Electrical Rules Check Setup

Modified by Jason Howie on Mar 17, 2015
Contents
Other Related Resources
Project Options - Error Reporting (Dialog)
Project Options - Connection Matrix (Dialog)
Generate output files (Dialog)

Parent page: WorkspaceManager Dialogs

The Electrical Rules Check Setup dialog.

Summary

This dialog allows the designer to configure the Electrical Rules Check validation report. This checks the electrical/drafting validity of the captured source design, and is run first when generating output using PCBWorks's batch-style release process - used to generate all manufacturing output required to fabricate and assemble your board.

The Electrical Rules Check validation report - which can be run as part of release process - uses the checking defined in this dialog only, and not the project-level ERC checking. It can be configured to be stricter, or more lenient than, the settings defined in the Project Options for your project. It provides a secondary level of validation, giving additional peace of mind and ensuring the integrity of your design data.
For a comprehensive reference describing each of the possible electrical and drafting violations that can exist on source documents when compiling a project, refer to the Project Compiler Violations Reference.

Access

The dialog is accessed in the following ways:

  • With the Electrical Rules Check entry selected on the Default Prints tab of the Options for PCB Project dialog, click the Configure button.
  • Click the Configure control associated to the Electrical Rules Check entry, in the Generate output files dialog (Project | Project Actions | ).
  • If the Electrical Rules Check output type is the default print for the Schematic editor:
    • Use the Outputs | Documentation | Print » Page Setup command, then click the Advanced button in the Electrical Rules Check Properties dialog that presents.
    • Use the Outputs | Documentation | Print » Print Preview command, then right-click in the main previewing window, and choose the Configuration command from the context menu.

Options/Controls

Columns Tab

Validation

  • Maximum tolerated error level when validating release - use this field to specify a maximum tolerated error level when using the ERC output generator as part of validation during the board release process. This determines at what level of warning/error the release process will be terminated.

Suppressed Errors

  • Report Suppressed Errors - enable this option to display violations in the Preview region of the tab, even if they have been suppressed through use of No ERC directives.

Show Columns

  • Class - enable this option to display the Class column in the Preview region of the tab. The class is simply the level of reporting (Warning, Error, Fatal Error, Suppressed Warning, Suppressed Error, Suppressed Fatal Error).
  • Document - enable this option to display the Document column in the Preview region of the tab. The document is simply the source document on which the violation has been detected (upon which the associated violating object(s) reside).
  • Message - enable this option to display the Message column in the Preview region of the tab. The message is simply a concise description of the violation.

Preview

This region of the dialog details any warnings/errors that exist in the project, based on the error check settings in this dialog.

Error Reporting Tab

This tab of the dialog enables you to define the reporting levels for each of the possible electrical and drafting violations that can exist on source schematic documents, when compiling the project. When the Electrical Rules Check output generator is run, through the Generate output files dialog, these violation settings will be used - in conjunction with the settings defined on the Connection Matrix tab of this dialog - to test the source documents for violations.

Violations List

This list presents all possible electrical and drafting violations that can exist on the source documents of the project. Violations themselves are gathered into the following categories:

Each specific violation type is presented with the following fields:

  • Violation Type Description - a short description of the type of violation (or conversely, what it is that is being checked).
  • Report Mode - use this field to specify the severity-level associated with violating the check. Use the drop-down to choose from the following reporting levels:

Right-Click Menu

The following commands are available from the right-click context menu for the tab:

  • All Off - set the Report Mode for all violation types to No Report.
  • All Warning - set the Report Mode for all violation types to Warning.
  • All Error - set the Report Mode for all violation types to Error.
  • All Fatal - set the Report Mode for all violation types to Fatal.
  • Default - set the Report Mode for all violation types back to their default settings.
Multiple violation types can be selected using standard multi-select techniques (Ctrl+click, Shift+click).

Additional Options

  • Set To Project Default - click this button to set the configuration of the reporting levels to be the same as those defined on the Error Reporting tab of the Options for PCB Project dialog.

Connection Matrix Tab

This tab of the dialog delivers a matrix providing a mechanism to establish connectivity rules between component pins and net identifiers, such as Ports and Sheet Entries. It defines the logical or electrical conditions that are to be reported as warnings or errors. For example, an output pin connected to another output pin would normally be regarded as an error condition, but two connected passive pins would not.

When the Electrical Rules Check output generator is run, through the Generate output files dialog, these violation settings will be used - in conjunction with the defined settings on the Error Reporting tab of this dialog - to test the source documents for violations.

Connection Matrix

The matrix presents all possible wiring connection checks, between combinations of pins, ports, and sheet entries, as well as testing for unconnected entities. The matrix is read in an across/down fashion and the color of the matrix element at the row-column intersection specifies how the Compiler will respond when testing for that particular condition.

To change the reporting mode for a violation check in the matrix, simply click on the colored square where the row and column of two entities intersect. Each time you click, the mode will move to the next report level. The following levels are supported:

As you hover over a square, text is displayed below the matrix, to describe the connectivity violation and the reporting mode in force.

Right-Click Menu

The following commands are available from the right-click context menu for the tab:

  • All Off - set all entries in the matrix to No Report.
  • All Warning - set all entries in the matrix to Warning.
  • All Error - set all entries in the matrix to Error.
  • All Fatal - set all entries in the matrix to Fatal.
  • Default - set all entries in the matrix back to their default settings.

Additional Options

  • Set To Project Default - click this button to set the configuration of the matrix to be the same as that defined on the Connection Matrix tab of the Options for PCB Project dialog.

 

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