Favorite Interactive Via Sizes

Modified by Jason Howie on Feb 13, 2015
Contents
Other Related Resources
PCB Editor - Interactive Routing (Preferences)
Interactive Routing (Dialog)
Edit Net (Dialog)

Interactive Routing

Favorite Interactive Routing Widths (Dialog)

Parent page: PCB Dialogs

The Favorite Interactive Via Sizes dialog.

Summary

This dialog allows the designer to predefine their favorite via sizes, for use when interactively routing a board, using the Interactive Router.

While interactively routing, the designer can switch to the next available signal layer, and drop a via to that layer, using the * keyboard shortcut. The size of the via is either taken from the designer's preferred via size, or the applicable routing via style design rule. The former is referred to as User Choice, and it is the Favorite Interactive Via Sizes dialog that provides the cornerstone of this feature.
When using the User Choice feature, and predefined via sizes, you still have the full protection of the rules system. If a chosen predefined routing via style is outside the applicable min-max rule setting, the hole size and/or diamater will be clipped back to the minimum or maximum, whichever is appropriate.

Access

The dialog is accessed from the PCB Editor in the following ways:

  • By clicking the Favorite Interactive Routing Via Sizes button, on the PCB Editor - Interactive Routing page of the Preferences dialog.
  • By clicking the Favorite Interactive Routing Via Sizes button in the Interactive Routing dialog. The latter is accessed while interactively routing, by pressing the Tab key.

Options/Controls

  • Via Sizes List - this left-hand region of the dialog lists all currently defined favorite via sizes (the default set are shown in the image at the top of this page). Each entry consists of a name, and the system units used at the time the size was created and defined. The name reflects the Diameters mode; either Simple or T-M-B (for Top-Middle-Bottom), and the defined values for Diameter(s) and Hole Size. The two possible name formats are therefore:
    • Simple <Diameter>/<HoleSize>, and
    • T-M-B <TopLayerDiameter>-<MiddleLayerDiameter>-<BottomLayerDiameter>/<HoleSize>.

Click on an entry in the list to access controls for editing its Diameter(s) and Hole Size, respectively.

  • Via Size Definition - this right-hand region of the dialog presents the following controls for defining the size of the via currently selected in the left-hand region:
    • Diameters - use this field to choose the Diameters mode, either Simple (the via diamater is the same for all routing layers), or Top-Middle-Bottom (the via diameter can be different for the Top Layer, all internal signal layers, and Bottom Layer respectively).
    • Hole Size - use this field to specify the size of the hole in the via.
    • Diameter - if the Diameters mode is set to Simple, use this single field to define the diameter of the via. If the Diameters mode is set to Top-Middle-Bottom, use the available fields to define the diameter of the via on the Top Layer, Middle Layer, and Bottom Layer, respectively.
  • Add - click this button to add a new routing via size to the list. Use the controls on the right-hand side of the dialog to define the constraints of that size as required.
The units used for the via size will be in accordance with the the actual measurement unit employed for the board, as determined by the  and  buttons in the Home | Grids and Units area of the main menus.
  • Delete - click this button to delete the currently selected via size from the list.

Using Favorite Via Sizes

An incarnation of the Favorite Interactive Via Sizes dialog is accessed when wanting to change the current routing via style to one of the predefined favorites. Simply press Shift+V, while interactively routing, to access the Choose Via Sizes dialog.

The Choose Via Sizes dialog.

Simply select an entry and click OK, to switch to using that routing via style (in accordance with the boundaries of the applicable min-max Routing Via Style rule).

 

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