PCB Editor - Interactive Routing

Modified by Susan Riege on Aug 9, 2018
Contents

Parent page: PCB Preferences


The PCB Editor - Interactive Routing page of the Preferences dialog

Summary

The PCB Editor – Interactive Routing page of the Preferences dialog provides options relating to the functionality of the Interactive Routing feature within the PCB workspace.

Access

The PCB Editor – Interactive Routing page is part of the main Preferences dialog (File | ) and is accessed by clicking the Interactive Routing entry under the PCB Editor folder in the left hand pane of the dialog.

Options/Controls

Routing Conflict Resolution 

  • Ignore Obstacles - Enable this option to have the interactive router allow the track to pass through obstacles while routing. 
  • Push Obstacles - Enable this option to have the interactive routing push existing tracks and vias to make room for the new route.
  • Stop At First Obstacle - In this mode, the routing engine will stop at the first obstacle that gets in the way.
Although not listed as an option, an additional mode is available using the Current Mode field below - HugNPush Obstacles. In this mode, the Interactive Router hugs existing tracks, pads and vias as closely as possible while routing and, where necessary, pushes obstacles to continue the route. If this mode cannot hug or push an obstacle without causing violation, an indicator appears to show the route is blocked.
  • Current Mode - This field displays the current Routing Conflict Resolution mode chosen, when using the Interactive Router. Use the associated drop-down to change the mode as required.
You can switch routing modes on-the-fly using Shift+R during routing.

Interactive Routing Options

  • Restrict to 90/45 - Enable to restrict the routing to 90 degrees and 45 degrees only.
  • Automatically Remove Loops - Enable to automatically remove any redundant loops that are created during manual routing. This allows a connection to be re-routed without having to manually remove redundant tracks.
When loops are needed, such as with power nets, the Remove Loops option can be disabled at the local net-level (through the associated Edit Net dialog). The Remove Loops local setting for the specified net overrides this global setting for the same net.

Dragging

Configure the options to allow direct dragging or require selection first.

  • Unselected via/track - Set the default behavior of dragging an unselected via or track to be either a Move or Drag action.
  • Selected via/track - Set the default behavior of dragging a selected via or track to be either a Move or Drag action.

Interactive Routing Width / Via Size Sources

  • Pickup Track Width from Existing Routes - Enable to use the existing track width when routing from an placed track. That is, even if the current routing width is different to the existing track, the existing track width will be adopted when you continue the route from it.
  • Track Width Mode - use this field to choose a track width mode for interactive routing. The available modes are:
    • User Choice - with this mode enabled, the width is determined from the width selected in the Choose Width dialog, which is accessed by pressing Shift+W while routing.
    • Rule Minimum - with this mode enabled, the minimum width defined for the corresponding layer (in the highest priority applicable routing Width rule) will be used.
    • Rule Preferred - with this mode enabled, the preferred width defined for the corresponding layer (in the highest priority applicable routing Width rule) will be used.
    • Rule Maximum - with this mode enabled, the maximum width defined for the corresponding layer (in the highest priority applicable routing Width rule) will be used.
  • Via Size Mode - use this field to choose a via size mode for interactive routing. The available modes are:
    • User Choice - with this mode enabled, the via size is determined from the size selected in the Choose Via Size dialog, which is accessed by pressing Shift+V while routing.
    • Rule Minimum - with this mode enabled, the minimum values defined for the via diameter and hole size (in the highest priority applicable Routing Via Style rule) will be used.
    • Rule Preferred - with this mode enabled, the preferred values defined for the via diameter and hole size (in the highest priority applicable Routing Via Style rule) will be used.
    • Rule Maximum - with this mode enabled, the maximum values defined for the via diameter and hole size (in the highest priority applicable Routing Via Style rule) will be used.

Favorites

  • Favorite Interactive Routing Widths - click this button to access the Favorite Interactive Routing Widths dialog, in which you can predefine your favorite track widths for use when interactively routing a board using the Interactive Router.
  • Favorite Interactive Routing Via Sizes - click this button to access the Favorite Interactive Via Sizes dialog, in which you can predefine your favorite via sizes for use when interactively routing a board using the Interactive Router.

 

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