National Instruments Ultiboard User Manual

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NI Ultiboard

User Manual

NI Ultiboard User Manual

May 2008 374488C-01

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Conventions

The following conventions are used in this manual:

» The » symbol leads you through nested menu items and dialog box options

to a final action. The sequence File»Page Setup»Options directs you to pull down the File menu, select the Page Setup item, and select Options from the last dialog box.

This icon denotes a tip, which alerts you to advisory information.

This icon denotes a note, which alerts you to important information.

This icon denotes a caution, which advises you of precautions to take to avoid injury, data loss, or a system crash.

bold Bold text denotes items that you must select or click in the software, such

as menu items and dialog box options. Bold text also denotes parameter names.

italic Italic text denotes variables, emphasis, a cross-reference, or an introduction

to a key concept. Italic text also denotes text that is a placeholder for a word or value that you must supply.

monospace Text in this font denotes text or characters that you should enter from the

keyboard, sections of code, programming examples, and syntax examples. This font is also used for the proper names of disk drives, paths, directories, programs, subprograms, subroutines, device names, functions, operations, variables, filenames, and extensions.

Chapter 1 User Interface

Introduction to the Ultiboard Interface ..........................................................................1-1

Toolbars .........................................................................................................................1-1

Standard Toolbar .............................................................................................1-1

View Toolbar...................................................................................................1-3

Main Toolbar ...................................................................................................1-4

Select Toolbar..................................................................................................1-5

Draw Settings Toolbar.....................................................................................1-6

Edit Toolbar.....................................................................................................1-7

Align Toolbar ..................................................................................................1-8

Place Toolbar...................................................................................................1-9

Wizard Toolbar................................................................................................1-12

Autoroute Toolbar ...........................................................................................1-12

Setting Preferences ........................................................................................................1-13

General Tab .....................................................................................................1-13

Paths Tab .........................................................................................................1-14

Colors Tab .......................................................................................................1-15

PCB Design Tab ..............................................................................................1-15

Dimensions Tab...............................................................................................1-18

3D Options Tab ...............................................................................................1-19

Setting PCB Properties ..................................................................................................1-20

Attributes Tab..................................................................................................1-20

Grid & Units Tab.............................................................................................1-20

Copper Layers Tab ..........................................................................................1-21

Pads/Vias Tab..................................................................................................1-22

General Layers Tab .........................................................................................1-24

Design Rules Tab ............................................................................................1-25

Setting Favorite Layers....................................................................................1-26

Design Toolbox..............................................................................................................1-27

Birds Eye View..............................................................................................................1-28

Spreadsheet View ..........................................................................................................1-29

Spreadsheet View: DRC Tab...........................................................................1-30

Spreadsheet View: Results Tab.......................................................................1-32

Spreadsheet View: Parts Tab...........................................................................1-33

Spreadsheet View: Part Groups Tab................................................................1-34

Spreadsheet View: Nets Tab ...........................................................................1-35

Spreadsheet View: Nets Groups Tab...............................................................1-38

Filter Manager...................................................................................1-31

Contents

Spreadsheet View: SMT Pads Tab.................................................................. 1-39

Spreadsheet View: THT Pads Tab .................................................................. 1-40

Spreadsheet View: Vias Tab ........................................................................... 1-42

Spreadsheet View: Copper Areas Tab ............................................................ 1-43

Spreadsheet View: Keep-ins/Keep-outs Tab .................................................. 1-44

Spreadsheet View: PCB Layers Tab............................................................... 1-45

Spreadsheet View: Parts Position Tab ............................................................ 1-45

Spreadsheet View: Statistics Tab.................................................................... 1-46

Customizing the Interface.............................................................................................. 1-46

Commands Tab ............................................................................................... 1-47

Toolbars Tab ................................................................................................... 1-47

Keyboard Tab.................................................................................................. 1-48

Menu Tab ........................................................................................................ 1-48

Options Tab..................................................................................................... 1-49

Customization of Pop-up Menus..................................................................... 1-49

Chapter 2 Beginning a Design

About Designs and Projects........................................................................................... 2-1

Creating a Project .......................................................................................................... 2-1

Creating a Design .......................................................................................................... 2-2

Creating a Design from a Netlist File............................................................................ 2-2

Working with Projects................................................................................................... 2-4

Opening an Existing File ............................................................................................... 2-5

Saving and Closing........................................................................................................ 2-5

Saving Technology Specifications from a Design ........................................................ 2-6

Loading Technology Files............................................................................................. 2-6

Selecting and Unselecting Elements ............................................................................. 2-7

Place and Select Modes ................................................................................................. 2-8

Searching for Design Elements ..................................................................................... 2-8

Options for Viewing the Design.................................................................................... 2-9

Using the Full Screen...................................................................................... 2-9

Magnifying and Shrinking the View............................................................... 2-10

Refreshing the Design..................................................................................... 2-11

Tool-tip Label ................................................................................................. 2-11

Chapter 3 Setting Up a Design

Working with Layers.....................................................................................................3-1

Defining Copper Layers.................................................................................. 3-1

Accessing Layers ............................................................................................ 3-3

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Working with the Board Outline ...................................................................................3-5

Using the Drawing Tools to Create a Board Outline ......................................3-5

Importing a DXF File ......................................................................................3-6

Using a Pre-Defined Board Outline ................................................................3-6

Using the Board Wizard ..................................................................................3-7

Setting the Board’s Reference Point..............................................................................3-8

Enter coordinate dialog box.............................................................................3-9

Design Rule Errors.........................................................................................................3-10

Working with the Group Editor .....................................................................................3-11

Add Group dialog box.....................................................................................3-11

Working with Net Groups ...............................................................................3-12

Working with Part Groups...............................................................................3-13

Working with Bus Groups...............................................................................3-15

Working with Differential Pairs ......................................................................3-17

Change Group Settings dialog box..................................................................3-18

Chapter 4 Working with Parts

Placing Parts ..................................................................................................................4-1

Dragging Parts from Outside the Board Outline .............................................4-1

Using the Parts Tab in the Spreadsheet View .................................................4-2

Tools to Assist Part Placement........................................................................4-5

Unplacing Parts ...............................................................................................4-15

Viewing and Editing Properties .....................................................................................4-15

Attributes .........................................................................................................4-15

Viewing and Editing Part Properties ...............................................................4-17

Viewing and Editing Attributes.......................................................................4-19

Viewing and Editing Shape/Graphics Properties ............................................4-20

Contents

Net Group Settings............................................................................3-19

Part Group Settings ...........................................................................3-19

Differential Pair Settings...................................................................3-20

Using the Parts Tab to Place Parts ....................................................4-3

Using the Parts Tab for Other Functions ..........................................4-4

Working with Ratsnests ....................................................................4-5

Working with Force Vectors.............................................................4-6

Dragging Parts...................................................................................4-7

Shoving Parts ....................................................................................4-7

Using Ruler Bars and Guides............................................................4-10

Orienting Parts ..................................................................................4-11

Aligning Shapes and Parts ................................................................4-11

Spacing Shapes and Parts..................................................................4-12

Placing a Group Array Box............................................................... 4-12

Replicating a Group ..........................................................................4-14

Contents

Placing Other Elements ................................................................................................. 4-20

Placing Mounting Holes and Connectors........................................................ 4-21

Placing Holes .................................................................................................. 4-21

Placing Shapes and Graphics .......................................................................... 4-21

Working with Jumpers .................................................................................... 4-23

Placing Jumpers................................................................................ 4-23

Viewing and Editing Jumper Properties ........................................... 4-23

Working with Test Points ............................................................................... 4-24

Placing Test Points ........................................................................... 4-24

Viewing and Editing Test Point Properties ...................................... 4-25

Working with Dimensions ..............................................................................4-25

Placing Dimensions .......................................................................... 4-25

Viewing and Editing Dimension Properties .....................................4-26

Placing Parts from the Database.................................................................................... 4-27

Editing Parts and Shapes ............................................................................................... 4-29

Editing a Placed Part (In-Place Edit) .............................................................. 4-29

Editing a Polygon............................................................................................ 4-30

Viewing and Editing Through Hole Pin Properties ........................................ 4-31

Viewing and Editing SMT Pin Properties....................................................... 4-33

Searching For and Replacing Parts................................................................................ 4-34

Searching for Parts in Open Designs .............................................................. 4-34

Locating a Part in a Design............................................................................. 4-34

Replacing Parts ............................................................................................... 4-35

Cross-probing ................................................................................................................ 4-35

Creating New Parts........................................................................................................ 4-35

Using the Database Manager to Create a Part................................................. 4-35

Using the Part Wizard to Create a Part ........................................................... 4-36

Managing the Database ................................................................................................. 4-41

Working with Database Categories................................................................. 4-43

Adding Parts to the Database .......................................................................... 4-44

Adding Parts using the Database Manager....................................... 4-45

Adding Parts using the Add Selection to Database Command ........ 4-45

Merging and Converting Databases .............................................................................. 4-46

Merging Databases.......................................................................................... 4-46

Converting Databases ..................................................................................... 4-47

Chapter 5 Working with Traces and Copper

Placing Traces ............................................................................................................... 5-1

Working with Traces....................................................................................... 5-2

Placing a Trace: Manual Method .................................................................... 5-2

Placing a Trace: Follow-me Method............................................................... 5-3

Placing a Trace: Connection Machine Method............................................... 5-4

NI Ultiboard User Manual x ni.com

Contents

Placing a Bus ...................................................................................................5-5

Working with Density Bars.............................................................................5-6

Working with Keep-in/Keep-out Areas...........................................................5-7

Placing Keep-in/Keep-out Areas ......................................................5-7

Viewing and Editing Keep-in/Keep-out Properties ..........................5-7

Equi-Spacing Traces........................................................................................5-9

Deleting a Trace ..............................................................................................5-9

Working with Other Copper Elements ..........................................................................5-10

Placing Copper Areas ......................................................................................5-10

Placing Powerplanes........................................................................................5-11

Splitting Copper...............................................................................................5-11

Converting a Copper Shape to an Area ...........................................................5-12

Deleting All Copper ........................................................................................5-12

Adding and Removing Teardrops ...................................................................5-13

Viewing and Editing Copper Properties ........................................................................5-13

Working with Vias.........................................................................................................5-15

Placing Vias.....................................................................................................5-15

Viewing and Editing Via Properties................................................................5-16

Placing SMD Fanouts ....................................................................................................5-18

Working with Nets.........................................................................................................5-19

Using the Nets Tab ..........................................................................................5-19

Using the Netlist Editor...................................................................................5-20

Adding a Net .....................................................................................5-21

Renaming a Net.................................................................................5-25

Deleting a Net ...................................................................................5-25

Deleting a Pin from a Net .................................................................5-26

Setting Net Widths ............................................................................5-26

Setting High Speed Parameters.........................................................5-26

Setting Miscellaneous Net Parameters..............................................5-27

Setting Group Parameters .................................................................5-27

Setting Via Parameters......................................................................5-28

Highlighting a Net ...........................................................................................5-28

Shielding Nets .................................................................................................5-28

Net Bridges......................................................................................................5-30

Creating a Net Bridge .......................................................................5-30

Placing a Net Bridge .........................................................................5-32

Copying a Copper Route .................................................................................5-33

Swapping Pins and Gates...............................................................................................5-34

Swapping Pins .................................................................................................5-34

Swapping Gates ...............................................................................................5-35

Automatic Pin/Gate Swapping ........................................................................5-38

Real-Time Pin/Gate Swapping........................................................................5-39

Contents

Chapter 6 PCB Calculators

PCB Transmission Line Calculator............................................................................... 6-1

Microstrip Trace Calculations......................................................................... 6-2

Embedded Microstrip Trace Calculations....................................................... 6-3

Centered Stripline Trace Calculations ............................................................ 6-4

Asymmetric Stripline Trace Calculations ....................................................... 6-5

Dual Stripline Trace Calculations ................................................................... 6-6

PCB Differential Impedance Calculator........................................................................ 6-7

Microstrip Calculations................................................................................... 6-8

Embedded Microstrip Calculations................................................................. 6-9

Centered Stripline Calculations ...................................................................... 6-11

Asymmetric Stripline Calculations ................................................................. 6-12

Chapter 7 Autorouting and Autoplacement

Autoroute Menu Items................................................................................................... 7-1

Autoplacement of Parts ................................................................................................. 7-2

Pre-Placing Parts ............................................................................................. 7-2

Understanding How the Autoplacer Works .................................................... 7-2

Running the Autoplacer .................................................................................. 7-3

Controlling the Autoplacer ............................................................................. 7-3

Strategies to Achieve Better Part Placement................................................... 7-5

Autorouting.................................................................................................................... 7-6

Understanding How the Autorouter Works .................................................... 7-6

Understanding the Four Fundamental Routing Functions .............................. 7-7

Router Preprocessing........................................................................ 7-7

Initial Routing................................................................................... 7-7

Rip-up and Retry Routing................................................................. 7-7

Optimization ..................................................................................... 7-8

Routing Selected Parts and Nets ..................................................................... 7-8

Running the Autorouter .................................................................................. 7-8

Interactivity....................................................................................... 7-9

Autorouting buses ........................................................................................... 7-9

Placing Automatic Test Points........................................................................ 7-10

Controlling the Routing Functions.................................................................. 7-11

Routing Options: General Tab..........................................................7-11

Routing Options: Cost Factors Tab .................................................. 7-12

Routing Options: Rip-Up Tab ..........................................................7-14

Routing Options: Optimization Tab ................................................. 7-15

Routing Options: Bus Autorouting Tab............................................7-16

Strategies to Achieve Better Routing Results ................................................. 7-17

NI Ultiboard User Manual xii ni.com

Chapter 8 Preparing for Manufacturing/Assembly

Placing and Editing Text................................................................................................8-1

Capturing Screen Area...................................................................................................8-2

Placing a Comment........................................................................................................8-3

Renumbering Parts.........................................................................................................8-5

Backannotation to Multisim...........................................................................................8-6

Mitering Corners............................................................................................................8-6

Manually Re-Running the Design Rules and Netlist Check..........................................8-8

Cleaning up the Board ...................................................................................................8-8

Deleting Open Trace Ends...............................................................................8-8

Deleting Unused Vias......................................................................................8-8

Exporting a File .............................................................................................................8-8

Using Export Settings......................................................................................8-9

Viewing and Editing Export Properties...........................................................8-10

Setting Gerber Properties ..................................................................8-10

Setting DXF Properties .....................................................................8-11

Setting NC Drill Properties ...............................................................8-11

Working with SVG Properties ..........................................................8-11

Working with other Properties..........................................................8-12

Exporting the Desired File...............................................................................8-14

Printing your Design......................................................................................................8-14

Previewing the Printed Design .....................................................................................8-15

Contents

Chapter 9 Viewing Designs in 3D

Viewing the Board in 3D ..............................................................................................9-1

Manipulating the 3D View ............................................................................................9-2

Controlling the Elements Viewed in 3D .........................................................9-3

Showing an Object’s Height............................................................................9-4

Internal View ...................................................................................................9-4

Exporting to 3D DXF ....................................................................................................9-5

Exporting to 3D IGES....................................................................................................9-6

Chapter 10 Using Mechanical CAD

Creating Mechanical CAD Projects...............................................................................10-1

Creating Mechanical CAD Design Files .......................................................................10-2

