Delete Digitized Component

Deletes the highlighted (selected) digitized object.

Automatically Scan for Identical Components

Scans for and identifies identical components in a Gerber file. When identified, the components are placed in a buffer so that they can also be digitized.

Gerber Preferences

Displays a dialog where you can specify preferences for handling Gerber files:

• Master Aperture List - Displays the list of Gerber data shapes that are applied to all the loaded Gerber layers.

• RS-274D Parsing Options - Displays the options used for parsing RS-274D Gerber files.

• Gerber Footprint Matching Tolerance - Specifies the tolerance value to use (in thousandths of an inch) when matching user selections to existing footprints when digitizing Gerber data.

  • Automatically Generate Footprint Names - When set to True, generates names automatically for newly-created footprints.

Digitize Board Frame

Allows you to digitize the PCB board frame.

Image Frame

Used in conjunction with the Digitize Board Frame button. When the frame is digitized, it will be set as the Image (circuit) Frame.

Panel Frame

Used in conjunction with the Digitize Board Frame button. When the frame is digitized, it will be set as the Panel Frame.

Clear Selection

Clears all information in the buffer.

Show Gerber Information

When selected, information on the Gerber component’s pads (D-Code, Location, and so on) is displayed. 

Import Aperture List

Displays a dialog where you can locate and select an aperture file to import.

Show Hidden Graphics

When selected, all objects that were previously hidden (but not deleted) are displayed.

Link Gerber Files to Layers

Allows you to link/assign Gerber files to the different layers of a PCB.

1. Select the Add button, locate and select a Gerber file, then select Open.

2. Select a layer from the ECAD Layer List, then select the Assign Layer button.

3. To unlink a Gerber file from an ECAD layer, select the layer, then select the Un-Assign  button.
   

   

Delete All Hidden Data

When selected, all objects that were previously hidden are deleted permanently.

Import Centroid File

Displays a dialog allowing you to locate and import a Centroid file so you can assign reference designators during digitization.

• Under File Options, set the file format (Fixed or Delimited) and assign the Remark Trigger which is used to hide rows in the Centroid file that aren't needed.

• Under Centroid Options, select the Units (Mils, for example) to be used for the Centroid file, 
  
  

Hide Digitized Features

Hides all digitized components and features in the Gerber viewer.

Accept All Components

When selected, the system assigns all components in the buffer to their respective reference designators based on the loaded Centroid file.

Accept Component

When selected, the Commit Gerber Data dialog displays where you can assign reference designators to the all components in the buffer.

Accept Board Frame

Accepts the selected frame as the board frame.

Single Select

Selects one or more parts. Ctrl+click to select multiple parts.

Marquee Select

Selects one or more parts by dragging a rectangle around the desired parts.

Lasso Select

Selects one or more parts by drawing an ellipse around several parts.

Polygon Lasso Select

Allows for custom selection outlines.

Hand Pan

Drag to move the ECAD.

Selection Border

Specifies the line width of the border.

Select the Selection Border icon again after changing the border width when to show or hide the border around selected parts.

Selection Highlight

Specifies the highlight color for selected parts.

Select the Selection Border icon again after changing the border width to show or hide the border around selected parts.

View from Top

Sets the ECAD viewer to display the top-side parts.

View from Bottom

Sets the ECAD viewer to display the bottom-side parts.

Hide Gerber Inside a Rectangle

Hides all aperture data within a drawn rectangle.

Hide Gerber Outside a Rectangle

Hides all aperture data from outside a drawn rectangle.

Hide this Aperture

Hides the selected aperture.

Align Layers

Aligns currently-selected layers.

Reset Offset

Reverts offset Gerber layers back to their original loaded location.

Selected Color

Indicates the currently-selected color. 

Select by Part 

Selects all parts that have the same part number.

Select by Footprint

Selects all parts that share the same Footprint.

Select by Technology

Selects parts based on their installation method: SMT or through-hole.

Show All Circuits

Sets the ECAD viewer to display all circuits of a panelized PCB.

Show Root Circuit

Sets the ECAD viewer to display only the root circuit of a panelized PCB.

Adjust Grid Spacing

Determines the spacing of the grid in the Gerber window.

Search 

Searches the board for a specific reference designator.

• Enter a reference designator in the text box, then select Search (the binoculars).
  
  The designator you enter is highlighted on the board image in a zoomed view.

Assign Origin

Defines the datum (0,0 point) of the board.

1. Enter X and Y coordinates, then select Apply (check mark) or click an area of the board).

2. (Optional) Select the Snap To Feature to locate the datum at the coordinates closest to the corner you click on the board image. 

