.How can I fix that?

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2022, 03:38:17 am
content: did you open the file with an older version ? this is a knwon issue in 19 and 20. opening a v21 version with v20 or earlier can corrupt the 3d models. reload from library

author: AlfBaz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2022, 03:55:11 am
content: Try having a look around in the view tab on the side and disable viewing simple bodies or something along those lines.This has happend to me where some auto generated body covers up your step model
Altium 3d Render issue - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Bruno_PT
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 01, 2022, 09:02:15 pm
content: Barckground:So i have been working on a oldschool processor project, building it out of 74F logic, as a hobby/ learning experience and i have ran into something,the processor is so large that i will need something like 30+ 100x100mm boards though many are multiples of the same design, and to save on cost i have been making 100x100 motherboards that connect to each other and to 6-8 "logic" boards.Issue:While i only worked with a single motherboard and multiple daughter boards, everything was fine but recently as i moved along i started to add more motherboards now some groups render incorrectly.I have 2(+1) layers of multiboard projects, first layer handles the connections between one motherboard and its daughter-boards, and the final layer has the various motherboards connecting to each other.altium is running on VMware, but i never had any such issues before, and it only affects the multiboard 3d view that has all motherboards, them individually work finehere is the view configuration for the memory motherboard (top left of the last image)Now the actual issue, as it can be seen the last 2 motherboards to be added, the top left and top right boards dont render right

author: ANTALIFE
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 02, 2022, 02:19:14 am
content: Oh wow, a multi-board project within a multi-board project within a multi-board project! I have only played around with a single multi-board project, and the only issue I had was project variants not coming through the system level BOMTo see if this is a VMware related issue, do you mind sharing the project so I can open it in AD22?

author: Bruno_PT
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 02, 2022, 03:22:39 pm
content: Quote from: ANTALIFE on September 02, 2022, 02:19:14 amhttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1CDjK9HC_B373rn2KWpmfYkpyPEt2zuKj/view?usp=sharingfiles are large so this is just the mainmultiboard file, if you need the rest to properly check i will upload the rest, thanks for your help btw

author: ANTALIFE
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2022, 12:49:37 am
content: Quote from: Bruno_PT on September 02, 2022, 03:22:39 pmNo worries, looks like I am getting the same rendering issue in AD 22.8.2 on Windows 10 (21H2). As a last thing I would try syncing all PCBAs, but if that does not help then looks like you have to contact Altium support
Best way to draw "via in pad plated over" VIPPO in Altium? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: rf-fil
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2022, 03:32:13 am
content: Damn these little BGA's, lol.VIPPO is where there is a BGA pad on the surface of the PCB, but then there is a filled-in via underneath that runs through the PCB. It's the only way to fan out small BGAs - not enough room for a dog-bone pattern. But, there doesn't seem to be obvious way to combine a pad and a via in Altium to produce a VIPPO. The 3D render and Gerbers show a hole if I just put a via over a pad. Another way - a multi-layer pad with a through hole also doesn't have an option to plate over the top.Any tips? This seems to be pretty common but a first, for me.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2022, 03:51:56 am
content: Just FYI for later, if using pcbway for your PCB, their website is a little confusing on this.The website option you want is called "Via in pad/ Via filled with resin"It includes capping/plating over top with copper, but that isn't obvious unless you click the ?The option "Via filled with copper" is NOT what you want, that's only for microvias on HDI boards. Not via in pad.

author: JohnG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2022, 01:02:20 pm
content: Unfortunately, I don't think Altium allows specification of filled and plated vias, though they should given what the software costs.FWIW, what you are asking for is an IPC Type VII via, as it is described in the IPC-4761 Standard.As far as spec'ing them, I use the method described by evb149:Quote from: evb149 on August 21, 2022, 03:42:50 amJohn

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2022, 01:45:13 pm
content: you can set the via type to 4761 VII in the properties dialog

author: JohnG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2022, 05:27:20 pm
content: I do not appear to have this option. I'm using Altium 19 at the moment. Is this a new feature?John

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2022, 09:26:36 pm
content: you are a couple of versions behind... need 21

author: rf-fil
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2022, 12:46:16 am
content: Thanks, setting the via type to 4761 VII sort of works (I switched to v22). It adds "capping" and "filling" layers which then get exported in the gerbers, for the PCB fab. The only thing that doesn't work for me is that these vias still render as through-hole in the 3D mode. A half-done feature is still better than none - keen for Altium to finish this though.
Why is Altium viewer so slow? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Faringdon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 19, 2022, 06:36:33 pm
content: Hi,Why is altium viewer so slow when clicking layers on and off in "view configuration".Can we improve it?I have windows 10 and 8MB RAM.Its the latest version of Altium viewer