Importing a DXF File ......................................................................................10-3

Setting Mechanical CAD Properties and Options .........................................................10-3

Setting Mechanical CAD Properties ...............................................................10-3

Contents

Setting Mechanical CAD Colors..................................................................... 10-3

Controlling Workspace Elements for Mechanical CAD................................. 10-4

Setting Paths for Mechanical CAD................................................................. 10-5

Setting Mechanical CAD Dimensions ........................................................... 10-5

Appendix A Menus and Commands

File Menu.......................................................................................................................A-1

File»New Design............................................................................................. A-1

File»New Project............................................................................................. A-1

File»Open........................................................................................................ A-1

File»Open Samples ......................................................................................... A-1

File»Save......................................................................................................... A-1

File»Save As ................................................................................................... A-2

File»Save All................................................................................................... A-2

File»Close ....................................................................................................... A-2

File»Close Project ........................................................................................... A-2

File»Close All ................................................................................................. A-2

File»Import...................................................................................................... A-2

File»Export...................................................................................................... A-2

File»Save Technology..................................................................................... A-2

File»Load Technology .................................................................................... A-2

File»Print Setup............................................................................................... A-3

File»Print Preview........................................................................................... A-3

File»Print......................................................................................................... A-3

File»Recent Designs ....................................................................................... A-3

File»Exit.......................................................................................................... A-3

Edit Menu ...................................................................................................................... A-3

Edit»Undo ....................................................................................................... A-3

Edit»Redo........................................................................................................ A-3

Edit»Cut .......................................................................................................... A-4

Edit»Copy ....................................................................................................... A-4

Edit»Paste........................................................................................................A-4

Edit»Paste Special........................................................................................... A-4

Edit»Delete...................................................................................................... A-4

Edit»Copper Delete......................................................................................... A-4

Edit»Find......................................................................................................... A-5

Edit»Select All ................................................................................................A-5

Edit»Select Entire Trace ................................................................................. A-5

Edit»Group Selection...................................................................................... A-5

Edit»Ungroup Selection..................................................................................A-5

Edit»Lock........................................................................................................ A-5

Edit»Unlock .................................................................................................... A-5

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Contents

Edit»Selection Filter........................................................................................A-6

Edit»Orientation ..............................................................................................A-6

Edit»Align .......................................................................................................A-6

Edit»Vertex......................................................................................................A-7

Edit»In-Place Part Edit ....................................................................................A-7

Edit»Properties ................................................................................................A-7

View Menu ....................................................................................................................A-8

View»Full Screen ............................................................................................A-8

View»Redraw Screen ......................................................................................A-8

View»Zoom In.................................................................................................A-8

View»Zoom Out..............................................................................................A-8

View»Zoom Window ......................................................................................A-8

View»Zoom Full .............................................................................................A-8

View»Clearances.............................................................................................A-8

View»Grid .......................................................................................................A-8

View»Ruler Bars .............................................................................................A-9

View»Status Bar..............................................................................................A-9

View»Density Bars..........................................................................................A-9

View»Birds Eye...............................................................................................A-9

View»Design Toolbox.....................................................................................A-9

View»Spreadsheet View .................................................................................A-9

View»3D Preview ...........................................................................................A-9

View»Toolbars ................................................................................................A-9

Place Menu ....................................................................................................................A-10

Place»From Database ......................................................................................A-10

Place»Line .......................................................................................................A-10

Place»Select.....................................................................................................A-10

Place»Follow-me.............................................................................................A-11

Place»Connection Machine .............................................................................A-11

Place»Shape.....................................................................................................A-11

Place»Dimension.............................................................................................A-11

Place»Graphic»Line ........................................................................................A-11

Place»Graphic»Arc..........................................................................................A-12

Place»Graphic»Bezier .....................................................................................A-12

Place»Graphic»Picture ....................................................................................A-12

Place»Graphic»Text .......................................................................................A-12

Place»Copper Area..........................................................................................A-12

Place»Powerplane............................................................................................A-12

Place»Bus ........................................................................................................A-12

Place»Keep-in/Keep-out Area.........................................................................A-13

Place»Group Array Box ..................................................................................A-13

Place»Pins........................................................................................................A-13

Place»Via.........................................................................................................A-13

Place»Test Point ..............................................................................................A-13

Contents

Place»Jumper .................................................................................................. A-13

Place»Net Bridge ............................................................................................ A-13

Place»Hole ...................................................................................................... A-13

Place»Automatic Test Points .......................................................................... A-14

Place»Unplace Parts........................................................................................ A-14

Place»Comment .............................................................................................. A-14

Design Menu ................................................................................................................. A-14

Design»Netlist & DRC Check ........................................................................ A-14

Design»Connectivity Check ........................................................................... A-14

Design»Polygon Splitter ................................................................................. A-15

Design»Shape to Area..................................................................................... A-15

Design»Swap Pins........................................................................................... A-15

Design»Swap Gates ........................................................................................ A-15

Design»Automatic Pin Gate Swap.................................................................. A-15

Design»Part Shoving....................................................................................... A-15

Design»Set Reference Point............................................................................ A-15

Design»Shield Nets......................................................................................... A-15

Design»Fanout SMD....................................................................................... A-16

Design»Add Teardrops ................................................................................... A-16

Design»Corner Mitering ................................................................................. A-16

Design»Remove Unused Vias ........................................................................ A-16

Design»Group Replica Place ..........................................................................A-16

Design»Copy Route ........................................................................................ A-16

Design»Highlight Selected Net....................................................................... A-16

Tools Menu....................................................................................................................A-17

Tools»Board Wizard ....................................................................................... A-17

Tools»Part Wizard .......................................................................................... A-17

Tools»Database»Database Manager ............................................................... A-17

Tools»Database»Add Selection to Database .................................................. A-17

Tools»Database»Set Database Password........................................................ A-17

Tools»Database»Merge Database...................................................................A-17

Tools»Database»Convert Database ................................................................ A-18

Tools»PCB Transmission Line Calculator ..................................................... A-18

Tools»PCB Differential Impedance Calculator .............................................. A-18

Tools»Netlist Editor........................................................................................ A-18

Tools»Group Editor ........................................................................................ A-18

Tools»Quick Layer Toggle ............................................................................. A-18

Tools»Renumber Parts.................................................................................... A-18

Tools»Equi-space Traces ................................................................................ A-19

Tools»Change Shape....................................................................................... A-19

Tools»Update Shapes...................................................................................... A-19

Tools»Highlight Selection in Multisim........................................................... A-19

Tools»Capture Screen Area ............................................................................ A-19

Tools»View 3D ...............................................................................................A-19

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Contents

Tools»View 3D Position .................................................................................A-19

Tools»Show or Hide Height............................................................................A-19

Options Menu ................................................................................................................A-20

Options»Global Preferences............................................................................A-20

Options»PCB Properties..................................................................................A-20

Options»Customize User Interface..................................................................A-20

Autoroute Menu.............................................................................................................A-20

Window Menu ...............................................................................................................A-20

Window»New Window ...................................................................................A-20

Window»Close ................................................................................................A-20

Window»Close All ..........................................................................................A-21

Window»Cascade ............................................................................................A-21

Window»Tile Horizontal.................................................................................A-21

Window»Tile Vertical .....................................................................................A-21

Window»Windows ..........................................................................................A-21

Window»<open designs> ................................................................................A-21

Help Menu .....................................................................................................................A-21

Help»Ultiboard Help .......................................................................................A-21

Help»Release Notes.........................................................................................A-21

Help»Patents....................................................................................................A-21

Help»File Information .....................................................................................A-21

Help»About Ultiboard .....................................................................................A-22

Context Menus...............................................................................................................A-22

Select Menu .....................................................................................................A-22

Right-drag Menu .............................................................................................A-24

Place Trace Menu ............................................................................................A-24

Appendix B Archiving Data

Backing up the Corporate Database...............................................................................B-1

Backing up the User Database and Configuration files .................................................B-2

Appendix C Technical Support and Professional Services

Glossary

Index

User Interface

The following sections explain the basic components of the Ultiboard Graphical User Interface (GUI) and show how to set up user preferences and PCB properties.

Some of the described features may not be available in your edition of Ultiboard. Refer to the NI Circuit Design Suite Release Notes for a list of the features in your edition.

Introduction to the Ultiboard Interface

Ultiboard is the PCB layout application of National Instruments Circuit Design Suite, a suite of EDA (Electronics Design Automation) tools that assists you in carrying out the major steps in the circuit design flow. Ultiboard is used to design printed circuit boards, perform certain basic mechanical CAD operations, and prepare them for manufacturing. It also provides automated parts placement and layout.

Note For more information on the Ultiboard interface, and information on the other

components of NI Circuit Design Suite, refer to Getting Started with NI Circuit Design Suite.

Toolbars

The toolbars provide a quick, convenient way for you to access the most common Ultiboard functions. You can toggle toolbars on and off using the View»Toolbars menu.

Standard Toolbar

The Standard toolbar contains buttons for basic editing functions, and appears by default when you run Ultiboard. The Standard toolbar buttons are described in the table below.

Chapter 1 User Interface

Button Description

New File button. Creates a new project (if none are

currently open) or a new design if a project is currently open. Refer to the Creating a Project and Creating a

Design sections of Chapter 2, Beginning a Design, for

more information.

Open File button. Opens an existing project. Refer to the

Opening an Existing File section of Chapter 2, Beginning a Design, for more information.

Open Sample button. Opens the samples folder.

Save File button. Saves the active design to its current

name and directory. Refer to the Saving and Closing section of Chapter 2, Beginning a Design, for more information.

Print button. Displays the Print dialog. Refer to the

Printing your Design section of Chapter 8, Preparing for Manufacturing/Assembly, for more information.

Cut button. Cuts the selected element from the design and places it on the Windows Clipboard.

Copy button. Copies the selected element from the design and places it on the Windows Clipboard.

Paste button. Pastes the element from the Windows Clipboard to the design.

Undo button. Undoes the last action.

Redo button. Redoes the last action (used after undoing).

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View Toolbar

Chapter 1 User Interface

The View toolbar contains buttons for modifying the way the screen is displayed, and appears by default when you run Ultiboard. The View toolbar buttons are explained in the table below.

Button Description

Redraw the Screen button. Redraws the currently active

design workspace. Refer to the Refreshing the Design section of Chapter 2, Beginning a Design, for more information.

Toggle Full Screen button. Adjusts the size of the workspace so it displays the entire design. Refer to the

Using the Full Screen section of of Chapter 2, Beginning a Design, for more information.

Zoom In button. Zooms in on the design, providing a closer view. Refer to the Magnifying and Shrinking the

View section of Chapter 2, Beginning a Design, for more

information.

Zoom Out button. Zooms out on the design, providing a broader view.

Zoom Window button. Magnifies a selected part of the design. Refer to the Magnifying and Shrinking the View section of Chapter 2, Beginning a Design, for more information.

Zoom Bounds button. Shows the entire design, including objects that are outside of the board outline.

Chapter 1 User Interface

Main Toolbar

The Main toolbar contains buttons for common board design functions. Its buttons are described in the table below.

Button Description

Select button. De-activates any selected mode (for

example, for placing traces) and allows you to select an element on the board.

Show or Hide Design Toolbox button. Shows or hides the Design Toolbox. Refer to the Design Toolbox section for more information.

Show or Hide Spreadsheet button. Shows or hides the Spreadsheet View. Refer to the Spreadsheet View

section for more information.

Database Manager button. Displays the Database Manager. Refer to the Managing the Database section of

Chapter 4, Working with Parts, for more information.

Board Wizard button. Launches the Board Wizard. Refer to the Using the Board Wizard section of Chapter 3,

Setting Up a Design, for more information.

Part Wizard button. Starts the Part Wizard. Refer to the

Using the Part Wizard to Create a Part section of

Chapter 4, Working with Parts, for more information.

Place Part from Database button. Allows you to browse the database for a part to place. Refer to the Placing Parts

from the Database section of Chapter 4, Working with Parts, for more information.

Place Line button. Places a straight line on the design (or places a trace, if the active layer is a copper one). Refer to the Placing Shapes and Graphics section of Chapter 4,

Working with Parts, and the Placing a Trace: Manual Method section of Chapter 5, Working with Traces and Copper, for more information.

Follow-me button. Places a follow-me trace. Refer to the

Placing a Trace: Follow-me Method section of

Chapter 5, Working with Traces and Copper, for more information.

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Button Description

Place Via button. Places a via on the design. Refer to the

Working with Vias section of Chapter 5, Working with Traces and Copper, for more information.

Place Copper Area button. Places a copper area on the design.

Create Power Plane button. Places a powerplane on the design. Refer to the Placing Powerplanes section of Chapter 5, Working with Traces and Copper, for more information.

Design Rule Check button. Runs the Design Rule Check and places results in the Results tab.

Place Text button. Places text on the design. Refer to the

Placing and Editing Text section of Chapter 8, Preparing for Manufacturing/Assembly, for more information.

Show 3D button. Displays the current design in three dimensions. Refer to the section of Chapter 9, Viewing

Designs in 3D, for more information.

Chapter 1 User Interface

Help button. Displays the helpfile contents page.

Select Toolbar

The Select toolbar contains the functions used to control selection filters, and appears by default when you run Ultiboard. Please note that all filters are not available in all versions of Ultiboard. The Select toolbar buttons are explained in the table below.

Button Description

Enable Selecting Parts button. Use to allow or prevent

selection of parts.

Enable Selecting Traces button. Use to allow or prevent selection of traces.

Chapter 1 User Interface

Button Description

Enable Selecting Copper Areas button. Use to allow or

prevent selection of copper areas.

Enable Selecting Vias button. Use to allow or prevent selection of vias.

Enable Selecting Pads button. Use to allow or prevent selection of pads.

Enable Selecting SMD Pads button. Use to allow or prevent selection of Surface Mount Device pads.

Enable Selecting Attributes button. Use to allow or prevent selection of attributes.

Enable Selecting Other Objects button. Use to allow or prevent selection of other object on the PCB.

Draw Settings Toolbar

The Draw Settings toolbar lets you select the layer, thickness and unit of measure of a line or object that is being drawn. It also contains buttons for functions that control the appearance of lines and shapes drawn on any layer, except a copper layer. The Draw Settings toolbar elements are explained below.

Button Description

Selects the layer for the line or object being drawn.

Sets the thickness and unit of measure of the line being drawn, or of an object’s border. The maximum number of values that can be stored here are set in the Line Width

Cache Size field of the General tab of the Preferences dialog box.

Fill Color button. Sets the color of the layer’s fill.

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Button Description

Edit Toolbar

Chapter 1 User Interface

Fill Style button. Sets the fill style, either transparent or solid.

Line Color button. Sets the color of the layer’s line.

Line Type button. Sets the lines style, for example, solid,

dashed.

The Edit toolbar contains the functions used for editing specific elements, including in-place editing and orientation. The Edit toolbar buttons are explained in the table below.

Button Description

Toggle “In-Place” PCB Part Edit button. Activates In-Place Edit for placed PCB parts. Refer to the Editing

a Placed Part (In-Place Edit) section of Chapter 4, Working with Parts, for more information.

Toggle “In-Place” Edit Text or Attribute button. Allows you to edit the selected text.