Align Photoplots

Lines up any associated Gerber layers with the ECAD.

Rotate PCB

Adjusts the overall orientation of the board.

• Select 90 Degrees or select Rotate Free Form and enter a rotation angle.

Assign Pin 1

Defines which pin of a component is Pin 1.

Show Polarity

Toggles the display of the red Pin 1 for each polarized component on/off.

Crop Extended Pins

Crops all extended pins on the board.

Export GENCAD File

Exports the selected data as a GENCAD file.

Create Fiducial

Adds fiducials to the board for machine programming purposes.

1. Select Create Fiducial, then select the area of the board where you want the fiducial.
   
   

   

   
   
   

2. Select the desired Fiducial Type and other settings in the Fiducial Properties dialog, then select OK.

3. If the fiducial is defined properly for the board, select Finish (check mark) in the upper-right corner of the window.

Edit Fiducial

Used to edit an existing fiducial.

1. Select a fiducial on the board image, then select Edit Fiducial.
   
   

   

   
   
   

2. Modify the fiducial information in the Fiducial Properties dialog, then select OK.

Convert to Component

Converts a selected fiducial to a component.

From Lead

Creates a fiducial from a selected existing component lead.

• Select From Lead, select the lead on the board image, then select Finish (check mark) in the upper-right corner of the window.

Show All Fiducials

Displays a table of all fiducials on the board

Select a fiducial from the table to see it in a zoomed-in view.

Add Component

Creates a new component location.

1. Select a component on the board image (or the Components table if already displayed), then select Components > Add Component.

2. Select X/Y Coordinates from the drop-down or click a location on the board image.
   
   

   

   
   
   

3. Enter the information for the component in the Add Component dialog, select OK, then select Finish (check mark) in the upper-right corner of the window.

Edit 

Modifies the basic properties of a selected component.

1. Select the component you want to edit on the board image.

2. Select Components > Edit.

3. Edit the component details in the Edit Component dialog, then select OK.
   
   

   

Duplicate 

Creates a duplicate of the selected component.

1. Select the component you want to edit on the board image.

2. Select Components > Duplicate.

3. Edit the component details in the Duplicate Component dialog, then select OK.
   
   

   

Delete 

Removes a selected component.

1. Select the component you want to edit on the board image.

2. Select Components > Delete.

3. When you see the confirmation message, select Yes.
   
   

Show Components

Displays a table of all components on the board.

• Select Components, Show Components to display all of the board components. (Select Show Components again to hide the components.)
  
  

  

  
  
  Select a component from the table to see it in a zoomed-in view.

Move Components 

Modifies a selected component to a new location on the board.

1. Select the component you want to move on the board image.

2. Select Components > Move Components.

3. Enter the X and X coordinates of the new component location, then select OK.
   
   

   

Opportunity Counts

Displays total opportunities for errors in the manufacturing process and options for reducing errors.

1. Select Components > Opportunity Counts to view the current counts.

2. Select the gear icon.

3. Change the dialog options as needed to help reduce opportunities for manufacturing errors.
   
   

   

CAD to BOM Comparison

Displays discrepancies between the CAD and BOM so you can resolve errors before manufacturing the board.

Resolve a CAD reference

1. Select Components > CAD to BOM Comparison.

2. Select References Not In CAD.

3. Select a discrepancy from the table to view it on the board image in a zoomed view.
   
   

   

   
   
   

4. Select Add Component , enter X and Y coordinates for the reference or click a location on the board image.

5. Enter reference details in the Add Component dialog, then select Finish (check mark) in the upper-right corner of the window.
   
   

   

Resolve a BOM reference

1. Select Components > CAD to BOM Comparison.

2. Select References Not In BOM.

3. Select a discrepancy from the table to view it on the board image in a zoomed view.
   
   

   

   
   
   

4. Select Add Reference , select a BOM line item to assign to the component reference, then select OK.
   
   

   

   
   
   

Change Reference

Modifies the reference for the selected component.

1. Select a component on the board image, then select Components > Change Reference.

2. Select a new reference for the component in the Change Reference dialog, then select OK.
   
   

   

Set Top/Bottom Side

Modifies which side of the board the selected component is found (top or bottom)

1. Select a component on the board image, then select Components > Set Top Side or Set Bottom Side.

2. When you see the confirmation message, select Yes.

Change Footprint

Modifies the footprint shape used to represent a component.