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 19, 2022, 06:42:39 pm
content: I guess you mean 8GB. That is probably just enough to run the OS. You should upgrade to 16GB. I have 32GB but it is a bit of overkill for Altium alone.Edit: just noticed you are talking about the viewer version. Not sure about it.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 20, 2022, 06:27:59 pm
content: I have 32GB but made 5GB of it int a RAM disk onto which I shove the system temp folder. Reason being I don't want my SSD finite-lifetime writes being taken up with temporary system (and other) files.Since doing that I now use it as my general download folder too - anything not moved off to permanent storage at the end of the data doesn't matter, and it doesn't steadily accumulate dross.

author: ANTALIFE
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 20, 2022, 11:01:35 pm
content: What sort of video card do you have?Over the years Altium have become more GPU intensive, like if you look at their recommended requirements they ask for GTX 1060/Radeon RX 470 and abovehttps://www.altium.com/documentation/altium-designer/system-requirements
Cannot find supplier list - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: polarKaung
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2022, 11:52:51 am
content: Hello,I am relatively new to Altium Designer so this might be a beginner question.I was following Robert Feranec tutorials on Youtube. And when he finds the part in Part Search, I cannot select Digikey or any other suppliers. See the attachment for the screenshot.What should I change to get a list of suppliers?Thanks in advanced.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 22, 2022, 01:52:50 pm
content: Under Preferences->System->Network Activity, check that 'Parts Providers' is ticked.
Variants hides certain images? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: mrburnzie
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2022, 11:45:43 am
content: I want to hide and show a block diagram depending on the variant I'm using. Is this possible?

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2022, 09:11:50 pm
content: Should be possible if you create two different schematic symbols:https://www.altium.com/documentation/altium-designer/design-variants#Embed a different image into each one. May be other ways.

author: ANTALIFE
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2022, 11:56:29 pm
content: Yea the only way I know of is creating a new SCH symbol like thm_w said. One thing to be aware of is that you will get a big red cross over the image and the image colour will remain, unlike the SCH symbol body which will turn black & white
Routing Setup Report Links not Working - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: iBeta
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 03, 2022, 11:15:16 am
content: Clicking on any of the links in the Situs Routing Setup Report causes a weird dialogue informing that a 'New App' is needed as can be seen in the image attachment.What new app? It is also strange there are no other (that I can find from the search engines anyway) posts about this.A fix would be great, but also if someone can confirm that the link functionality works for them?

author: ajb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2022, 05:48:16 am
content: That 'new app' dialog is a windows thing, it's the same one you get when you try to open a file of a type that doesn't have an application registered to handle it. Seems like what should be an internal application link is getting handed off to the OS like a generic hyperlink? No idea how that would come about, have you uninstalled or reinstalled any web browsers lately? Or updated windows or Altium? I know there are a handful of places where Altium uses html documents with some sort of embedded browser view, do you get this message anywhere else, like in DRC reports?

author: iBeta
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 13, 2022, 06:11:59 pm
content: Thanks for the info. Yeah, it is strange - have not noticed any other problems and all the DRC links work, both from the application message dlg. and even the html report. It is just the Situs routing links that fail. I had thought maybe a corrupted registry entry, or even antivirus, but that does not seem to be the case. Anyway, it's no big deal + I can quite easily live with it.
Keeps adding a Plane layer - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Spark-Doctor
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2022, 10:29:03 am
content: I just started to layout a 2 layer board today and went to add a via. Added the first via, no problem. When i added the second via, Altium adds a dielectric and a plane layer to the stack up. I go in to stack up manager and i cant remove it.Can anyone help??