Rotate Clockwise button. Rotates selected item clockwise. Refer to the Orienting Parts section of Chapter 4, Working with Parts, for more information.

Rotate Counter Clockwise button. Rotates selected item counter-clockwise. Refer to the Orienting Parts section of Chapter 4, Working with Parts, for more information.

Swap Layer button. Places a part on mirror layer. Refer to the Orienting Parts section of Chapter 4, Working with

Parts, for more information.

Chapter 1 User Interface

Align Toolbar

The Align toolbar contains the functions used to align and space design elements. Refer to the Aligning Shapes and Partsand Spacing Shapes and

Parts sections of Chapter 4, Working with Parts, for more information.

The Align toolbar buttons are explained in the table below.

Button Description

Align Left button. Aligns the left sides of the selected

parts.

Align Right button. Aligns the right sides of the selected parts.

Align Top button. Aligns the top edges of the selected parts.

Align Bottom button. Aligns the bottom edges of the selected parts.

Align Center Horizontal button. Shifts the selected elements horizontally so their centers are aligned.

Align Center Vertical button. Shifts the selected elements vertically so their centers are aligned.

Align to Coordinate button. Displays the Enter coordinate dialog box where you enter new coordinates

for the selected element.

Space Across button. Spaces three or more objects beside each other evenly.

Space Across Plus button. Increases horizontal space between two or more objects.

Space Across Min button. Decreases horizontal space between two or more objects.

Space Down button. Spaces three or more objects above each other evenly.

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Place Toolbar

Chapter 1 User Interface

Button Description

Space Down Plus button. Increases vertical space

between two or more objects.

Space Down Min button. Decreases vertical space between two or more objects.

The Place toolbar contains the functions used to place elements such as traces, lines and polygons on the design. The Place toolbar buttons are explained in the table below.

Button Description

Place Comment button. Places a comment on the design.

Refer to the Placing a Comment section of Chapter 8,

Preparing for Manufacturing/Assembly, for more

information.

Capture Area button. Captures a section of the screen and places it on the system clipboard.

Select button. De-activates any selected mode (for example, for placing traces) and allows you to select an element on the board.

Place Line button. Places a line on the design (or place a trace, when used on a copper layer). Refer to the Placing

Shapes and Graphics section of Chapter 4, Working with Parts, for more information.

Place Arc button. Places an arc on the design. Refer to the

Placing Shapes and Graphics of Chapter 4, Working with Parts, section for more information.

Place Bezier button. Places a bezier curve on the design. Refer to the Placing Shapes and Graphics section of Chapter 4, Working with Parts, for more information.

Place Circle button. Places a circle on the design. Refer to the Placing Shapes and Graphics section of Chapter 4,

Working with Parts, for more information.

Chapter 1 User Interface

Button Description

Place Ellipse button. Places an ellipse on the design.

Refer to the Placing Shapes and Graphics section of Chapter 4, Working with Parts, for more information.

Place Pie button. Places a pie-shape on the design. Refer to the Placing Shapes and Graphics section of Chapter 4,

Working with Parts, for more information.

Place Rounded Rectangle button. Places a rectangle with rounded corners. Refer to the Placing Shapes and

Graphics section of Chapter 4, Working with Parts, for

more information.

Place Rectangle button. Places a rectangle on the design. Refer to the Placing Shapes and Graphics section of Chapter 4, Working with Parts, for more information.

Place Polygon button. Places a polygon on the design. Refer to the Placing Shapes and Graphics section of Chapter 4, Working with Parts, for more information.

Place Copper Area button. Places a polygon copper area on the design. Refer to the Placing Copper Areas section of Chapter 5, Working with Traces and Copper, for more information.

Follow-me button. Places a follow me trace, a trace that automatically draws a legal trace between two selected points. Refer to the Placing a Trace: Follow-me Method section of Chapter 5, Working with Traces and Copper, for more information.

Place Multiple Traces as a Bus button. Use to connect multiple traces between multi-pinned devices such as ICs. Refer to the Placing a Bus section of Chapter 5, Working

with Traces and Copper, for more information.

Place Group Array Box button. A group array box is used to place parts in an array. Refer to the Placing a

Group Array Box section of Chapter 4, Working with Parts, for more information.

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Button Description

Place Text button. Places text on the design. Useful for

annotation purposes. Refer to the Placing and Editing

Text section of Chapter 8, Preparing for Manufacturing/Assembly, for more information.

Place a Standard Dimension button. Places a dimension between any two selected points. Refer to the Working

with Dimensions section of Chapter 4, Working with Parts, for more information.

Place a Horizontal Dimension button. Places a horizontally-oriented dimension between two selected points. Refer to the Working with Dimensions section of Chapter 4, Working with Parts, for more information.

Place a Vertical Dimension button. Places a vertically-oriented dimension between two selected points. Refer to the Working with Dimensions section of Chapter 4, Working with Parts, for more information.

Place a Net Bridge button. Places a net bridge connection. Refer to the Net Bridges section of Chapter 5,

Working with Traces and Copper, for more information.

Chapter 1 User Interface

Place a Hole button. Places a hole on your PCB.

Place a Via button. Places a via on the design. Refer to

the Working with Vias section of Chapter 5, Working with

Traces and Copper, for information.

Place Pins button. Places pins on the design when editing or creating a part in In-place Edit mode or Footprint Edit mode. Refer to the Editing a Placed Part (In-Place Edit) and Using the Database Manager to Create a Part sections of Chapter 4, Working with Parts, for more information.

Chapter 1 User Interface

Wizard Toolbar

Button Description

Polygon Splitter button. Splits copper areas and

powerplanes. Refer to the Splitting Copper section of Chapter 5, Working with Traces and Copper, for more information.

Remove Copper Islands button. Removes copper islands. Refer to the Placing Copper Areas section of Chapter 5, Working with Traces and Copper, for more information.

The Wizard toolbar contains the wizard functions supported by Ultiboard. The Wizard toolbar buttons are explained in the table below.

Button Description

Board Wizard button. Starts the Board Wizard. Refer to

the Working with the Board Outline section of Chapter 3,

Setting Up a Design, for more information.

Part Wizard button. Starts the Part Wizard. Refer to the

Using the Part Wizard to Create a Part section of

Chapter 4, Working with Parts, for more information.

Autoroute Toolbar

The Autoroute toolbar contains the autorouting and placement functions supported by Ultiboard. The Autoroute table below.

Button Description

Begin Autoplacing button. Starts automatically placing

parts.

Autoroute Selected Buses button. Displays the Bus Autorouting dialog.

Start Trace Optimization button. Starts trace optimization.

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toolbar buttons are explained in the

Button Description

Setting Preferences

This section explains general procedures for setting preferences. The following sections describe details of setting specific options.

Complete the following steps to set your user preferences:

1. Choose Options»Global Preferences. The Preferences dialog box

appears, offering you the following tabs:

• General Tab

• Paths Tab

• Colors Tab

• PCB Design Tab

• Dimensions Tab

• 3D Options Tab

2. Select the desired tab.

3. Set the desired customization options. The specific options and settings available in the tabs are described in the following sections.

4. Click OK to save your changes.

Chapter 1 User Interface

Start/Resume Autorouting button. Starts automatically placing traces.

Stop/Pause Autorouter button.

General Tab

Complete the following steps to change workspace options:

1. Choose Options»Global Preferences and select the General tab.

2. Set the Fullscreen mode, View, Crosshair and Mouse wheel behavior settings as desired.

3. Set the following as desired:

• Auto save settings—Enable to have changes automatically saved

(at the specified Time interval).

• Minimum control point size—The size of the contol points on

vertices and other objects.

Chapter 1 User Interface

Paths Tab

• Line width cache size—The number of recently used line widths

Ultiboard keeps in memory. Minimum cache size is 5.

• Undo buffer size—The number of undo actions allowed.

• Load last file on startup—Enable if you would like to continue

working on the last file you had open in your previous Ultiboard session.

• Unicode Settings box—If desired, enable the Save .TXT files as plain text checkbox.

• Language—Select the desired language from the list. You must restart Ultiboard for all dialog boxes to reflect the new setting.

4. To apply your changes but leave the Preferences click Apply. To apply your changes and close the Preferences box, click

OK.

dialog box open,

dialog

The Ultiboard installation puts specific files in specific locations. If necessary you can point Ultiboard to a new location to find, for example, database files. You can also use this dialog box to create and specify user settings files that contain individuals’ preferences for all options.

Complete the following steps to change file locations:

1. Choose Options»Global Preferences. The Preferences dialog box appears.

2. Select the Paths tab.

3. Change the following as desired:

• Circuit Default Path—This is where all new files are saved,

unless you manually navigate to a new location when saving.

• User Button Images Path—This is where you store any

user-created button graphics.

4. Change the User Settings as desired:

• Configuration File—Contains the user interface settings.

• New User Configuration File—Click to create a new user

configuration file and select an item from the drop-down list.

5. Change the settings in the Database Files area as desired:

• Master Database—The location of the Master Database.

• Corporate Database—The location of the Corporate Database.

• User Database—The location of the User Database.

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Colors Tab

Chapter 1 User Interface

Ultiboard allows you to set up color schemes for the workspace background and other displayed elements.

Complete the following steps to set up color schemes:

1. Choose Options»Global Preferences. The Preferences dialog box

appears.

2. Select the Colors tab and complete the following as required:

• To apply an existing color scheme, either the default or one you

have created, choose from the Color scheme drop-down list.

• To modify an existing color scheme, choose it from the Color scheme drop-down list. From the Color element drop-down list, choose the element whose color you want to modify. Click the color button (unlabelled) and choose a new color for that element. Your change is stored with the color scheme when you click Apply or OK.

• To create a color scheme, click New scheme and provide a scheme name. The element colors remain at the value they had in the most recently loaded scheme. Modify the element colors as described above, and save your changes by clicking Apply or OK.

• To add a color element, click New element and enter a name. The element appears in the Color element list, and you can choose a color for the element.

• Optionally, enable the Preview grayed out checkbox to switch the preview visibility on or off and adjust and select the Grayed out factor.

Your changes are reflected in the Preview area.

3. To apply your changes but leave the Preferences click Apply. To apply your changes and close the Preferences box, click

OK.

dialog box open,

dialog

PCB Design Tab

Use the PCB Design tab of the Preferences dialog box to define a variety of actions associated with the overall PCB design.

Complete the following steps to define the default actions:

1. Choose Options»Global Preferences. The Preferences appears.

2. Select the PCB Design tab.

dialog box

Chapter 1 User Interface

3. Set the viewing options in the View area:

• Show pin 1 mark—Enable to display pin 1 of a device with a

unique marking.

• Show Copper Areas—Enable to display copper areas. This

applies to copper areas only, not regular polygon shapes on non-copper layers.

• Show pin info in pin—Enable to display the pin number and hole

size when zoomed in.

4. In the On select entire trace area:

• Select Across Layers—Enable so that when you choose Edit»Select Entire Trace, the trace will be selected across all layers, instead of just the active layer.

5. In the Part Drag area:

• Re-route after move—Enable if you would like the traces that are attached to a part to be re-routed if you move the part.

6. In the Default pin diameters area:

• Units—Select unit of measurement from drop-down list.

• Jumpers—Enter the default pin diameter for jumpers.

• Testpoints—Enter the default pin diameter for testpoints.

7. In the Action on DRC error area, set the actions to be taken when

Ultiboard encounters a Design Rule Error:

• Cancel the current action—Enable to prevent the current operation from being completed. For example, placing a trace over a pad that is part of a different netlist will not be permitted.

• Ask for Confirmation—Enable so that if an invalid operation is attempted a prompt is given asking if the operation should be completed even though a Design Rule will be violated.

• Overrule—Enable to permit the operation to be completed.

8. In the On trace deletion area:

• Auto delete Via (standard)—Enable to have vias automatically deleted when you delete the trace associated with that via.

• Auto delete teardrop—Enable to have teardrops automatically deleted when you delete the trace associated with that teardrop.

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Chapter 1 User Interface

9. In the On trace placement area:

• Auto trace narrowing—Enable to allow traces to narrow as

necessary during routing.

• Auto add teardrop—Enable to add a teardrop when a trace is

placed.

10. In the DRC & Net check area:

• No Realtime Check—Enable to prevent a DRC and netcheck in

“real time” as you place objects, for example, parts.

• Check on action end—Enable to perform a DRC and netcheck

after each action, for example, part placement.

• Full Realtime Check—Enable to perform DRC checks and

ratnest updates to your work in “real time” (as you place objects, for example, parts).

11. In the Follow me router area:

• Continuous place—Enable to have the next trace begin from the

finish point of the previous trace when placing a “Follow-me” trace. If this is not selected, you must click to start a new trace.

Refer to the Placing a Trace: Follow-me Method section in Chapter 5,

Working with Traces and Copper, for information about Follow-me

traces.

12. In the Crosshair area:

• Trace snap—Enable to have the pointer snap to the nearest trace.

Refer to the Working with Traces section in Chapter 5, Working with

Traces and Copper, for information about using trace snap.

13. In the Post processing area:

• Show fiducial marks—Enable to show fiducial marks when you

postprocess this design. Fiducial marks are used to align layers with each other. As shown in the figure below, Ultiboard uses three different types of cocentric circles as fiducial marks. These are placed on three of the four corners of a design when it is printed or exported to Gerber.

Chapter 1 User Interface

Dimensions Tab

14. To apply your changes but leave the Preferences dialog box open, click Apply. To apply your changes and close the Preferences

dialog

box, click OK.

Use the Dimensions tab of the Preferences dialog box to define the characteristics to be used for any dimensions placed in the board. Refer to the Working with Dimensions section of Chapter 4, Working with Parts, for information about placing dimensions.

Complete the following steps to define the default dimension characteristics:

1. Choose Options»Global Preferences. The Preferences

dialog box

appears.

2. Click the Dimensions tab.

3. Set the following as desired:

• Units—This is the unit of measure for Stub Length, Arrow Style

and Text Style.

• Stub Length—This is the amount the end lines of the dimension

protrude above eacg arrowhead.

• Arrow Style—This is where you adjust the size and appearance

of the arrow.

• Text Style—This is where you adjust the size and appearance of

the text.

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3D Options Tab

Chapter 1 User Interface

• Displayed Unit—Select the unit of measure to be displayed with the dimension. If you select Use Design Settings, the unit of measure selected in the Design Units field of the Grids & Units tab of the PCB Properties dialog box are used. This setting also appears in the Draw Settings toolbar.

• Alignment and Position—These are where you set how the text appears in relation to the arrow.

• Orientation—This is where you select the angle at which the dimension displays.

The results of your choices are previewed on the tab.

4. To apply your changes without closing the dialog box, click Apply.

Existing dimensions are not affected. To apply your changes and close the dialog box, click OK.

Complete the following steps to set 3D viewer options:

1. Choose Options»Global Preferences

and select the 3D Options tab.

2. To change the background color in the 3D viewer, click on the shaded

rectangle beside Background color. The Color dialog box appears.

3. Select the desired color and click OK in the Color dialog box.

4. Optionally, enable the Show Copper and Silkscreen while moving

checkbox.

5. Set the Internal View Options as desired.

Tip The more space that you set between the layers, the easier they will be to view when

you zoom in on the PCB in the 3D mode. Refer to the Internal View section of Chapter 9,

Viewing Designs in 3D, for more information.