1. Select a component on the board image, then select Components > Change Footprint.

2. Select a new footprint for the component in the Change Footprint Information dialog.

3. (Optional) Use the Rotate drop down to rotate the component, then select OK.
   
   

   

Create Socket 

Adds a new, slightly larger footprint around the selected part to represent a socket.

• Select a component on the board image, then select Components > Create Socket.
  
  

  

Polarity 

Toggles the Polarized setting on/off.

• Select a component on the board image, select Components > Polarity, then select Set as Polarized or Set as Non-Polarized from the drop down.

Rotate 

Changes the orientation of the selected component.

1. Select a component on the board image, select Components > Rotate.

2. Select a rotation angle from the drop down or select Rotate Free Form, enter an angle and press the Enter key on your keyboard.

Add Panel Frame

Adds a panel frame to a PCB.

1. Select Add Panel Frame.

2. Enter the frame Dimensions or select Create From Rails, then enter the Top, Bottom, Left, and Right dimensions.

3. Select a frame shape from the Frame Type drop down.

4. When you are finished specifying the frame information, click a blank area of the window to close the dialog and display the frame on the board image.
   
   

   Note:

   If you select a Rounded Rectangle frame shape, you are prompted to a corner radius value.

   The panel frame is created as soon as you complete the dialog fields and you are returned to the Process Definition window.
   
   

Edit Panel Frame

When selected, enables editing tools to modify frame properties such as shape, line weight, and color.

1. Select the Edit Panel Frame tool.

2. Select a new line weight for the frame using the Line Weight drop down or enter a Custom line weight.

3. Select one of the Shapes tools (the Rectangle, for example), then drag in the window to add the shape to the board image.
   
   When a shape is selected, it has editing handles around it to indicate that you can move, resize, duplicate, or delete it.
   
   

   

   
   
   

4. Select Shape Options to display properties for a shape. For example, if using a rectangle shape, you can enter new values for X and Y coordinates, Width, and Height. 

5. Select Duplicate to make a copy of a selected shape.

6. Select Delete  to remove a shape from the board image.

Delete Panel Frame

Deletes a selected panel frame from the board image.

Copy Panel Frame to Circuit Frame

Copies a selected panel frame and its properties to a circuit frame.

Font 

Modifies the font, style, size, or color of selected reference designator labels.

Label Types

Displays CRD labels, Part labels, or both.

Auto Place Labels

Places labels on the board image automatically using optimal positioning.

Before selecting Auto Place Labels, select a Priority from the drop-down to specify which label type should have priority over the other for label placement on the board image.

Rotate

Rotates a label on the board image.

Use Rotate Free Form to rotate selected labels using an angle you specify. 

Alignment Tools

Aligns selected labels on the board image.

Create Matrix

Defines the layout of the panelized assembly you want to create from a single-up PCB ECAD file.

1. Select Create Matrix.

2. In the dialog, enter the Number of Circuits Wide and the Number of Circuits High contained in the X and Y axes.

3. Enter an Offset value or enter the spacing value between each circuit.
   
   

   

   
   
   

4. Select Create Panel to create the panelized assembly.
   
   

   

Rotate

On a panelized layout, rotates selected board images a specified number of degrees.

Use Rotate Free Form to rotate selected boards on the panelized layout using an angle you specify. 

Flip Circuit Side

Flips the circuit on selected board images.

Step and Repeat

Creates a secondary matrix from one of the circuits already created with the Create Matrix option. For example, you would select this option if you needed to create a panel layout consisting of the original circuit, a circuit to the right in the X plane, and a circuit below on the Y plane (a 2x2 matrix without the diagonal circuit).

In the dialog, you can set up the spacing and offset measurements. When you select the Create Panel button, the panelization is completed using the parameters you specify.

Duplicate

Duplicates selected circuits.

Delete

Deletes one or more selected circuits on a panelized layout. (You cannot delete the root circuit.)

Reset Panelization

Restores a panelized layout to a one-up board image.

Circuit Color

Changes the color of the circuit.

Line Weight

Modifies the line weight of the circuit.

Order Circuits

Specifies the order of the circuits on a panelized assembly.

Click a number to reset Circuit 1. 

Alignment Tools

Aligns or distributes selected circuits on a panelized layout for optimal fit:

• Align Left

• Align Right

• Align Center

• Align Top

• Align Center

• Align Bottom

• Distribute Left Edge

• Distribute Centers

• Distribute Right Edge

• Distribute Top

• Distribute Centers

• Distribute Bottom

Show Components

Shows or hides all components on a panelized assembly.

Calculator

Provides a calculator to use when working on panelized layouts.