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2022, 09:50:28 pm
content: Go to place a via, press TAB. Is it on a custom pad stack mode, perhaps?Also the usual paranoia check: how long has it been since rebooting Altium?Tim

author: Spark-Doctor
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2022, 06:31:37 pm
content: Found it in the end. It was a footprint i downloaded from Octopart. Deleted it and added the same part from Component Search Engine and all went away.Thanks for your help though.Ian
Local copy of my cloud library? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: trevwhite
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2022, 09:20:29 am
content: I am travelling and will not have proper access to internet. My current library is part of the Altium cloud. Is it possible for me to make a local copy of the library to use whilst I am travelling? I did ask tech support and they were unsure.ThanksTrev

author: ajawamnet
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2022, 02:15:21 pm
content: There's a topic on the official Altium forum talking about this. It mentions using this:https://www.altium.com/documentation/altium-designer/acquiring-workspace-data-using-content-cart

author: ajawamnet
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2022, 02:17:43 pm
content: The other way to do it is to place the parts in schematics and pcbs then use the Make Library tool...

author: voltsandjolts
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 08, 2022, 07:19:36 am
content: Using altium with github is more transparent IMO.Robert's vid:Code:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsV_OWtB2EA
Altium slows down when dragging some components. - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: palpurul
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2022, 08:43:29 pm
content: Hello,I've just received a PCB layout job from one of my customers. It's a flex PCB design with about 600 components.The problem is that when I try to move some components (99% of them) Altium behaves very sluggish.Let me show you this in a video:https://streamable.com/wc34b5The component on the right (1 pin header) doesn't cause any problem when dragging, it's from the default Altium library (miscellaneous_connector.Intlib I think). The component on the left (diode) is generated by the customer it's from their library and whenever I try to pick one up and move it, Altium slows down terribly.Thanks in advance!What would be the cause of that, how can I fix it?

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2022, 10:25:19 pm
content: D1 has a 3D body while TP7 has none. So its doing additional 3D clearance violation checks when you are moving D1. Still normally it would never be that slow.What version is this? Do you have another version installed you can try on.What are system specs?If necessary you can turn off on-line DRC, but, that shouldn't be required unless its a very old system.

author: palpurul
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2022, 05:45:07 am
content: Actually I tried this on many PCs. There is some kind of a problem with the project I assume.When I try the version 17 it works great, but later versions it always sluggish.

author: Batang
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2022, 06:29:05 am
content: I have seen this before and it always turned out to be a library problem.

author: palpurul
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2022, 06:46:56 am
content: Quote from: Batang on July 05, 2022, 06:29:05 amTHat's what I was thinking as well. Have you ever solved it?

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2022, 09:28:28 pm
content: Quote from: Batang on July 05, 2022, 06:29:05 amLibrary problem, as in, the entire library is corrupted? Or as in, an issue present in all footprints?Maybe you could unlock primitives, delete the 3D body, see if that does anything.Or copy the footprint to an empty library and load it from there.https://www.altium.com/documentation/knowledge-base/altium-designer/slowness-in-specific-areas

author: Doctorandus_P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2022, 06:51:04 am
content: Quote from: Batang on July 05, 2022, 06:29:05 amIt may have something to do with a library, but if you pay Mega $$ each year for some software, then I would at least expect it to be robust enough to not get brought down on it's knees by some library issue like that. So I say it primarily is a bug in the software that manifests itself when there is some library issue.This also means I would let their customer service handle it. Maybe make a bug report.

author: ajawamnet
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2022, 06:52:09 pm
content: I would shut off the online DRC first. Is it possible to share that PCBDOC?
Include PDF or excel in OutJob - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: t_pattinson
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 24, 2022, 02:32:38 am
content: Hi all,My workplace uses an external document to track revision control, which we would like to include in the PDF document pack we export from Altium (which includes schematics, assembly drawing, etc)Is there a way to configure the OutJob file to include an external PDF or excel file? Or to include an external PDF/excel file in a schematic, which is automatically updated when the external document changes?ThanksTim

author: ajb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 24, 2022, 03:25:10 pm
content: No, I'm pretty sure there isn't. There have been feature requests for the ability to trigger scripted actions, or to do basic things like zip up the products of an outjob after generation, but those have not gone anywhere AFAIK.Of course you could run an external script manually after running the outjob that could do whatever. The only realistic way to automate it would probably be to have some process monitoring the output directory and dunning your script when it sees the files generated. Or I suppose you could have a version control check in trigger something. Or maybe you could create an altium user script that runs the outjob and then triggers an external script to do the rest of it--I don't know if Altium user scripts can trigger outside scripts or not.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 30, 2022, 03:00:54 pm
content: In the outjob, right at the bottom, is 'PostPorcess Outputs'. Add a new Post Process Output and the configure options lets you add files. The dialog help says:QuoteHmm. 'Project folder'. Not sure if there's a way to get around that.