6. To apply your changes but leave the Preferences click Apply. To apply your changes and close the Preferences

dialog box open,

dialog

box, click OK.

Chapter 1 User Interface

Setting PCB Properties

Many characteristics of your PCB design are controlled through the PCB Properties dialog box including the number of layers, design rules and grid

settings. These settings are saved with the design and will be in effect when the design is reopened.

Do one of the following to display the PCB Properties dialog box for the board:

• With nothing selected on the board, right-click on an empty portion of

the board and choose Properties from the context menu that appears.

• Click on an empty portion of the board and choose Edit»Properties.

• Double-click on an empty portion of the board.

Attributes Tab

All properties dialog boxes for all design elements have an Attributes tab, although a design’s PCB typically does not have any attributes. Refer to the

Attributes section of Chapter 4, Working with Parts, for information about

adding attributes.

Grid & Units Tab

Use the Grid & Units tab of the PCB Properties dialog box to control Ultiboard grids and set the unit of measurement for your design.

Complete the following steps to set up the grid properties:

1. Choose the default units of measure from the Design Units list.

2. In the Grid area, set the following elements as desired:

• Grid Type—Select Standard Grid for a rectangular grid, or Polar Grid, for a circular grid.

• Visible grid style—This is where you set the style for the Visible Grid. (The Visible Grid provides a visual reference for you to visually align parts and traces).

• Visible grid—This is the distance between the grid’s elements (dots, lines or crosses) that you set up in the Visible grid style field.

• Grid Step Name—Use this field to change the distance between a grid’s elements. Select the desired grid: Part Grid; Copper Grid; Via Grid; SMD Grid, and then enter the desired increment in the Grid Step Value field.

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Copper Layers Tab

Chapter 1 User Interface

• Degree Step—This field becomes active when Polar Grid is selected in the Grid Type field. Enter the desired distance between the grid’s elements (dots, lines or crosses). Select the unit of measure in the drop-down list to the right of this field—choices are: degrees, radians, or grads.

• Grid start offset—This field becomes active when Polar Grid is selected in the Grid Type field. Enter the distance to offset the center of the polar grid: X is horizonatal offset; Y is vertical offset.

3. Click OK to close the dialog.

To show or hide the visible grid, select View»Grid.

Use the Copper Layers tab of the PCB Properties dialog box to determine the layer pairs that are acceptable for blind, buried or micro vias. This is used when you try to place a via. Your choices will affect the cost of the board, and should be confirmed with the board manufacturer.

This tab also allows you to set the default clearance for the board—the distance from the edge of the board that is to be kept free of any other elements. For example, if you try to run a trace through a clearance, or try to place a part so that a pad is put within a clearance, a design rule error occurs.

Note If you used the Board Wizard, the layer information and clearance may already

have been set. Refer to the Using the Board Wizard section of Chapter 3, Setting Up a

Design, for more information.

Complete the following steps to set up the Copper Layers tab:

1. Set the number of layer pairs you intend to use by entering the value or

using the up/down arrows in the Layer Pairs field. There should be at least one layered pair to act as a core.

2. Set the number of Single Layer Build-ups for both the top and

bottom. There should be at least one layered pair to act as a core.

3. Select the Micro Vias, Buried Vias, or Blind Vias checkboxes to use

these in your design.

Chapter 1 User Interface

4. As you make changes to the layer settings, the Allowed Vias pane

shows the acceptable layer combinations for blind and buried vias or microvias. Use the checkboxes to select the layer combinations you want to allow in your design as shown in the example in the figure below.

5. In the Allow Routing area, from the Copper Layer drop-down list,

select the copper layer for which you wish to assign routing properties and click Properties to display the Copper Layer Properties dialog box.

Enable the Routable checkbox to allow routing on the selected layer. In the Trace Bias drop-down list, select one of Horizontal; Vertical; or None.

Click OK to close the Copper Layer Properties dialog box.

6. In the Board area, enter the desired Board Outline Clearance and Board Thickness.

7. Click OK to close the dialog box.

Pads/Vias Tab

Use the Pads/Vias tab of the PCB Properties dialog box to set the following:

• Through Hole Pad Annular Ring

• Vias

• Microvias

• Maximum Vias Per Net

• Surface Mount Pads Oversize

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Chapter 1 User Interface

Through Hole Pad Annular Ring

Footprints in the database have been designed with pad sizes in accordance with the manufacturers’ recommendations. To change these settings you can edit the footprint in the database or directly on the design using the In-place Part Edit command. Alternatively, you can apply a set of design rules to specific footprints or to the entire design.

The annular ring setting (the ring of copper around the drill hole of a pad or via) allows you to specify either a fixed value (for example, 50 mils) or a relative value that depends on the radius of the drill hole size. For example, a 50 mil drill hole (radius of 25 mils) with a relative value of .6 (60%) will create an annular ring of 15 mils (60% of 25 mils). When using relative settings, it is important to choose minimum and maximum values to ensure that the annular ring will never go beyond those bounds.

Complete the following to enter an annular ring setting:

1. Click the button beside the desired field (Top, Inner or Bottom) in the Pad/Vias tab. The Through Hole Pad Properties dialog box appears.

Choose Fixed and enter the fixed value.

Choose Relative and enter the relative setting. Be sure to choose Min and Max values.

Complete the following to apply the design rules to a footprint:

1. Select the footprint and choose Edit»In-Place Part Edit.

2. Select the pads to which the rule should apply.

3. Right-click and, from the context menu, choose Properties.

4. On the

Pad tab of the properties dialog box, enable Use Design Rules.

Vias

The Vias setting sets the default Drill Diameter and Pad Diameter to be used when a via is placed during trace placement. This setting also applies to vias that have already been placed in the design.

Microvias

The Micro Vias area is where you set the default via dimensions to be used when a microvia is placed during trace placement. This setting will also apply to microvias that have already been placed in the design.

Chapter 1 User Interface

General Layers Tab

The Capture Land Diameter field determines the land diameter where the microvia starts, while Target Land Diameter determines the diameter where the microvia ends. These terms are in accordance with the IPC and JPCA joint standard IPC/JPCA-2315, Design Guide for High Density Interconnects (HDI) and Microvias. The Maximum Layer Span is either one or two layers.

Maximum Vias Per Net

The Nets area is where you set up the maximum number of vias allowed per net.

Surface Mount Pads Oversize

Depending on the manufacturing process you are using, you may wish to enlarge the size of all surface mount pads by a fixed amount. This can be set independently for the Top and Bottom layers. The setting refers to the amount that will be added to the pad. In the case of a circular pad this amount is added to the radius. In the case of a rectangular or square pad the amount will be added to the width and length.

Use the General Layers tab of the PCB Properties dialog box to control which layers are available on the board.

Complete the following steps to control the numbers of layers in the board:

1. Add layers to the board by selecting the checkbox beside the layer name.

2. Remove layers from the board by clearing the checkbox beside the layer name.

Note You can have a layer available on the board, and temporarily dim or hide it. Refer to

the Accessing Layers section of Chapter 3, Setting Up a Design, for more information.

Note There are up to ten mechanical CAD layers in PCB design. These layers allow you

to provide information that is directly related to the PCB. You place elements on them to represent the mechanical elements of your design – for example, cabinet casing or mounting brackets.

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Design Rules Tab

Chapter 1 User Interface

Complete the following steps to rename layers:

1. Click Rename in the Layer Names area. The Select Layer for Renaming dialog box appears.

2. Select the layer that you wish to rename and click OK. The Layer dialog box appears.

3. Enter the new Layer Name and click OK.

Complete the following steps to set the design rules for the PCB:

1. Click on the Design Rules tab.

2. In the Design Rule Default Values area, set the following as desired:

• Trace Width Settings—Set trace width and minimum and

maximum trace width.

• Trace Length Settings—Set minimum and maximum trace

length.

• Trace Neck Settings—Set minimum and maximum trace neck

length.

• Clearance Settings—Set clearance to traces, pads, vias and

copper areas. For all of these clearances to be active, and display in the Spreadsheet View, the Use multiple clearances checkbox must be selected. Otherwise, only clearance to traces will be operational.

• Part Spacing Settings—Set minimum distance between parts.

This setting only applies to the spacing during part shoving.

Tip To set this option for an individual part, go to the Part tab of that part’s properties

dialog box. Refer to the Shoving Parts section of Chapter 4, Working with Parts, for more information.

• Pin & Gate Swapping Settings—Set parameters for pin and gate

swapping.

• Thermal Relief—Set the thermal relief shape.

• Drill Technology—Set the minimum tool size for slot drilling.

For information on any setting, select it in the Design Rule Default Values area. A description appears in the field at the bottom of the dialog.

Chapter 1 User Interface

Setting Favorite Layers

You can assign shortcuts for up to ten layers using the Favorite layers tab. These shortcuts can then be used to make a layer active. The active layer is the layer where any new elements will be placed, or where any deletions will be made.

Complete the following steps to assign shortcut numbers to layers:

1. Click on the Favorite layers tab.

2. Select the desired layer from the drop-down list beside each layer

number. For example, you may wish to assign Layer 2 to the Copper Bottom layer.

3. Click OK.

To make a layer active, press <Ctrl-Alt-layer number> on your keyboard. The layer becomes active and is highlighted in the Layers tab of the Design Toolbox.

In the above example, pressing <Ctrl-Alt-2> on your keyboard makes the Copper Bottom layer active.

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Design Toolbox

The Design Toolbox, shown in the figure below, is a vital part of the user interface. You will use it often to manage your design efforts by controlling major parts of Ultiboard’s functionality. To toggle it on or off, select View»Design Toolbox.

Chapter 1 User Interface

The Design Toolbox is made up of two tabs:

• The Projects tab lets you view the projects that are currently open. Each project may contain one or more designs. Double-click to make a particular design the current view.

• The Layers tab lets you move between layers of your design, control the appearance of layers, and perform several other functions.

Chapter 1 User Interface

Birds Eye View

Note All layers appear in the Birds Eye View, whether or not they have been disabled in

the Layers tab of the Design Toolbox.

The Birds Eye View shows you the design at a glance and lets you easily navigate around the workspace.

To magnify a specific area on the design, drag a rectangle around the desired area on the Birds Eye View. The rectangle snaps to the same ratio as the design space.

In the example in the figure below, the green rectangle that was drawn encloses the four ICs in the middle of the Birds Eye View, and the design has magnified to display only the items that are selected within this rectangle.

To move the rectangle, hold down the right mouse button anywhere over the Birds Eye View, and drag the rectangle to the desired location.

Tip You cannot resize the selection rectangle in the Birds Eye View. Instead, you must

draw another rectangle of the required size. When you do this, the original rectangle disappears.

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Spreadsheet View

The Spreadsheet View allows fast advanced viewing and editing of parameters including part details such as footprints, Reference Designators, attributes and design constraints.

By default, the Spreadsheet View does not appear until you have opened a project. To toggle the Spreadsheet View on and off, select View»Spreadsheet View.

The following buttons are available in the Spreadsheet View.

Note The buttons do not appear in all tabs.

Button Description

Chapter 1 User Interface

Export to Textfile button. Displays a standard Windows Save dialog where you save the selection as a textfile.

Export to CSV File button. Displays a standard Windows Save dialog where you save the selection as a file with comma-separated values.

Export to Excel button. Click to open a Microsoft® Excel spreadsheet with the selected data displayed. (You must have Excel installed to use this function).

Sort Ascending button. Sorts the selected column in ascending order.

Sort Descending button. Sorts the selected column in descending order.

Print button. Prints the data in the selected tab.

Select All button. Selects all elements in the tab.

Copy button. Copies the selection to the clipboard.

Chapter 1 User Interface

Note You can also access the above commands from a pop-up menu by right-clicking in

the Spreadsheet View.

Button Description

Find and Select the Part button. Zooms in on the

selected part. Refer to the Using the Parts Tab for Other

Functions section of Chapter 4, Working with Parts, for

more information.

Lock the Selected Part button. Locks the selected unlocked parts or unlocks the selected locked parts. Refer to the Using the Parts Tab for Other Functions section of Chapter 4, Working with Parts, for more information.

Start Placing the Unpositioned Parts button. Refer to the Using the Parts Tab to Place Parts section of Chapter 4, Working with Parts, for more information.

Show preview button. Toggles the Spreadsheet View’s Preview function on and off. Refer to the Using the Parts

Tab for Other Functions section of Chapter 4, Working with Parts, for more information.

Spreadsheet View: DRC Tab

The DRC tab displays errors (for example, Design Rule Errors) and warnings as they occur while you work. Errors are labeled with red triangles, and warnings are labeled with yellow circles, as shown in the example in the figure below.

Double-click on an error or warning to go to its location on the workspace.

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Chapter 1 User Interface

When you right-click on an item in the DRC tab, a pop-up menu displays with the following available selections:

• Copy—Copies all items in the

DRC tab and places them on the

clipboard.

• Go to Error/Tag—Click to go to the highlighted error or warning on the workspace.

• Add to Filter—Click to filter out the selected error/warning type. This type of error/warning will no longer show in the DRC tab.

• Remove all filters—Click to remove all error/warning types from the filter. All errors and warnings will now show in the DRC tab.

• Start Filter Manager—Click to start the Filter Manager. Refer to the Filter Manager section for more information.

Filter Manager

Use the Filter Manager to filter desired errors & warnings out of the DRC tab in the Spreadsheet View.

Complete the following steps to use the Filter Manager:

1. Right-click in the DRC tab of the Spreadsheet View and select Start filter manager from the pop-up that appears.

The Filter Manager dialog box appears with a list of errors and warnings that are filtered out of the DRC tab. If this is the first time you are accessing this dialog box, it will be empty.

2. Click Add Filter to display the Add Filter(s) dialog box.

Chapter 1 User Interface

3. Select the error type(s) to add to the filter. You can use the Ctrl and Shift keys to select multiple items.

4. Click OK to close the Add Filter(s) dialog box and add the selected items to the Filter Manager.

5. Click Close to close the Filter Manager dialog box. The selected error types no longer display in the DRC tab.

To remove an error type from the Filter Manager, select the error type and click Remove Filter.

To remove all error types, click Remove All.

Spreadsheet View: Results Tab

The Results tab displays the results of searching for elements in the design. Refer to the Searching for Design Elements section of Chapter 2,

Beginning a Design, for more information.

It also displays the results of running a connectivity check. Refer to the

Design»Connectivity Check section of Appendix A, Menus and Commands, for more information.

Note The Results tab flashes red when it contains new data.

Double-click a line in this tab to zoom in on the corresponding area of the design.

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You can also right-click an item to display a popup that contains Copy; Clear Results; Go to.

Spreadsheet View: Parts Tab

Use the Parts tab to work with the parts in your design. Refer to the Using

the Parts Tab in the Spreadsheet View section of Chapter 4, Working with Parts, for more information.

Column Description

(unlabelled) The colored circle indicates whether the part has been

Chapter 1 User Interface

placed on the board outline (bright green), or is off to the side awaiting placement (dark green). Orange indicates the part has been locked.

RefDes The part’s Reference Designator (unique identifier).

Value The part’s value, for example, 150 pF for a capacitor.

Shape The physical footprint of the part.

Locked Yes indicates that the part cannot be moved. No

indicates that the part can be moved.

Trace Clearance

Part Spacing This is the minimum spacing allowed between parts.

