PCB Editor - Interactive Routing

Modified by Jason Howie on Feb 16, 2015
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 Router move existing tracks out of the way while routing. This mode can also push vias to make way for the new routing. If this mode cannot push an obstacle without causing violation, an indicator appears to show the route is blocked.
  • Stop At First Obstacle - enable this option to have the Interactive Router stop routing when it encounters the first obstacle in its path.
  • AutoRoute On Current Layer - enable this option to have the Interactive Router autoroute to the current cursor location on the current layer.
  • AutoRoute On Multiple Layers - enable this option to have the Interactive Router autoroute to the current cursor location across different layers. Vias will be placed as required to change to alternate signal layers.
The AutoRoute options are called autoroute modes because they can adaptively choose between different routing strategies. For example, using one of these modes an existing route that is blocking the path might be pushed initially, but as the cost of pushing increases, it can switch to use a walkaround path if this is a cheaper routing solution. If you were using the autoroute on multiple layers mode, then it might choose to switch layers rather than walking around, if this provided a cheaper routing solution.
Use these interactive autoroute modes to help complete a tight design, where you are struggling to identify route paths for those final few routes. They are not designed to help when there is an abundance of easily identified route paths.
  • 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 Dragging 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, 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, 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, with which to 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, with which to predefine tyour favorite via sizes, for use when interactively routing a board, using the Interactive Router.

 

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