author: ajb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2022, 04:02:13 pm
content: Oh damn I never noticed that option! Only being able to pull from the project dir is kinda dumb though, at that point you could just put the file directly into the output folder. I just played around with it, and the behavior is also pretty dumb, it seems to include the folder path for the referenced file in the output even when 'Preserve folder structure' is unchecked. Browsing to a parent folder throws an error, so I tried manually entering an upwards path to a parent folder, but that just fails silently.Typical half-assed Altium bullshit.Maybe you could kludge around it with a symlink or something, but given all of the stupid limitations an external packaging script seems like a better bet.
ADD/connect/bound free pcb string to component? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: ulmus
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 30, 2022, 08:38:34 am
content: Hi!Is there any possibility to connect pcb string object to the component?I want to have variant assembly drawing with or without that string (depending on variant).I have project from someone uknownand i have to make some changesI have lots of string values on some layer, but those values are not in footprints, so....If i could add some of those free strings to proper components somehow then i could get assembly drawing with variants...Or maybe i can somehow 'connect/make depend' some free pcb string to the variant?I dont want to make changes in libraries and footprints cause it is one-time-quick change...So... any ideas?Thanks!

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 30, 2022, 06:09:39 pm
content: You can unlock component primitives, place an object, select it, and add it to a component (Tools/Convert/Add Selected...). Basically editing the footprint in situ. Remember not to update from libraries, which will revert such changes.You can also use a Union, to stick together objects, in a more limited way than a footprint. You won't get parent strings though, of course.You can enter variant-specific parameters on the Variant Management dialog, though you can't also use component-specific parameters, if that's what you're thinking (i.e. some expression involving both -- other than trivial substitution i.e. '.Designator in variant .VariantName' or whatever).Tim

author: ulmus
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 01, 2022, 05:31:43 am
content: Tools/Convert/Add selected...how could I not notice that!Thanx!

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2022, 12:09:26 pm
content: Perhaps you could arrange that the variant without the string actually results in an empty string (or a space). Then you don't need to attach it to anything and no chance of library updates removing it.
Electrical clearance from component body - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Manul
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 28, 2022, 04:52:25 pm
content: Hi. I have a polygon pour (gnd) on my board. I want to make a clearance rule from the component body itself, not from it's pads, so polygone is not poured around the whole component equaly. So far I can not see how to do it. It's like half electrical, half mechanical rule. Do any of you have an idea?Thanks.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 28, 2022, 08:59:11 pm
content: What about drawing it on the keepout layer of the component footprint?https://www.altium.com/documentation/altium-designer/object-specific-keepouts-pcb?version=21https://www.altium.com/documentation/altium-designer/pcb-region-keepout?version=21I realize this is not automated, but if its a complicated shape you could export the 2D profile using other software, and import that into altium.AFAIK its only possible to have clearance from 3D bodies to other 3D bodies (PCB board in its entirety being a body).https://www.altium.com/documentation/knowledge-base/altium-designer/can-you-set-electrical-clearance-in-the-design-rules-for-the-route-tool-pathhttps://designhelp.fedevel.com/forum/main-forum/altium/18040-component-clearance-rule-component-and-3d-body

author: Manul
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 28, 2022, 09:46:20 pm
content: Quote from: thm_w on June 28, 2022, 08:59:11 pmGood idea. At least the keepout will always be there when component is placed or moved. That seems like a solid solution, the only downside, that it requires manual editing of footprint.I was surprised, that I can't do clearance from 3D body. Seems like obvious and simple. Add a rule, set designator, set clearance to some net and that's it. No pour under or close to that component wherever I place it or move it. Hmm...
Clearance Rules Pad and Wire - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: guest_VR
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 22, 2022, 07:12:03 am
content: Hi everybody,I try to use different clearance rules on different layers.Such as " (OnLayer('Layer 2') AND InNetClass('Logic')) " and "(OnLayer('Layer 2') AND InNetClass('HV')) " : 3mm clearance.so far it acually works all right for the wired nets, but not for the PADS and vias.The pictue below shows Layer 2 and i am missing the 3mm around the pads and the via i placed in the middle of them!Does anyone has an idea why it is like that?Thx for your help

author: guest_VR
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 26, 2022, 07:30:25 pm
content: That was very helpful - I missed that Pads are multi-layer objects.But now it works - thx for your help
Document relative path issue - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Blackgar
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2022, 10:05:19 am
content: Hello, I am working on a project where the schematics are included from a 'pool' repository located locally on"C:\TestPath\TestLib\TestBlockXXXXX".The project file can be located anywhere.The problem is that AD20 and AD22 have different ways of including paths (one as relative and the other as absolute) which leads to issues with my colleuges. When they try to open the project on AD20, it cannot find the schematics.Is there a way to setup the absolute path way as default?Thank you.P.S If I change the path manually using a text editor on the project files, the issues is fixed

author: ANTALIFE
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2022, 11:44:29 pm
content: Silly question, why are you both using different versions of Altium to work on the same file?