This is the minimum spacing allowed between the part and any trace. You can enter a value here, or use the Group Editor. Refer to the Working with the

Group Editor section of Chapter 3, Setting Up a Design, for more information.

You can enter a value here, or use the Group Editor. Refer to the Working with the Group Editor section of Chapter 3, Setting Up a Design, for more information.

Chapter 1 User Interface

Column Description

Pin Swap If enabled, allows like-pins to be swapped during the

routing process. You can choose either No (not enabled), Yes or Use Group Settings. Refer to the

Working with the Group Editor section of Chapter 3, Setting Up a Design, for more information.

Gate Swap If enabled, allows like-gates, to be swapped during the

routing process. You can choose Internal Gates

Only, which will swap gates within the same IC; No Swapping; Advanced Swapping, which will swap

gates between ICs (both devices must be set to Advanced Swapping); or Use Group Settings. Refer to the Working with the Group Editor section of Chapter 3, Setting Up a Design, for more information.

Part Group The group in which the part is placed. You can select

No Group or an existing group from the drop-down

list. Parts groups are created in the Group Editor. Refer to the Working with the Group Editor section of Chapter 3, Setting Up a Design, for more information.

Spreadsheet View: Part Groups Tab

Use the Part Groups tab to work with part groups as described in the table below.

Column Description

Part Group This is the group in which the part is contained. Refer

to the Working with the Group Editor section of Chapter 3, Setting Up a Design, for more information.

Trace Clearance

Part Spacing This is the minimum spacing allowed between parts in

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This is the minimum spacing allowed between the parts in the group and any trace. You can enter a value here, or use the Group Editor. Refer to the Working

with the Group Editor of Chapter 3, Setting Up a Design, section for more information.

the group. You can enter a value here, or use the Group Editor. Refer to the Working with the Group

Editor of Chapter 3, Setting Up a Design, section for

more information.

Column Description

Pin Swap If enabled, allows pins for like-parts to be swapped

Gate Swap If enabled, allows like-gates, to be swapped during the

Locked Yes indicates that the part cannot be moved. No

Spreadsheet View: Nets Tab

Use the Nets tab to work with the net lists in your design. Refer to the Using

the Nets Tab section for more information.

Column Description

(unlabelled) The colored circle indicates whether the copper for

Chapter 1 User Interface

during the routing process.

routing process. You can choose Internal Gates

Only, which will swap gates within the same IC; No Swapping; or Advanced Swapping, which will swap

gates between ICs (both devices must be set to Advanced Swapping).

indicates that the part can be moved.

the net has been routed, that is, placed on the board outline (bright green), or is awaiting placement (dark green). Orange indicates the copper for the net has been locked. You cannot lock the net until it has been routed.

Net Name The net’s unique identifier.

Locked Yes indicates that the net cannot be moved. No

indicates that the net can be moved. You cannot lock a net until it has been routed.

Trace Width The “default” width of the trace that is placed during

routing. You can enter a value here, or use the Group Editor. Refer to the Working with the Group Editor of Chapter 3, Setting Up a Design, section for more information.

Max Width The maximum width to which a trace will be laid

during routing. You can enter a value here, or use the Group Editor. Refer to the Working with the Group

Editor of Chapter 3, Setting Up a Design, section for

more information.

Chapter 1 User Interface

Column Description

Min Width The minimum width to which a trace will be laid

during routing. You can enter a value here, or use the Group Editor. Refer to the Working with the Group

Editor of Chapter 3, Setting Up a Design, section for

more information.

Topology The topology of the net as set in the Netlist Editor.

Choices are Shortest, Daisy Chain and Star. Refer to the Using the Netlist Editor section of Chapter 5,

Working with Traces and Copper, for more

information. This feature is not available in all versions of Ultiboard.

Trace Length Length of the routed net.

Max Length Maximum allowable length of copper in a net. Not

applicable (N/A) if Topology is set to Shortest.

Min Length MInimum allowable length of copper in a net. Not

applicable (N/A) if Topology is set to Shortest.

Trace Clearance

This is the minimum spacing allowed between the parts in the group and any trace. You can enter a value here, or use the Group Editor. Refer to the Working

with the Group Editor section of Chapter 3, Setting Up a Design, for more information.

Routing Layers

The routing layers assigned to this net group. Click to display the Layers to Apply dialog box, where you set the layers to use for routing copper.

Routing Priority

The routing priority for the selected net. 1 is the highest priority, 2 the second highest, etc. Leave as None if priority routing is not required. This feature is not available in all versions of Ultiboard.

Net Group This is the group in which the net is contained. You

can either enter the group name here, or use the Group Editor. Refer to the Working with the Group

Editor section of Chapter 3, Setting Up a Design, for

more information.

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Chapter 1 User Interface

Column Description

Bus Group This is the bus group in which the net is contained.

You can either enter the group name here, or use the Group Editor. Refer to the Working with the Group

Editor section of Chapter 3, Setting Up a Design, for

more information.

Differential Pair

This is the differential pair to which the net belongs. Refer to the Working with the Group Editor section of Chapter 3, Setting Up a Design, for more information.

Shield Net Use the drop-down list to select the net to use to shield

this net. This feature is not available in all versions of Ultiboard.

Shield Width Width of the net’s shield. This feature is not available

in all versions of Ultiboard.

Show Ratsnest

This is where you can show or hide the ratsnest for the selected net. Refer to the Working with Ratsnests section of Chapter 4, Working with Parts, for more information.

Max Via Count

This is the maximum number of vias allowed for the selected net. You can use either the global settings, or the group settings.

Via Drill

This is the diameter of the via pad’s hole.

Diameter

Via Pad

This is the diameter of the total via pad.

Diameter

Chapter 1 User Interface

Spreadsheet View: Nets Groups Tab

Use the Net Groups tab to work with net groups.

Column Description

Net Group This is the group in which the net is contained. You

can either enter the group name here, or use the Group Editor. Refer to the Working with the Group Editor section of Chapter 3, Setting Up a Design, for more information.

Trace Width The “default” width of the traces in the group that are

placed during routing. You can enter a value here, or use the Group Editor. Refer to the Working with the

Group Editor of Chapter 3, Setting Up a Design,

section for more information.

Max Width The maximum width to which a trace in the group will

be laid during routing. You can enter a value here, or use the Group Editor. Refer to the Working with the

Group Editor of Chapter 3, Setting Up a Design,

section for more information.

Min Width The minimum width to which a trace in the group will

be laid during routing. You can enter a value here, or use the Group Editor. Refer to the Working with the

Group Editor section of Chapter 3, Setting Up a Design, for more information.

Max Length Maximum allowable length of copper in a net group.

Not applicable (N/A) if Topology is set to Shortest.

Min Length MInimum allowable length of copper in a net group.

Not applicable (N/A) if Topology is set to Shortest .

Trace Clearance

Routing Layers

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This is the minimum spacing allowed between the traces in the group and any other trace. You can enter a value here, or use the Group Editor. Refer to the

Working with the Group Editor of Chapter 3, Setting Up a Design, section for more information.

The routing layers assigned to this net group. Click to display the Layers to Apply dialog box, where you set the layers to use for routing copper.

Column Description

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Routing Priority

Locked Yes indicates that the part cannot be moved. No

Max Via Count

The routing priority for the selected net group. 1 is the highest priority, 2 the second highest, etc. Leave as None if priority routing is not required. This feature is not available in all versions of Ultiboard.

indicates that the part can be moved.

This is the maximum number of vias allowed in the net group.

Spreadsheet View: SMT Pads Tab

Use the SMT Pads tab to work with pad information for surface-mount devices.

Column Description

Pad Name The unique identifier for the pad, by RefDes and Pin

Number. For example, U1, P1 is pin number one of the device with RefDes U1.

Pad Shape The shape of the pad as set in the SMT Pin

Properties dialog box. Refer to the Viewing and

Editing SMT Pin Properties section of Chapter 4, Working with Parts, for more information.

Pad Radius The radius of the pad as set in the SMT Pin

Properties dialog box. Refer to the Viewing and

Editing SMT Pin Properties section of Chapter 4, Working with Parts, for more information.

Pad Width The width of the pad as set in the SMT Pin

Properties dialog box. Refer to the Viewing and

Editing SMT Pin Properties section of Chapter 4, Working with Parts, for more information.

Pad Height The height of the pad as set in the SMT Pin

Properties dialog box. Refer to the Viewing and

Editing SMT Pin Properties section of Chapter 4, Working with Parts, for more information.

Chapter 1 User Interface

Column Description

Trace Clearance

Neck Length The default length of the neck where the trace attaches

Neck Max The maximum permitted length of the neck where the

Neck Min The minimum permitted length of the neck where the

The clearance of the trace to parts. You can use net settings, or as set in the SMT Pin Properties dialog box. Refer to the Viewing and Editing SMT Pin

Properties section of Chapter 4, Working with Parts,

for more information.

to the pin, as set in the SMT Pin Properties dialog box. You can also enter the value here. Refer to the

Viewing and Editing SMT Pin Properties section of

Chapter 4, Working with Parts, for more information.

trace attaches to the pin, as set in the SMT Pin Properties dialog box. You can also enter the value here. Refer to the Viewing and Editing SMT Pin

Properties section of Chapter 4, Working with Parts,

for more information.

trace attaches to the pin, as set in the SMT Pin Properties dialog box. You can also enter the value here. Refer to the Viewing and Editing SMT Pin

Properties of Chapter 4, Working with Parts, section

for more information.

Min Width The minimum permitted trace width.

Spreadsheet View: THT Pads Tab

Use the THT Pads tab to work with pad information for through-hole technology devices.

Column Description

Pad Name The unique identifier for the pad, by RefDes and Pin

Number. For example, U1, P1 is pin number one of the part with RefDes U1.

Top Pad Shape

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The shape of the top layer pad as set in the Through Hole Pin Properties dialog box. Refer to the Viewing

and Editing Through Hole Pin Properties section of

Chapter 4, Working with Parts, for more information.

Column Description

Chapter 1 User Interface

Inner Pad Shape

The shape of the inner layer pad as set in the Through Hole Pin Properties dialog box. Refer to the Viewing

and Editing Through Hole Pin Properties section of

Chapter 4, Working with Parts, for more information.

Bottom Pad Shape

The shape of the bottom layer pad as set in the Through Hole Pin Properties dialog box. Refer to the Viewing and Editing Through Hole Pin Properties section of Chapter 4, Working with Parts, for more information.

Annular Ring The size of the annular ring for this pad as set in the

Through Hole Pin Properties dialog box. Refer to

the Viewing and Editing Through Hole Pin Properties section of Chapter 4, Working with Parts, for more information.

Pad Diameter The diameter of the pad as set in the Through Hole

Pin Properties dialog box. Refer to the Viewing and

Editing Through Hole Pin Properties section of

Chapter 4, Working with Parts, for more information.

Drill Diameter

The diameter of the drill hole in the pad, as set in the Through Hole Pin Properties dialog box. Refer to the Viewing and Editing Through Hole Pin Properties section of Chapter 4, Working with Parts, for more information.

Trace Clearance

The minimum clearance permitted between the pad and traces, as set in the Through Hole Pin Properties dialog box. Refer to the Viewing and Editing Through

Hole Pin Properties section of Chapter 4, Working with Parts, for more information.

Chapter 1 User Interface

Spreadsheet View: Vias Tab

Use the Vias tab to work with via information.

Column Description

Assume Net The unique identifier for the net to which the via is

Lamination Double-click to display the Select the lamination

Pad Diameter The diameter of the via as set in the Via Properties

connected. Can be changed by using the drop-down list.

that is to be used for this via dialog box, where you select the layers that the via is to run between.

This setting cannot be changed for micro vias.

dialog box. Refer to the Viewing and Editing Via

Properties section of Chapter 5, Working with Traces and Copper, for more information.

Drill Diameter

Trace Clearance

Locked Yes indicates that the via cannot be moved. No

Soldermask The side of the board on which the solder mask for the

Type The type of via. This field is read-only.

The diameter of the drill hole in the via, as set in the Via Properties dialog box. Refer to the Viewing and

Editing Via Properties section of Chapter 5, Working with Traces and Copper, for more information.

The minimum clearance permitted between the via and traces, as set in the Via Properties dialog box. Refer to the Viewing and Editing Via Properties section of Chapter 5, Working with Traces and

Copper, for more information.

indicates that the via can be moved.

via is found. Choices are: Both; Bottom; None; Top.

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Spreadsheet View: Copper Areas Tab

Use the Copper Areas tab to work with information for copper areas.

Column Description

Layer The layer on which the copper area is found, as set in

the Copper Area Properties dialog box. Refer to the

Viewing and Editing Copper Properties section of

Chapter 5, Working with Traces and Copper, for more information.

Locked Yes indicates that the copper area cannot be moved.

No indicates that the copper area can be moved.

Net The unique identifier for the net to which the copper

area is connected.

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Trace Clearance

Thermal Relief Style

Spoke Width The size of the spokes a thermal relief, as set in the

The minimum clearance permitted between the copper area and traces, as set in the Copper Area Properties dialog box. Refer to the Viewing and

Editing Copper Properties section of Chapter 5, Working with Traces and Copper, for more

information.

The style of thermal relief for the copper area, as set in the Copper Area Properties dialog box. Refer to the Viewing and Editing Copper Properties section of Chapter 5, Working with Traces and Copper, for more information.

Copper Area Properties dialog box. Refer to the

Viewing and Editing Copper Properties section of

Chapter 5, Working with Traces and Copper, for more information.

Chapter 1 User Interface

Spreadsheet View: Keep-ins/Keep-outs Tab

Use the Keep-ins/Keep-outs tab to work with information for Keep-in or Keep-out areas.

Column Description

Name Name of the Keep-in or Keep-out. Can be entered

here, or in the Keep-in/Keep-out Properties dialog box. Refer to the Working with Keep-in/Keep-out

Areas section of Chapter 5, Working with Traces and Copper, for more information.

Type Indicates whether the area is a Keep-in or a Keep-out.

Can be set here or in the Keep-in/Keep-out Properties dialog box. Refer to the Working with

Keep-in/Keep-out Areas section of Chapter 5, Working with Traces and Copper, for more

information.

Locked Yes means that the Keep-in/out area cannot be moved

or edited. No means that the Keep-in/out area can be moved.

Layers To Apply

Net Group Double-click to display the Select Groups dialog

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Double-click to display the Layers To Apply dialog box, where you select the layers to which you wish to apply the Keep-in/out. You can also set this in the Keep-in/Keep-out Properties dialog box. Refer to the Working with Keep-in/Keep-out Areas section of Chapter 5, Working with Traces and Copper, for more information.

box, where you select the net group to which you wish to apply the Keep-in/out. You can also set this in the Keep-in/Keep-out Properties dialog box. Refer to the Working with Keep-in/Keep-out Areas section of Chapter 5, Working with Traces and Copper, for more information.

Chapter 1 User Interface

Column Description

Part Group Double-click to display the Select Groups dialog

box, where you select the part group to which you wish to assign the Keep-in/out. You can also set this in Keep-in/Keep-out Properties dialog box. Refer to the Working with Keep-in/Keep-out Areas section of Chapter 5, Working with Traces and Copper, for more information.

Heights Bigger Than

Assign a height (z-axis) value to theKeep-in/out. Can be entered directly, or in the

Properties

Keep-in/Keep-out Areas with Traces and Copper

Spreadsheet View: PCB Layers Tab

Use the PCB Layers tab to work with layer information.

Column Description

Layer Name The name of the layer, for example, Copper Top.

Routable Select Yes to allow trace routing on the layer; select

No to prevent trace routing on the layer.

Trace Bias Set the trace bias by selecting Horizontal, Vertical or

None.

Type The type of layer. Choices are Ground, Power,

Signal or Unassigned.

Spreadsheet View: Parts Position Tab

Use the Parts Position tab to view and export part position information.

Keep-in/Keep-out

dialog box. Refer to the

section of Chapter 5, , for more information.

Working with

Working

Column Description

RefDes The part’s Reference Designator.

Position X The part’s position on the X axis.

Position Y The part’s position on the Y axis.

Side The side of the PCB on which the part appears.

Rotation The orientation of the part on the PCB.

Chapter 1 User Interface

Spreadsheet View: Statistics Tab

This tab displays the following statistics:

• Total number of pins.

• Pins in a net.

• Not connected pins.

• Test pins.

• Jumpers.

• Total number of vias.

• Total number of connections.

• Unrouted connections.

• Completion.

• Total number of parts.

• Total number of nets.

Customizing the Interface

The Ultiboard user interface is highly customizable. Toolbars can be docked in various positions and orientations. The contents of the toolbars may be customized. New toolbars can be created. The menu system is fully customizable, including all pop-up menus for the various object types.

The keyboard shortcut system is also customizable. This allows for any keys or key combinations to be assigned to any command that may be placed in a menu or on a toolbar.

Complete the following to customize the interface:

1. Select Options»Customize User Interface.

2. Make changes in the Customize dialog’s tabs as detailed in the following sections:

• Commands Tab

• Toolbars Tab

• Keyboard Tab

• Menu Tab

• Options Tab

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Commands Tab

Chapter 1 User Interface

The Commands tab in the Customize dialog box is used to add commands to menus and toolbar.

Complete the following steps to add a command to a menu or toolbar:

1. Drag the desired command from the Commands list to the desired menu or toolbar. When a command is selected in the Command list, its description is displayed in the Description field.

2. If you do not see the command that you require, click on another selection in the Categories list to display more commands.

3. If you wish to add a button to a toolbar that is not showing, click on the Toolbars tab and click in the checkbox beside the desired toolbar to make it visible.

4. Click Close when customizations are complete.

To remove a command from a menu or toolbar, right-click on it and select

Delete from the pop-up that appears. The Customize dialog box must be

open when you do this.

To change the position of a command that is in a menu or toolbar, drag it to its new location. The Customize dialog box must be open when you do this.

Toolbars Tab

The Toolbars tab in the Customize dialog box is used to show or hide toolbars, and to add new custom toolbars.

Complete the following steps to use the features in this tab:

1. To display a toolbar, switch on the checkbox beside the desired toolbar in the Toolbars list.

2. Switch off a checkbox to hide a toolbar.

Note You cannot switch off the Menu bar.

Chapter 1 User Interface

3. The buttons in this tab function as follows:

• Reset All—Displays the Reset Toolbars dialog box, where you

select whether to reset the currently selected toolbars, or all toolbars. You are prompted to select the configuration file you wish to use, for example, “default.ewcfg”.

• New—Displays the Toolbar Name dialog box, where you enter the name for a new toolbar. When you click OK, a new toolbar with the name that you entered is created. Follow the steps in the

Commands Tab section to add buttons to the toolbar.

• Rename—Use to rename a toolbar that you have created yourself. You cannot rename toolbars that are included in Ultiboard by default.

• Delete—Use to delete the selected toolbar. You cannot delete toolbars that are included in Ultiboard by default.

• Show text labels—Select this checkbox to show the text labels (for example, “Save”) in the toolbar, along with the command’s icon.

4. Click Close when customizations are complete.

Keyboard Tab

Menu Tab

The Keyboard tab is used to set up keyboard shortcuts.

Complete the following steps to set up keyboard shortcuts:

1. Choose a menu from the Category drop-down list and the desired command from the Commands list. If a shortcut is already assigned, it appears in the Current Keys field.

2. Enter a new shortcut in the Press New Shortcut Key field.

3. Click Close when customizations are complete.

The Menu tab is used to modify the various context-sensitive menus that appear when you right-click from various locations in Ultiboard.

Complete the following steps to display the desired menu:

1. Select the desired menu set from the Select Context Menu list.

2. Right-click on the menu that appears and edit as desired.

3. Select the desired menu effects using the Menu animations drop-down list and the Menu shadows checkbox.

drop-down

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Options Tab

Use the Options tab in the Customize dialog box to set up the appear of Ultiboard’s toolbars—switch the checkboxes on or off as desired.

Customization of Pop-up Menus

To customize the appearance of toolbar buttons and menu items, a pop-up menu is available when the Customize dialog box is open.

Complete the following steps to display the pop-up:

1. Be sure you have the Customize dialog box open.

2. Right-click on either a menu item or toolbar and select the desired option.

3. When you select Button Appearance, the Button Appearance dialog box appears, where you can change the appearance of the selected toolbutton.

Chapter 1 User Interface

Beginning a Design

The following sections explain how to start a design in Ultiboard.

Some of the described features may not be available in your edition of Ultiboard. Refer to the NI Circuit Design Suite Release Notes for a list of the features in your edition.

About Designs and Projects

Designs are stored inside projects, allowing you to group them together for easy access. In this way, all designs that have a logical connection between them (that is, they may all relate to a specific project) are conveniently located in one file.

Creating a Project

Complete the following steps to create a new project file:

1. Choose File»New Project. The New Project dialog box appears.

2. Type the project name in the Project name field.

3. From the Design type drop-down list, select PCB Design. The other option allows you to use Ultiboard’s CAD capabilities (for example, front panels, enclosures). Refer to the Using Mechanical CAD section for more information about these capabilities.

4. Indicate the folder where the file is to be kept. Either accept the default shown in the Location field, or click the browse button to select a different location.

5. Click OK. The New Project dialog box disappears, and a blank design is opened, with the same name as that of the project file. The file you just created is also shown in the Projects tab of the Design Toolbox, along with its corresponding design.

Chapter 2 Beginning a Design

Creating a Design

A design is created automatically when you create a project file. You can also create a design and assign it to an existing project file. Remember that a design must always be associated with a project.

Complete the following steps to create a design file:

1. Choose File»Open and open the project to which the design is to be

added.

2. Choose File»New Design. The New Design dialog box appears.

3. Type the design name in the Design Name field.

4. From the Design Type drop-down list, select PCB Design. Refer to the

Using Mechanical CAD section of Chapter 10, Using Mechanical CAD, for more information on the Mechanical CAD Design file type.

5. Choose which of the open projects is to contain the design. The Add to project drop-down list shows only the open projects.

6. Click OK. The New Design dialog box disappears, and a blank design with the name that you specified is opened. The Projects that the new design is a part of the project file that you specified.

tab shows

Creating a Design from a Netlist File

You can create a design based on a netlist file. A netlist contains information about a given board's nets (the electrical connections between pins) and parts. Multisim generates a required to import the schematic into Ultiboard.

Note If PCB constraints are set in the Multisim file, they will also be included in the netlist

file. The file also contains Trace Width Analysis results if you checked the Set Node Trace Widths Using the Results from This Analysis check box when doing the analysis

in Multisim.

The following is an example of net information from a netlist file. A value of

-1.000000000000 indicates that the Ultiboard default value will be

used for that parameter when the file is imported into Ultiboard.

(nets

(net "VCC"

(trackwidth "-1.000000000000")

(trackwidth_max "-1.000000000000")

(trackwidth_min "-1.000000000000")

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.EWNET file which has all the details

Chapter 2 Beginning a Design

(tracklength_max "-1.000000000000")

(tracklength_min "-1.000000000000")

(clearance_to_trace "-1.000000000000")

(clearance_to_pad "-1.000000000000")

(clearance_to_via "-1.000000000000")

(clearance_to_copper "-1.000000000000")

(routing_layer "")

(settings_locked "0")

(net_group "")

)

The following is an example of component information from a netlist file.

(components

(instance "7SEG8DIP10A" "U1"

(device "SEVEN_SEG_DECIMAL_COM_A_BLUE")

(value "SEVEN_SEG_DECIMAL_COM_A_BLUE")

(gateswap "0")

(pinswap "0")

(component_space "0.00000000e+000")

(component_group "")

(settings_locked "0")

(comp_variants "Default1;")

(comp_variant_independent "0")

(pin "5"

(net "10")

(pintype "BIDIR")

(gategroup "")

(pingroup "")

(label "D")

(gate "")

)

(pin "4"

(net "11")

(pintype "BIDIR")

(gategroup "")

(pingroup "")

(label "E")

(gate "")

Chapter 2 Beginning a Design

Complete the following steps to import a netlist file:

1. Select File»Import»UB Netlist, navigate to the desired file (for example, Trace Width and Clearance dialog box appears.

2. Enter the desired Units, Width, and Clearances values and click OK. The Import Netlist Action Selection dialog box appears.

3. Select the desired actions, for example, OK. A board outline is placed on the workspace with the parts ready to be placed.

Working with Projects

Designs and projects appear in the Projects tab of the Design Toolbox.

Getting Started 2.EWNET) and click Open. The Default

Add New Net: VCC and click

To open a project or design shown in the Projects tab, click on it or right-click on it and, from the context menu, choose Open Window.

To rename a design, right-click on it and, from the context menu, choose Rename. You can then type a new name for the design.

To delete a design shown in the Projects tab, right-click on it and, from the context menu, choose Remove Design. (To delete a project file, delete it from its current location on the system.)

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Opening an Existing File

Complete the following steps to open an existing file:

1. Choose File»Open. A standard file section dialog box appears, with the Files of Type list defaulted to Ultiboard files.

2. In the Files of type list, choose the kind of file to open. You can open the following:

• Ultiboard files (

• Orcad files (

• Protel files (

• Gerber files (

• DXF files (

• Ultiboard 4 & 5 design files (

• Ultiboard 4 & 5 libraries (

• Netlist files (

• Calay netlist files (

Note To view all files in the folder created by NI Circuit Design Suite software, and any

other software, select

*.*.

Chapter 2 Beginning a Design

*.ewprj).

*.max, *.llb).

*.pcb, *.ddb).

*.g).

*.dxf).

*.ddf).

*.l55).

*.ewnet, *.net, *.nt7).

*.net).

3. Select a file from the list displayed and click Open. The file opens, along with its associated project.

• If you open an Ultiboard project file, you see the designs within

that project in the Projects tab

• If you opened a

.ddf file, you see the design appear in the

workspace. A file with the same name is created automatically.

Saving and Closing

To save a file, right-click on the project file name in the Projects tab and, from the context menu, choose Save also saves the designs in the file. You can also select a file in the Projects tab and click the save icon. Saving a design also saves a file (and therefore any other designs in the file).

To save a file with a new name and/or location, choose File»Save As and provide the new name and/or location. All designs in the file are saved in the new location.

or choose File»Save. Saving a file

Chapter 2 Beginning a Design

To save all open file and designs, choose File»Save All.

To close the current file and its designs, choose File»Close. If you have any unsaved changes in the file or designs, you are prompted to save the file and/or designs.

To close all open projects and designs, choose File»Close All. If you have any unsaved changes in the projects or designs, you are prompted to save the projects and/or designs.

Saving Technology Specifications from a Design

You can save the technology specifications from the current design into a technology file. This technology file can be used to import technology settings into another design.

Complete the following steps to save a design’s technology specifications:

1. Have the desired design open in Ultiboard.

2. Select File»Save Technology. The Technology File Settings dialog

box appears.

3. Select the technology parameters you want to save and click OK.

A standard Windows Save dialog appears. Select the desired location for the technology file, enter its name in the File name field and click Save.

Loading Technology Files

You can load technology specifications from a technology file that you saved earlier. Refer to the Saving Technology Specifications from a Design section for more information.

Complete the following steps to load technology into the active file:

1. Select File»Load Technology. A standard Windows Open dialog

appears.

2. Navigate to the desired folder, highlight the desired technology file and

click Open. The Technology Import dialog displays.

3. Select the desired items to load into your open design file and click

OK.

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Selecting and Unselecting Elements

You can select and unselect single and multiple elements in a design such as parts, holes, and traces.

To select a single element on a board, click the element. A dotted line around the element, or running through the trace, indicates that it has been selected.

Complete the following to select multiple elements on a board:

Hold down the Shift key while clicking the elements that you want to select.

Click and drag to draw a box around the elements you wish to select. When you release the mouse button, the elements that were inside the box are selected.

Chapter 2 Beginning a Design

To select all elements on a board, choose

Complete the following steps to select an entire trace, not just a trace segment:

1. Select a segment belonging to the trace you want to select.

2. Choose Edit»Select Entire Trace. The entire trace is then selected.

To unselect one element, select another element or click outside of the board outline.

To unselect one element in a group of selected elements, hold the Ctrl key down and click the element to be unselected.

Edit»Select All

or press <Ctrl-A>.

Using Selection Filters

As you add more parts and traces to a board, it can become more difficult to select only those which you want to use. Ultiboard provides you with selection filters to allow controlled selections. The selection filters are found in Edit»Selection Filter and the Select toolbar. By default, all the selection filters are on, that is, you can select any element. Use the filters to select or not select specific elements by toggling the choices on and off. For example, to select only traces, disable the other selection filters and enable only the traces one. As you work through your design, you will find different combinations of selection filters helpful to prevent accidentally selecting (and potentially modifying) elements.

Chapter 2 Beginning a Design

Place and Select Modes

Ultiboard assumes that placing shapes, parts, or traces on a board are actions you are likely to repeat. As a result, when you place items on the board, you remain in “place mode” (the cursor has a small icon attached, indicating what is being placed) so that you can continue to place the same type of item repeatedly. After placing a shape, part, or trace on a board, the pointer continues to carry the icon, and is ready to place another object like the one you just placed. You must cancel this mode and return to “select mode” in order to perform other functions.

Complete the following to cancel the place mode and return to select mode:

1. Right-click

Press <E

Choose Place»Select.

SC>

Searching for Design Elements

To find out if an element exists in an open project, you can search for it with the Edit»Find command. While this command works much like a Find function in other applications, it also allows you to search for an element by name, by number, by shape, by value, or by all variables.

Complete the following steps to find an element in an open design:

1. Choose Edit»Find. The Find

2. In the Find what field, enter what you want to search for. You can

search for an element by specifying any of the values of its attributes (for example, name, number, shape), with or without wildcards. If you leave this field blank, you will find all elements in the design.

Note The Find what drop-down list shows all the searches you have made in this session.

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dialog box appears.

Chapter 2 Beginning a Design

3. To constrain your search to only certain attributes, choose from the

Find special drop-down list. For example, if you enter “test” in the Find what field, you will find all elements with the string “test” in any of their attributes. However, if you choose Name from the Find special drop-down list, you will find only elements with “test” in their

name.

4. Optionally, enable the Match case and/or Match whole word check boxes.

5. Click Find. The search results appear in the Results tab of the Spreadsheet View.

6. Click on the Results tab in the Spreadsheet View.

7. To navigate to one of the found elements, double-click it in the Results tab.

Right-click on the desired element and select Go to menu that appears.