author: Blackgar
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 17, 2022, 07:44:05 am
content: What makes you think that 20+ engineers working on the same project, are gonna have the same version of Altium now or on the next 1-2 years?And its not about the version, its about the paths. As I said the problem is the custom "Schematic Pool" for modular designs.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 17, 2022, 11:15:06 pm
content: Drifting offtopic, but, generally with CAD software you have the entire project team on the same software version as a rule.Solidworks won't even let you work cross-version, you'll get locked out of the file.Altium is kind of the exception to this, where you can actively work on older/newer file versions.Have you tried using a network path thats not mapped to a drive letter? eg //Network_Share1/asd/Although I'm assuming this is shared folder, but, it sounds like you are using a synced repo instead.. hm

author: ANTALIFE
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 21, 2022, 04:38:00 am
content: Quote from: Blackgar on June 17, 2022, 07:44:05 amThat's just asking for trouble, especially for a team that big. I have seen Altium screw up project variants (half of the components suddenly became DNF) because the schematic designer and PCB drafter were a few releases from each other
is there a way to add a parameter to all components in altium? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: nomar123
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 14, 2022, 06:47:09 pm
content: I have inherited an altium design that has ~130 parts on the BOM. I do not have the library that any of the parts came from, so the only parameters that show up in the panel are the ones that the original designer put in their library. None of these parts have any max temperature data, which I would like to add as a column on the BOM.I could go through each part individually and add the parameter locally, then regenerate the BOM. To save time, I would like to be able to select all the components in the design and add a "Max operating temp" parameter to all of them, then I can go through each one and quickly input what the number is for each part.I cant seem to figure out how to add a parameter to all components, I'm only able to do it on each part individually.Is what I am describing possible??

author: ajawamnet
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 14, 2022, 10:05:12 pm
content: Yea there is - buts it's kinda screwed up using the Tools > Parameter Manager. See the vid here:Description from that vid:It's a bit convoluted - you can use the Tools - Parameter Manager and select Parts; there it will allow you to Add a Column for a user parameter. You can then add a placeholder in one of the fields. but it will not allow you to copy it to the new field of other parts. So to get around that go ahead and let it execute an update to just one part. THEN - do the Tools - Parameter Manager AGAIN. This time it will allow you to copy the placeholder value to ALL parts. All ow this to execute. You can then go back in and update each part with the new parameter. This is silly... it should allow that in the first place.

author: ajawamnet
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 14, 2022, 10:34:30 pm
content: Note - another user showed me the "Add to All Objects" check box. This gets around the "having to do it twice" thing. He mentioned you can also just select all the fields in the the column you just added and then do the Right Click > Add. It will then add it to all the fields in the new column.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 14, 2022, 11:30:48 pm
content: just create a project library. it will generate a library from the parts in the schematic. you can then edit at will

author: Mikekoz13
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2022, 06:22:49 pm
content: Use the Parameter Manager. As mentioned above, be sure to turn on the Add to All button.
Altium has got to stop mucking around with stuff - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: ajawamnet
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2022, 11:57:11 pm
content: They keep hosing stuff. In 22.5.1, they messed up the ability to use a right click edit in the Components panel unless you were signed into their cloud (Clown) . I bitched about it on the forum, but - cause they hate me - it took another user to post the same issue. Now in 22.6.1 they trashed the ability to even create a new Library unless signed in.They gotta stop this. At least test for us guys that need to be ITAR (which is a considerable market for them) and can't use the "Clown"