The element is selected and shown in the workspace.

To clear the information in the Results tab, right-click anywhere in the

Results tab and select Clear Results

from the pop-up menu that appears.

from the pop-up

Options for Viewing the Design

Your view of the design can be manipulated a number of ways to make things easier to see while editing, as well as to see what the finished design will look like.

Using the Full Screen

When you open Ultiboard for the first time, the program displays the workspace with the menu and toolbars, the Birds Eye View and the Design Toolbox. To get a better view of the workspace, you can either use the zoom functions to magnify it, or have the workspace take up the full screen. Refer to the Magnifying and Shrinking the View section for more information about the zoom functions.

Chapter 2 Beginning a Design

When you display a design on the full screen, everything except the design disappears (depending on your settings in the Preferences scrollbars may or may not appear). Menu functions can still be used through their keyboard shortcuts—for example, you can use F8 to zoom in, and F9 to zoom out. Again, depending on the Preferences settings, you may be able to pan through the design by moving your cursor over the outside edges.

To switch the workspace to a full screen display, choose View»Full Screen.

Complete the following steps to return from the full screen display to the multi-screen display:

1. Locate the Full Screen Close button. It will be floating over the

design.

2. Click the Full Screen Close button to return to the multi-pane display.

Magnifying and Shrinking the View

You can use the zoom functions to magnify or shrink all or part of the design.

dialog box,

dialog box

To magnify part of the design, choose View»Zoom In, or press <F8>. You may need to adjust your view of the magnified design by using the scroll bars.

Complete the following to magnify a selected area on the design:

1. Choose View»Zoom Window, or press <F6>, then click and drag a

rectangular area on the board to define the area to be zoomed in on.

Define an area by clicking and dragging in the Birds Eye View.

To shrink the view of the design, choose View»Zoom Out, or press <F9>.

To return to the full view of the design after zooming in or out, press <F7>.

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Refreshing the Design

After adding and changing elements, the design can begin to look a little confusing, with bits and pieces of elements looking like they have been left behind on the design after being moved, for example. This can be for many reasons, including the limitations of the computer monitor being used, although it does not affect the design.

Complete the following to clean up the design, removing any extraneous images that should not be there:

1. Choose View»Redraw Screen.

Tool-tip Label

Complete the following to change your cursor to include a tool-tip label that contains object information:

1. Hold down the Ctrl key as you move your mouse over the workspace.

Chapter 2 Beginning a Design

Click Redraw in the View toolbar or press <F5>.

The information in the label changes depending on the object over which it hovers.

Setting Up a Design

The following sections explain the basic functions you must perform to get your board set up. These tasks should be performed before you begin placing parts and/or traces.

Some of the described features may not be available in your edition of Ultiboard. Refer to the NI Circuit Design Suite Release Notes for a list of the features in your edition.

Working with Layers

The following are discussed in this section:

• Defining Copper Layers

• Accessing Layers

Defining Copper Layers

Ultiboard lets you define boards from 2 to 64 layers thick. Your initial design decisions are important because it is difficult to change the design, for example, from a 6-layer design with blind and buried vias to a normal feed-through design, after the board has been completed. Your decisions are also important in terms of manufacturing cost. A 6-layer board with blind and buried vias will cost significantly more to manufacture than a 4-layer board with normal feed-through vias.

When setting the number of copper layers you also select the lamination settings that will be used when the board is manufactured. This is important as these settings are used by Ultiboard’s internal design rule engine when placing blind and buried vias or micro vias.

There are two methods of fabricating a PC board (both methods can be used in combination):

• The first method uses layered pairs of copper on a substrate (usually cured fiberglass/resin) that have been etched and are then laminated together with a partially cured fiberglass/resin substrate (prepreg). Heat and mechanical pressure are used to activate the prepreg and bond layered pairs with other layered pairs.

Chapter 3 Setting Up a Design

• The other method typically uses a layered pair as a core to which single layers of copper foil are added to build up the board. Prepreg is also used to bond the layers. Build-up layers are usually added in equal numbers to the top and bottom of the core to prevent warping of the final product.

A via is a plated through-hole in a printed circuit board used to connect two or more layers, as well as the top and bottom surfaces of the board.

• Blind via—Any via that connects the top or bottom layer of a board to one of the internal layers.

• Buried via—Any via that connects internal layers.

• Normal through-hole via—Any via that connects all layers (top, bottom, and internal).

• Micro via—A via that is less than 5 mils in diameter, that connects a maximum of two build-up layers only.

The lamination sequence used determines the acceptable layer combinations for placing blind and buried vias or microvias. For example, if all layers are layered pairs then blind vias can only be placed between an outer layer and completely through a layered pair (see diagram for an example). Once the lamination sequence is determined, Ultiboard calculates the acceptable layer combinations for blind and buried vias or micro vias. You then choose which ones to use in your design from these possible combinations.

The figure below shows a cross-section of a multi-layer PCB.

The number of copper layers in a board can be set in either the Board Wizard or in the PCB Properties dialog box. Refer to the Using

the Board Wizard section and the Copper Layers Tab section of Chapter 1, User Interface, for more information.

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Accessing Layers

Chapter 3 Setting Up a Design

The Layers tab of the Design Toolbox allows you to move through the layers of your PCB design, and control their appearance.

To display the Layers tab, click the Layers tab in the Design Toolbox. The tab appears, as shown in the figure below:

Layers with a check mark are displayed on the workspace. Layers with a check mark in a grey box are displayed in the workspace, but are dimmed. Layers with no check mark are not displayed in the workspace, but are available to be used.

The highlighted layer is the active layer, that is, the one you are working with.

Click the colored icons beside the checkboxes to control the layers’ colors.

Chapter 3 Setting Up a Design

Tip Ultiboard presents only those functions that are appropriate for the current layer.

For example, if you are on a Paste Mask layer, you cannot use the Place menu to place a copper area.

The Layers tab is divided into four sections:

• PCB—These are the working layers of your design. Refer to the

Setting PCB Properties section of Chapter 1, User Interface, for more

information about setting up the properties of the PCB layers.

• Assembly—These are the layers associated with production of your board. These are useful whenever you are using paste to hold joints or glue (adhesive) to hold components on the board (mostly on SMDs).

• Information—These are “virtual” layers, which provide useful design information but are not part of the physical board itself.

• Mechanical layers—These are the layers to be used for documentation (for example, showing dimensions) or other mechanical CAD-related properties. You can also set up projects and files that contain CAD information. Refer to Chapter 10, Using

Mechanical CAD, for more information.

The layer highlighted in red is the active layer—The one which any functions you choose will affect. Before you can work on a particular layer, you must ensure that layer is active. Depending on what layer is active, your available commands and toolbars may change.

To make a layer the active layer, double-click on the name of the layer in the Design Toolbox.

You can also change the visibility of layers by making them visible, dimmed or hidden.

To dim a layer in the workspace, making it easier to see the elements on other layers, click the layer’s check box. The check box turns gray, and the elements of that layer dim.

To hide a layer in the workspace, click the layer’s check box twice. The check mark disappears, and the elements on that layer are hidden.

Note While this action removes the elements of the layer from view, neither the layer nor

the elements are deleted from the design.

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Tip You can show or hide individual ratsnests from the Show Ratsnest column in the

Nets tab of the Spreadsheet View, and also from the Net Edit dialog box. Refer to the

Using the Netlist Editor section of Chapter 5, Working with Traces and Copper, for more

information.

To change the color of the elements in a layer, click the color box beside the layer name and, from the dialog box that appears, choose a color. All existing elements on that layer, and any elements added to that layer, are displayed in that color, with the exception of shapes where you can chose the line or fill color from the toolbar prior to placing them. Refer to the

Placing Shapes and Graphics section of Chapter 4, Working with Parts, for

more information.

Working with the Board Outline

The Board Outline layer is empty for new designs. You can create a board outline in one of the following ways:

• Draw a board outline using the drawing tools. Refer to the

Drawing Tools to Create a Board Outline

• Import a DXF file. Refer to the Importing a DXF File section for more information.

• Place a pre-defined outline from the database. Refer to the Using a

Pre-Defined Board Outline section for more information.

•Use the Board Wizard. Refer to the Using the Board Wizard section for more information.

Chapter 3 Setting Up a Design

Using the

section for more information.

Using the Drawing Tools to Create a Board Outline

Complete the following steps to create a new board outline using the drawing tools:

1. Double-click the Board Outline layer in the Layers tab of the Design Toolbox.

2. Using Place»Shape, draw the shape you want for your board outline. For example, choose Place»Shape»Rectangle and drag the mouse until the rectangle is the desired height and length. Click to anchor it in place.

Note To draw the shape based on precise coordinates, press the asterisk key (*) on the

numeric keypad, or press <Shift-8>. The Enter coordinate dialog box appears. Enter the X and Y coordinates and press OK. Continue to use the asterisk key (*) or <Shift-8> for

the remaining coordinates. You can mix the use of the asterisk key (*) or <Shift-8> and clicking to position each corner.

Chapter 3 Setting Up a Design

To edit the properties of the placed board outline, select the outline and select Edit»Properties. (You must be on the Board Outline layer).

Importing a DXF File

Complete the following steps to import a DXF board outline from a CAD program such as AutoCAD

1. Choose File»Import»DXF. A standard file selector appears.

2. Navigate to the correct location for the

3. The DXF import settings dialog box appears.

4. In the Layers box, set the following as desired:

5. In the Units box, set the following as desired:

6. Optionally, enable the Convert closed objects to filled checkbox.

7. Click OK to import the file.

.dxf file, select it and click

OK.

• Import layers from file radio button—Creates layer names that

correspond to the original DXF files

• Merge import data into existing layer radio button—Merges

DXF file layers into the layer chosen from the drop-down list.

• Interpret units in file as radio button—Select a unit of measure

from the drop-down list.

• Scale import data to fit board outline—Select if you want to

scale the imported data to fit the current board outline.

This indicates if closed objects are to be converted to filled objects.

Using a Pre-Defined Board Outline

Complete the following steps to use a board outline from the Ultiboard database:

1. Choose Place»From Database to display the Get a part from the database dialog box.

2. Navigate to the Board Outlines section and select the outline you want to use.

3. Click OK to close the dialog.

4. Click to place the board outline on the design.

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Using the Board Wizard

Complete the following steps to use the Board Wizard:

1. Choose Tools»Board Wizard. The Board Wizard... Board Technology dialog box appears.

2. Enable the Change the layer technology option. Choose the board technology and click Next. Refer to the Defining Copper Layers section for more information about board technology.

The next step of the wizard depends on which type of technology you chose.

3. If you chose Multi-layers constructed with double sided board

(layer pairs

• Select Top Layer and Bottom Layer as desired.

• Set the number of layer pairs you intend to use by entering the

• Select the Blind Vias or Buried Vias checkboxes to use these in

• As you make changes to the layer settings, the information

•Click Next.

If you chose Multi-layers constructed with double sided boards and single layer stack-ups, define the lamination settings for the board as follows:

• Select Top Layer and Bottom Layer as desired.

• Set the number of layer pairs you intend to use by entering the

• Set the number of Single Layer Build-ups for both the top and

• Select the Blind Vias, Buried Vias, or Micro Vias checkboxes to

• As you make changes to the layer settings, the information

•Click Next.

Chapter 3 Setting Up a Design

), define the lamination settings for the board:

value or using the up/down arrows in the Layer Pairs field. There should be at least one layered pair to act as a core.

your design.

window shows the acceptable layer combinations for blind and buried vias. In this window, select the layer combinations you want to allow in your design.

value or using the up/down arrows in the Layer Pairs field. There should be at least one layered pair to act as a core.

bottom. There should be at least one layered pair to act as a core.

use these in your design.

window shows the acceptable layer combinations for blind and buried vias or microvias. In this window, select the layer combinations you want to allow in your design.

Chapter 3 Setting Up a Design

4. If you chose Single Sided or Double Sided, or upon clicking Next

after defining the lamination settings for a multi-layer board:

• Define the default Units of measurement for the design.

• Define the board Reference Point. This can be changed later.

Refer to the Setting the Board’s Reference Point section for more information.

• Define the Board Shape and Size.

• Set the default Clearance for the board—This is the distance from

the edge of the board that is to be kept free of any other elements. Trying to run a trace through a clearance, or trying to place a part so that a pad is put within a clearance, for example, results in a design rule error.

5. Click Finish. The board outline is placed on your design.

Setting the Board’s Reference Point

The reference point of the board is important for relating physical dimensions to PCB layouts, since all measurements are shown relative to this origin point. If you used the Board Wizard, this reference may already have been set. Refer to the Using the Board Wizard section for more information.

Complete the following steps to set a reference point:

1. Choose Design»Set Reference Point. The cursor changes as shown in

the figure below.

2. Click to place the reference point. In the example below, the reference point has been placed at the lower left corner of the board outline.

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Enter coordinate dialog box

Complete the following steps to set the reference point at precise X, Y coordinates:

1. Press the asterisk key (*) or <Shift-8> to display the Enter coordinate

dialog box.

2. Enter the X and Y coordinates and the desired units of measure.

3. Optionally, select Snap to grid to have the reference point snap to the

closest grid on the workspace.

Chapter 3 Setting Up a Design

Note If you do not have a part selected and you press the * key or <Shift-8>, the dialog is

populated with the coordinates of the mouse. Click OK to center the screen to these coordinates. If you have a part selected when you press the * key or <Shift-8>, the dialog is still populated with the coordinates of the mouse. Click OK to move the selected part to that position.

Chapter 3 Setting Up a Design

Design Rule Errors

Design rule errors appear in the DRC tab of the Spreadsheet View as they occur, and disappear as they are corrected.

Double-click on an error in the DRC tab to zoom in on the affected area on the design, which will be indicated with a red circle, as shown in the example below.

Depending on what you are doing on the board, you may see the following kinds of errors if you keep the DRC tab open while you work:

• Part “[refdes]”(value) has an unknown shape (shape name)—The given part has a shape defined that does not exist in the database.

• Part “[refdes]” is Not On the design—The part with the given refdes was specified in the netlist but is not present on the design.

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Chapter 3 Setting Up a Design

• Pin “[Pin number]” from Part “[refdes]”(value) in Net “[Net name]” is missing from shape “[shape name]”— A pin belonging to

the specified part was given in the netlist but does not exist in the shape that was given for the part.

• Unused Pin [Pin name] is {close to, connected to} {Unused Pin, Copper}—The given pin that was not assigned to a net is close to or connected to another unused pin or copper, for example, a trace, powerplane, or copper area.

• Design Rule Error: Net [Net1 name] { connected to} { Net2 name, Unused pin, copper, Board outline }—The given net was connected to another net, an unused pin, copper or the board outline.

• Design Rule Error: Net Gnd Close to Net [Net name] [RefID:PIN#-netname]—The given net was too close to another net.

You can set up whether the design rule check runs in “real time”, and define the actions to be taken when Ultiboard encounters a design rule error, such as cancelling the current action, asking for confirmation, or overruling the error. Refer to the PCB Design Tab section of Chapter 1, User Interface, for more information.

Working with the Group Editor

The Edit Groups dialog box is where you create and edit net groups, part groups, bus groups and differential pairs.

Refer to the following sections for more information:

• Add Group dialog box

• Working with Net Groups

• Working with Part Groups

• Working with Bus Groups

• Working with Differential Pairs

Add Group dialog box

Use the Add group dialog box to create groups in the Edit Groups dialog box. Refer to the following subjects for more information:

• Working with Net Groups

• Working with Part Groups

• Working with Bus Groups

• Working with Differential Pairs

Chapter 3 Setting Up a Design

Working with Net Groups

Complete the following steps to create a net group:

1. Select Tools»Group Editor to display the Edit Groups dialog box.

2. Click the Net Groups tab.

3. Click Add. The Add group dialog box appears.

4. Enter the desired name and click OK. The Change group settings

dialog box appears.

5. Change the settings in the Group Settings area as desired.

Note Refer to the Change Group Settings dialog box and Net Group Settings sections for

more information.

6. Click OK to return to the Net Groups tab. The newly created group appears in the Groups list.

7. Highlight the new group to display a list of nets you can add to the group in the Assign Nets list, as shown in the example below.

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Chapter 3 Setting Up a Design

8. Click checkboxes beside the desired nets in the Assign Nets list and click Apply to add them to the group.

Note You cannot assign a net to more than one group. Therefore, nets that are already

assigned to another net group do not appear in the Assign Nets list.

9. Click OK to close the Edit Groups dialog box.

Complete the following steps to edit a net group:

1. Select Tools»Group Editor to display the Edit Groups dialog box.

2. Select the Net Groups tab.

3. Highlight the desired group in the Groups list.

4. Change the net assignments as desired and click Apply.

5. Optionally, highlight the desired group in the Groups list and click the Properties button to display the Change group settings dialog box.

6. Make the required changes in the Group Settings area and click OK.

Note Refer to the Change Group Settings dialog box and Net Group Settings sections for

more information.

Complete the following steps to delete a group:

1. Select Tools»Group Editor to display the Edit Groups dialog box.

2. Select the Net Groups tab.

3. Highlight the desired group in the Groups list and click Delete.

Working with Part Groups

Complete the following steps to create a part group:

1. Select Tools»Group Editor to display the Edit Groups dialog box.

2. Click the Part Groups tab.

3. Click Add. The Add group dialog box appears.

4. Enter the desired name and click OK. The Change group settings dialog box appears.

5. Change the settings in the Group Settings area as desired.

Note Refer to the Change Group Settings dialog box and Part Group Settings sections for

more information.

Chapter 3 Setting Up a Design

6. Click OK to return to the Part Groups tab. The newly created group appears in the Groups list.

7. Highlight the new group to display a list of parts you can add to the group in the Assign Parts list, as shown in the example below.

8. Click checkboxes beside the desired parts in the Assign Parts list and click Apply to add them to the group.

Note You cannot assign a part to more than one group. Therefore, parts that are already

assigned to another group do not appear in the Assign Nets list.

9. Click OK to close the Edit Groups dialog box.

Tip When adding parts to a Part Group, you can select parts on the workspace and then

click Add Selected in the Part Groups tab—the selected parts are added to the group.

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Complete the following steps to edit a part group:

1. Select Tools»Group Editor to display the Edit Groups dialog box.

2. Select the Part Groups tab.

3. Highlight the desired group in the Groups list.

4. Change the part assignments as desired and click Apply.

5. Optionally, highlight the desired group in the Groups list and click the Properties button to display the Change group settings dialog box.

6. Make the required changes in the Group Settings area and click OK.

Note Refer to the Change Group Settings dialog box and Net Group Settings sections for

more information.

Complete the following steps to delete a group:

1. Select Tools»Group Editor to display the Edit Groups dialog box.

2. Select the Part Groups tab.

3. Highlight the desired group in the Groups list and click Delete.

Working with Bus Groups

Set up a bus group for traces that you wish to route as closely together as possible.

Chapter 3 Setting Up a Design

Complete the following steps to create a bus group:

1. Select Tools»Group Editor to display the Edit Groups dialog box.

2. Click the Bus Groups tab.

3. Click Add. The Add group dialog box appears.

4. Enter the desired name and click OK.

5. The newly created group appears in the Assign Nets list.

6. Highlight the new group to display a list of nets you can add to the group in the Assign Nets list, as shown in the example below.

Chapter 3 Setting Up a Design

7. Click checkboxes beside the desired nets in the Assign Nets list and click Apply to add them to the group.

Note You cannot assign a net to more than one group. Therefore, nets that are already

assigned to another bus group do not appear in the Assign Nets list.

8. Click OK to close the Edit Groups dialog box.

Complete the following steps to edit a bus group:

1. Select Tools»Group Editor to display the Edit Groups dialog box.

2. Select the Bus Groups tab.

3. Highlight the desired group in the Groups list.

4. Change the net assignments as desired and click Apply.

Complete the following steps to delete a group:

1. Select Tools»Group Editor to display the Edit Groups dialog box.

2. Select the Bus Groups tab.

3. Highlight the desired group in the Groups list and click Delete.

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Working with Differential Pairs

Complete the following steps to create a differential pair:

1. Select Tools»Group Editor to display the Edit Groups dialog box.

2. Click the Differential Pairs tab.

3. Click Add. The Add group dialog box appears.

4. Enter the desired name and click OK. The Change group settings

dialog box appears.

5. Change the settings in the Group Settings area as desired.

Note Refer to the Change Group Settings dialog box and Differential Pair Settings

sections for more information.

6. Click OK to return to the Differential Pairs tab. The newly created group (differential pair) appears in the Groups list.

7. Highlight the new group to display a list of nets you can add to the group in the Assign Nets list, as shown in the example below.

Chapter 3 Setting Up a Design

Note You cannot assign a net to more than one differential pair. Therefore, nets that are

already assigned to another differential pair do not appear in the Assign Nets list.

Note Refer to the Change Group Settings dialog box and Differential Pair Settings

sections for more information.

8. Click two checkboxes beside the desired nets in the Assign Nets list and click Apply to add them to the group.

9. Click OK to close the Edit Groups dialog box.

Complete the following steps to edit a bus group:

1. Select Tools»Group Editor to display the Edit Groups dialog box.

2. Select the Differential Pairs tab.

3. Highlight the desired group in the Groups list.

4. Change the net assignments as desired and click Apply.

5. Optionally, highlight the desired group in the Groups list and click the Properties button to display the Change group settings dialog box.

6. Make the required changes in the Group Settings area and click OK.

Complete the following steps to delete a group:

1. Select Tools»Group Editor to display the Edit Groups dialog box.

2. Select the Differential Pairs tab.

3. Highlight the desired group in the Groups list and click Delete.

Change Group Settings dialog box

Access this dialog box from the Edit Groups dialog box. Refer to the

Working with the Group Editor section for more information.

Use this dialog box to change the group settings for net groups, part groups, and differential pairs.

The options found in this dialog box depend on the type of group. Refer to the following sections for more information:

• Net Group Settings

• Part Group Settings

• Differential Pair Settings

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Chapter 3 Setting Up a Design

Net Group Settings

For net groups, the following Group Settings are available:

• Group Name

• Clearance Settings

• Trace Width Settings

• Trace Length Settings

• Routing Layers

• Routing Priority

• Locked

As well as setting the clearance for a net group, you can set clearances for individual nets within that group. You can, for example, set the clearance for the net group to 10 mils, and the clearance for two or more nets within that group to 5 mils. In this case, if any net from the group comes within 10 mils of any element that is not in the net group, a DRC error is generated. If one of the traces that you set to a 5 mils clearance moves to 5 mils or less from one of the other traces with the 5 mils clearance setting, a DRC error occurs.

Note Set individual trace clearances in the Nets tab of the Spreadsheet View. To do this,

select the desired trace, and locate the Trace Clearance column. Highlight Use Group Settings and type in the desired clearance for that trace. You can also edit a trace’s clearance from the General tab of its properties dialog box.

For information on any setting, select it in the Group Settings list. A description appears in the field at the bottom of the dialog. You may need to make the dialog box larger to view some of the descriptions. Do this by dragging the dialog’s lower-right corner.

Part Group Settings

For part groups, the following Group Settings are available:

• Group Name

• Clearance Settings

• Part Spacing Settings

• Pin & Gate Swapping Settings

Chapter 3 Setting Up a Design

Differential Pair Settings

For differential pairs, the following Group Settings are available:

• Length Constraints

• Space Constraints

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Working with Parts

The following sections explain how to work with parts as you create and edit designs. It covers the ways that you can place parts on the board, as well as the tools included to help you with part location and placement. It also includes information on Ultiboard’s parts database, and editing the parts in the database and on the board.

Some of the described features may not be available in your edition of Ultiboard. Refer to the NI Circuit Design Suite Release Notes for a list of the features in your edition.

Placing Parts

You can place parts on the design:

• by dragging them from outside the board outline. Refer to the Dragging Parts from Outside the Board Outline section for more information.

• by using the Spreadsheet View. Refer to the Using the Parts Tab in

the Spreadsheet View section for more information.

• by importing a netlist. Refer to the Creating a Design from a Netlist

File section of Chapter 2, Beginning a Design, for more information.

• by selecting parts from the database. Refer to the Placing Parts from

the Database section for more information.

Note Before placing a part, make sure that you are on the layer where the part is to be

placed. Refer to the Accessing Layers section of Chapter 3, Setting Up a Design, for more information.

Dragging Parts from Outside the Board Outline

By default, parts are placed outside the board outline when you open a netlist from Multisim or another schematic capture program. These can be dragged to the appropriate location on the board.

Chapter 4 Working with Parts

Complete the following steps to drag a part from outside the board outline:

1. Click on the part and drag it to the appropriate location. The placed part remains highlighted.

2. Click anywhere on the workspace, or right-click, to de-select the part.

Using the Parts Tab in the Spreadsheet View

The Parts tab in the Spreadsheet View shows a list of all the parts in your design.

The Parts tab is also where you select parts, lock parts so they cannot be accidentally moved, and place parts on the board. It also contains functions to help you find parts on the board, and preview a selected part.

1 Dark Green Indicator 2 Bright Green Indicator 3 Orange Indicator 4 Selected Part

5 Preview of Selected Part 6 Show or Hide Preview Button 7 Start Placing Unpositioned Parts

Button

8 Lock Selected Parts Button 9 Find and Select Part Button

The dark green indicator (1) shows that the part has not been placed within the board outline. If all parts’ indicators are dark green, there may be no board outline defined.

The bright green indicator (2) shows that the part has been placed within the board outline.

The orange indicator (3) shows that the part has been locked in place.

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Chapter 4 Working with Parts

The selected part (4) appears in the preview area (5). Deselect the Show or Hide Preview button (6) if you do not wish to see the preview.

Use the Start Placing the Unpositioned Parts button (7) to place unplaced parts.

Use the Lock Selected Parts button (8) if you do not want a part to be moved.

Use the Find and Select Part button (9) to quickly locate a part on the design.

Note Refer to the Spreadsheet View section of Chapter 1, User Interface, for information

about the other buttons in the Spreadsheet View.

Using the Parts Tab to Place Parts

Complete the following steps to place a single part on the board:

1. Click-and-drag the part from the list to the design. The selected part is attached to the pointer as you move it over the board.

2. Release the mouse button to drop the part onto the board. The part can then be adjusted or moved further into position as needed. Refer to the

Tools to Assist Part Placement section for more information about

moving parts and adjusting their placement.

Complete the following steps to place a series of parts on the board using the Parts Sequencer:

1. Click an unplaced part in the list (a part with a dark green button). The Start Placing the Unpositioned Parts button is activated on the Parts tab.

2. Click the Start Placing the Unpositioned Parts button.

3. Move the pointer over the board. The selected part is attached to the pointer as you move it over the board.

4. When the part is in position, click to drop it on the board. The next part in the list appears on the mouse pointer.

5. Continue clicking to drop a part and pick up the next until you have placed as many as desired.

6. Right-click to drop the last part or to cancel the action.

Parts that you place this way can then be adjusted or moved as necessary. Refer to the Tools to Assist Part Placement section for more information about moving parts and adjusting their placement.

Chapter 4 Working with Parts

Using the Parts Tab for Other Functions

The Parts tab of the Spreadsheet View can also be used to select a part, lock parts in their current position, find and select a part, or preview a part.

To select a part using the Parts tab, double-click the part in the list. The part appears selected in the design.

Complete the following steps to lock and unlock parts:

1. Click a part in the list to select it. To select multiple parts, click one part, hold the Shift key down, then click the last part you want to select. The two parts that you clicked, and any parts listed between them, are now selected.

2. Click the Lock the Selected Part button to lock all selected unlocked parts or to unlock the selected locked parts.

Complete the following steps to find a part in the design:

1. Click the part in the list.

2. Click the Find and Select the Part button. The view zooms in on the part, which appears selected.

Complete the following steps to preview a part:

1. Click the Preview button to toggle the Preview function on, if required.

2. Click the part in the list. A picture of the part displays.

You can use the Parts tab to place parts that are not on the board but are listed in the Parts tab. Parts listed on the tab are either placed on the board or have been imported but not yet placed within the board outline. Parts that are listed in the Parts tab but are not on the board are indicated with a dim button, while parts that have been placed on the board are indicated with a bright button.

Note Refer to the Spreadsheet View section of Chapter 1, User Interface, for information

about the other buttons in the Spreadsheet View.

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National Instruments Ultiboard User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

NI Ultiboard User Manual

Support

Worldwide Technical Support and Product Information

National Instruments Corporate Headquarters

Worldwide Offices

Important Information

Warranty

Copyright

Trademarks

Patents

WARNING REGARDING USE OF NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS PRODUCTS

Conventions

Contents

Introduction to the Ultiboard Interface

Toolbars

Standard Toolbar

View Toolbar

Main Toolbar

Select Toolbar

Draw Settings Toolbar

Edit Toolbar

Align Toolbar

Place Toolbar

Wizard Toolbar

Autoroute Toolbar

Setting Preferences

General Tab

Paths Tab

Colors Tab

PCB Design Tab

Dimensions Tab

3D Options Tab

Setting PCB Properties

Attributes Tab

Grid & Units Tab

Copper Layers Tab

Pads/Vias Tab

General Layers Tab

Design Rules Tab

Setting Favorite Layers

Design Toolbox

Birds Eye View

Spreadsheet View

Spreadsheet View: DRC Tab

Filter Manager

Spreadsheet View: Results Tab

Spreadsheet View: Parts Tab

Spreadsheet View: Part Groups Tab

Spreadsheet View: Nets Tab

Spreadsheet View: Nets Groups Tab

Spreadsheet View: SMT Pads Tab

Spreadsheet View: THT Pads Tab

Spreadsheet View: Vias Tab

Spreadsheet View: Copper Areas Tab

Spreadsheet View: Keep-ins/Keep-outs Tab

Spreadsheet View: PCB Layers Tab

Spreadsheet View: Parts Position Tab

Spreadsheet View: Statistics Tab

Customizing the Interface

Commands Tab

Toolbars Tab

Keyboard Tab

Menu Tab

Options Tab

Customization of Pop-up Menus

About Designs and Projects

Creating a Project

Creating a Design

Creating a Design from a Netlist File

Working with Projects

Opening an Existing File

Saving and Closing

Saving Technology Specifications from a Design

Loading Technology Files

Selecting and Unselecting Elements

Place and Select Modes