author: ajawamnet
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 19, 2022, 12:52:44 am
content: From my post on the forum:Post ID: 797277I was on the phone with another user and he had no problem getting the new Library Dialog to pop up. But I was still having issue with the Fresh Install as well as the non-networked installations (the ones we really use). So while I was on the phone, I signed in to Altium using the fresh install - but DID NOT connect to any 365 workspace. It worked. Then I signed back out and closed it out. Reopened the fresh install and again it hung. So Task killed it and reopened it. I then signed in again - and again, not to any 365 workspace. It popped up the newfangled library dialog. So i signed back out, closed Altium. BUT this time when I reopened Altium AND DID NOT sign in I DID get the pop up library thing. Tried again, closed out Altium, reopened Altium, did the the File - New - Library... and AGAIN I got the new dialog. So now I'm wondering WTF?.So I uninstall that fresh install. Totally. I then re-install another fresh install to a totally different location. Open up this new, fresh install - No Prefs - just my ALF file. I close back outGuess what? I reopen - DON'T SIGN IN - and now this new install hangs/crashes on doing the File - New - Library... Try again - same thing.This is nutz...Software totally hose the old adage that doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is insane.Nope - just buggy software...
Where is Altium SVN server/storage located? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: ricko_uk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 31, 2022, 08:11:40 pm
content: Hi,I have a project that I was working on computer A and I setup SVN somewhere in the HD - NOT the prject folder.I then recently moved to a new computer and don't have access to the old PC. But being on Dropbox I just pulled all the files and whenever I do a commit it still works. So the SVN location for that project is stored somewhere in the project because while it does keep working every time I do a commit, I cannot see any SVN servers setup in the new computer's Altium settings (settings -> Design Repositories).How do I find out where the SVN server location for that project is?Thank you

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 01, 2022, 12:22:07 am
content: Assuming a recent version of Altium1. In the project tree right click a file that's under version control and click 'History & Version Control' then 'Storage Manager'.2. Select a checked-in file, right click and select 'VCS properties...' right at the bottom. The repo location should be the third line dow marked 'URL:'.

author: ricko_uk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 01, 2022, 03:48:02 pm
content: Thank you dunkemhigh
Hatching on a routed line - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: SpacedCowboy
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2022, 05:01:55 am
content: New to Altium, and I just finished laying out some diff-pair traces, and noticed that one of them had a subtle hatching effect over it, see attached. There's no violations listed on the trace (E_TX1_P and its pair) if I right-click on it, but it must mean somethingAnyone any idea ?This is the only trace from 40 that has this hatching on it, and it's not quite the same as 'selected'...Cheers

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2022, 10:55:22 am
content: Ithinkthat's an indication that a rule is being stretched to accommodate another rule. That is, distance between tracks and matched length in this case. I recall having something similar when putting in a bend and the curve wasn't quite correct (since it's made of lots of straight lines, presumably). There was something in a version release note about it, I'm sure, but can't find it now.OTOH, maybe I just dreamt that

author: SpacedCowboy
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2022, 02:28:50 pm
content: ThanksI’ll go and see if I can find it in the release notes - actually, putting the screenshot here made it more obvious than it is on a 4k screen, especially when you zoom in on it, reading on an iPadSo now I can tell it’s yellow cross-hatching, and maybe that’ll help find it.In any event, it’s 1 from a whole bunch. Time to ‘git commit’ and redo that one to see if I can get it without the “special effects”!

author: ajb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 24, 2022, 04:31:35 pm
content: Yes, that indicates that the pair is not properly coupled according to the applicable rules over the hatched length. For whatever reason differential pair routing rule violations can't be configured to produce the same kind of error markers and details as other kinds of violations AFAIK. They can be reported as part of a batch DRC, though, if you make sure to enable them in the "Rules To Check" section of the DRC options. Sometimes the error markers, including the hatch markers like this, get stuck, so you might need to use Tools > Reset Error Markers, and then re-run DRC to confirm if there's actually a violation there. The hatch indicators only seem to show up when you move one or the other of the tracks around, though, so clearing error markers and then nudging one of the tracks is another way to confirm what Altium thinks is going on.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 24, 2022, 05:41:00 pm
content: that hatching is a DRC error

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 24, 2022, 05:52:11 pm
content: Why is it a hatched error, though, rather than cross-hatched. If I screw up diff pairs properly (that is, manually) I get a proper cross-hatch, so I think errors can be shown as normal.
Untented via report - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Mark
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2022, 01:02:25 pm
content: I would like to create a report showing the x,y, coordinates and net of untented vias (that can be used as test points).How can this be done in Altium?

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2022, 02:19:43 pm
content: 1) You select one. Right click, find similar objects. Set up the preferences of it.2) OK, now all of them are selected.3) View -> Panels-> PCB list4) Show only selected objects5) Profit?

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2022, 04:02:13 pm
content: Query in PCB Filter panel,IsVia AND NOT SolderMaskTentingBottom AND (AsMils(ViaDiameter) >= 40)The above method helps you generate the query, a good way to get familiar with the scheme.And yeah, PCB List is best way to get their properties. Net, X1, Y1, etc.Alternately, tag them as Assembly Testpoint - Bottom and get the Testpoint Report in the OutJob or whatever. This can also be assigned automatically (by rule) from the Testpoint Manager dialog.Tim
Does Altium's Active BOM require an active subscription? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: ricko_uk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 01, 2022, 07:15:01 pm
content: Hi,I haven't been using active BOM since the subscription expired and when I tried today it didn't seem to work. None of the components seemed recognised so the "Manufacturer Part" window at the bottom was empty instead of showing the part and the availability from the various distributors.Does anybody know if you do need an active subscription for it to work?Thank you

author: cadguy68
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 11, 2022, 08:39:32 pm
content: Oh wow - that would suck if true.But it wouldn't surprise me at all if that's how it works ...

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 11, 2022, 09:25:46 pm
content: Quote from: ricko_uk on May 01, 2022, 07:15:01 pmOf course it does...

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 12, 2022, 12:20:58 am
content: I don't think so...?But I use an old version that doesn't support updated suppliers' web APIs,so I can't test it anyway.Tim
Need to disable pullback in Altium Designer - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: c64
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2022, 06:37:59 am
content: 4 layer boards. I place embedded board array in Altium. Embedded board has power planes with pullback set to 0.However, when I generate gerbers, it still places (although very thin) trace around the edge of embedded board on both power planes.Any way to disable this?

author: Pseudobyte
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2022, 12:39:13 pm
content: I'd recommend you stop using planes, most people have switched to positive polygons instead of planes. Then just scope a board outline rule to your polys and set it to 0.
I want to practice designing DDR boards. - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Arsh ahmad
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2022, 06:54:45 am
content: I want to practice designing PCBs for DDR boards, I need schematic files or Altium project files for practice It will be great if anyone can provide me those.

author: daqq
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2022, 07:08:04 am
content: https://www.imx6rex.com/2013/10/imx6-rex-module-released-files-free-for-download/

author: Eternauta
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 14, 2022, 01:24:45 pm
content: Many microprocessor reference design have CAD data in Altium. Look at Microchip SAMA5D and STM32MP15 reference boards where to download complete project in Altium with DDR2 and DDR3

author: matrixofdynamism
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2022, 02:17:29 pm
content: Do you have link to the Altium project of those Microchip boards?

author: Eternauta
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 22, 2022, 02:37:54 pm
content: https://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDoc/EVB-KSZ9477%20Evaluation%20Board%20Design%20Files.ziphttps://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDoc/SAM9X60-EK_KitFiles.zip
How do I place a component in the center of the board? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: malrip
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 13, 2022, 12:37:26 am
content: I'm attempting to align some components, such as an OLED display and a push-button, to the pcb board's centerline. The board was imported as STEP from Solidworks and has a non-uniform format (not a rectangle). The issue is that I've already completed the layout and origins from CAD to Altium have been forgotten, making it nearly impossible to insert a board shape from Soldiworks with origin marks that matches exactly to the existing board shape.Another issue I'm having is that because the board has a strange shape, it's difficult to manually set the origin because even when I click over a line, it's not right on top of it when I zoom in (has always a offset). The same principle applies when I try to mark the PCB's boundaries with simple pads or taking measures, which is the CADish way I explored to center an object between the board's lateral edges (horizontal boundaries), for example. Is there a different way to find the board's center and/or a way to place components on centerlines, midpoints or in the center of an component? When designing footprints (pcb library view) there is an option to center the origin between the existing pads but not on the layout. To get a more precise placement, I manually check the coordinates between the keep-out lines on the board edges and then make calculations, but this is not practical or error-proof.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2022, 01:23:44 am
content: P-L , click on the top boundary and then click the bottom boundary. this draws a vertical line edge-to-edge.now click that line : the snap points will appear , place origin and click on that center snap point. this is the true midpoint.

author: malrip
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 13, 2022, 01:59:10 am
content: Thank you very much. Does the job! I'm not sure why, but after making some changes to the view properties, I can now set the origin to be exactly on the board's edge (I didn't changed the snap grid).

author: ajb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2022, 09:34:35 pm
content: Quote from: malrip on April 13, 2022, 01:59:10 amIt may be that you have your snap settings to only snap to the current layer, and were previously on a different layer than the object you were trying to snap to?

author: Pseudobyte
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2022, 02:11:55 pm
content: Another way to do this is to select the component and the horizontal edge ( or the arc if the board is circular ). Press A C (align horizontal center) then select the edge. Then repeat the process for the vertical edge but this time using A V (align vertical center).
Space Navigator not working correctly with Altium?? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: ricko_uk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2022, 03:42:06 pm
content: Hi,I have 2D Connextion's Space Navigator and all movements work correctly in Solidworks but when not Altium.In Altium no matter how I move the Space Navigator, the only motion is scrolling the PCB up/down or left/right. There That is both in 2D and 3D. The rotation, panning etc do not worl.Does it need special setup or configuration? Any suggestions?Thank you

author: cgroen
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 17, 2022, 04:09:39 pm
content: Mine works perfectly in Altium (and in Inventor etc), I did nothing special to make it work?!

author: KrudyZ
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2022, 06:11:34 pm
content: Each application has its own settings that you can set up using the advanced settings in the properties dialog.Of course, if you really got yours from 2D Connexions, then that might explain the missing dimensions

author: ricko_uk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2022, 08:15:30 pm
content: @KrudyZoops, that was a typo but that might be the reason.Thank you both

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2022, 08:29:24 pm
content: I found the navigator driver needs to be re-installed. For whatever reasons with time it starts working incorrectly in Altium. Re-installing the driver fixed the issue in my case.

author: ricko_uk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 18, 2022, 04:02:22 pm
content: Thank you Bud
How to provide clearance in soldermask layers  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Praveen Sasidharan
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 16, 2022, 07:29:46 am
content: Hi Guys. I just wanna know how can I provide clearance of a region where the soldermask has been opened and have two circular pads that needs clearance in Altium Designer? Any thoughts

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2022, 06:44:17 pm
content: Please restate your question. I think you’re using the word “clearance” to mean something different from what it normally means in Altium, so it’s not at all clear what you’re asking. (Which is why your screenshot has been viewed over 30 times without a single reply.)

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2022, 07:00:45 pm
content: looks like you made a hole that has no pad attached to it ... set your pad to hole diameter + desired clearance.

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2022, 10:38:16 pm
content: I normally make non-plated holes by setting the Pad to:Layer: MultilayerHole size: Soldermask expansion: 3 milSoldermask expansion from hole edge: checkedPlated: not checkedPad stack: simplePad size, X/Y: 0 milsI guess you want to expose copper near the hole? Then use plated or non-plated, but set the pad X/Y dimensions as desired, and soldermask with respect to pad.Tim
PCB layer-count "stair-step" footprint  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: ricko_uk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2022, 06:56:38 pm
content: Hi,I usually create manually the PCB "stair-step" (not sure what it is called) that shows the layer count by placing the number of each layer/plane in its own layer. I do that at the end of the PCB design.Today I tried making a footprint in Altium but there does not seem to be a way to enable/edit inner layers/plane, hence cannot place text on it.Any tips on how to do it?Thank you

author: ricko_uk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2022, 09:56:25 pm
content: Any suggestions, tricks or workaround anybody?(to make it as a PCB library footprint/item)Thank you

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2022, 12:52:03 pm
content: You can't enable the layers in library? Or you can't get positive copper on plane?Tim

author: ricko_uk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2022, 03:27:23 pm
content: Hi Tim,I could not enable the layers in the library's layer stack manager. Now it works.But (a much less of an issue) when I "expand"/scale the board thickness the planes copper remains "thin" but the top and bottom copper layers show quite thick. That is despite both planes and layers having the same thickness in the stack manager (as you can see from the screenshot). Do you know why that is and how to change it?Also do you know if there is a way to expand/scale the layers evenly like in the old versions where regardless of each layer's material thickness defined in the stack, when scaling the PCB thickness they all move apart by the same amount (instead of proportional to their thickness)?Thank you

author: T3sl4co1l
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2022, 03:40:43 pm
content: Not sure, I rarely use planes and actually haven't in the new versions yet.Tim

author: ricko_uk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2022, 03:41:40 pm
content: Thank you

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2022, 06:31:58 pm
content: While prowling through the advanced options last night, I noticed one named something to the effect of “allow components to be placed on all layers”. I haven’t tried it, but perhaps it can be used to allow this?

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2022, 07:03:59 pm
content: That stuff does not work in the library. It just uses some default values. The board ultimately drives the real numbers. The preview in library mode is not accurate as there is no board definition.