PROTEL 99 SE TRAINING MANUAL
This proviedes anh overview of the workspace. when you are working in the editor workspace, the miniviewer displays a dashed rectangle to indicate where in the worksapace the current display window is. when objects are selected in the browse section, they are highlighted in the miniviewer so that yo can locate them in the workspace.
Protel 99 SE
Training Manual
PCB Design
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Contents
1 PCB Design Process .................................................................................................... 1
2 The PCB Editor Workspace......................................................................................... 2
2.1 PCB Editor Panel ..................................................................................................... 2
2.1.1 Browse Section ................................................................................................ 2
2.1.2 MiniViewer ...................................................................................................... 2
2.1.3 Current Layer Section ...................................................................................... 3
2.2 Using the Panel to Browse ....................................................................................... 3
2.2.1 Browsing Nets.................................................................................................. 3
2.2.2 Browsing Components..................................................................................... 4
2.2.3 Browsing Libraries........................................................................................... 5
2.2.4 Browsing Net Classes ...................................................................................... 6
2.2.5 Browsing Component Classes ......................................................................... 7
2.2.6 Browsing Design Rule Violations.................................................................... 8
2.2.7 Browsing Design Rules.................................................................................... 9
2.2.8 Exercises – Using the MiniViewer .................................................................. 9
2.3 Preferences Dialog Box ......................................................................................... 10
2.3.1 Options Tab.................................................................................................... 10
2.3.2 Display Tab .................................................................................................... 13
2.3.3 Colours Tab.................................................................................................... 15
2.3.4 Show/Hide Tab .............................................................................................. 16
2.3.5 Default Primitives Tab................................................................................... 17
2.3.6 Signal Integrity Tab........................................................................................ 18
2.3.7 Exercises – Exploring the Preferences........................................................... 19
2.4 Document Options Dialog Box.............................................................................. 20
2.4.1 Layers Tab...................................................................................................... 20
2.4.2 Options Tab.................................................................................................... 21
2.5 The PCB Coordinate System ................................................................................. 21
2.6 Grids....................................................................................................................... 22
2.6.1 Snap Grid ....................................................................................................... 22
2.6.2 Visible Grid.................................................................................................... 22
2.6.3 Electrical Grid................................................................................................ 22
2.6.4 Component Grid............................................................................................. 22
2.7 Shortcut Keys for Setup Options ........................................................................... 23
2.7.1 Exercises – Exploring the Document Options ............................................... 23
3 Creating a New PCB .................................................................................................. 24
3.1 Printed Circuit Board Wizard ................................................................................ 24
4 Transferring Design Information to the PCB............................................................. 25
4.1 Design Synchronization ......................................................................................... 25
4.2 Resolving Synchronization Errors ......................................................................... 26
4.3 Summary ................................................................................................................ 27
4.4 Cross Reference File .............................................................................................. 27
4.5 Design Transfer Using a Netlist............................................................................. 28
4.5.1 Loading a Netlist............................................................................................ 28
4.5.2 Resolving Netlist Loading Errors .................................................................. 29
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4.5.3 Cross Reference File...................................................................................... 30
4.5.4 Editing Netlist Macros ................................................................................... 30
4.5.5 Executing the Netlist Loading ....................................................................... 30
5 Setting up the PCB Layers ......................................................................................... 31
5.1 Layer Definitions ................................................................................................... 31
5.2 Layer Stack Manager ............................................................................................. 34
5.3 Defining Mechanical Layers .................................................................................. 36
5.4 Internal Power Planes ............................................................................................ 37
5.4.1 Defining an Internal Power Plane .................................................................. 37
5.4.2 Defining a Split Power Plane......................................................................... 37
5.4.3 Moving and Editing Split Plane Vertices ...................................................... 38
5.4.4 Deleting a Split Plane .................................................................................... 38
5.4.5 Exercises – Setting up the PCB Layers.......................................................... 39
6 Setting Up Design Rules............................................................................................ 40
6.1 Adding Design Rules ............................................................................................. 40
6.2 Object Set............................................................................................................... 41
6.3 Rule Type............................................................................................................... 41
6.4 Scope...................................................................................................................... 41
6.5 Precedence ............................................................................................................. 42
6.6 Where Rules Apply................................................................................................ 43
6.6.1 Routing Rules ................................................................................................ 43
6.6.2 Manufacturing Rules...................................................................................... 43
6.6.3 High Speed Rules .......................................................................................... 44
6.6.4 Placement Rules............................................................................................. 44
6.6.5 Signal Integrity Rules .................................................................................... 44
6.6.6 Other Design Rules........................................................................................ 44
6.7 Additional Information on Rules ........................................................................... 45
6.8 Object Classes........................................................................................................ 46
6.8.1 Defining Classes ............................................................................................ 46
6.8.2 Component Class Generator .......................................................................... 47
6.9 From To’s .............................................................................................................. 48
7 Component Placement Tools..................................................................................... 49
7.1 Placing Components With Predetermined Locations ............................................ 49
7.2 Moving Components ............................................................................................. 49
7.3 Component Unions ................................................................................................ 49
7.4 Rooms .................................................................................................................... 50
7.5 Component Placement Grids ................................................................................. 50
7.6 Density Map........................................................................................................... 50
7.7 Interactive Placement Commands ......................................................................... 51
7.7.1 Alignment Commands ................................................................................... 51
7.7.2 Arrange Commands ....................................................................................... 51
7.7.3 Move To Grid ................................................................................................ 51
7.8 Auto Placement...................................................................................................... 51
7.8.1 Cluster Placer................................................................................................. 52
7.8.2 Statistical Placer............................................................................................. 52
7.8.3 Shove ............................................................................................................. 53
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7.9 Re-Annotation........................................................................................................ 54
8 Routing....................................................................................................................... 55
8.1 Interactive Routing................................................................................................. 55
8.1.1 Managing Connectivity.................................................................................. 55
8.1.2 Track Width ................................................................................................... 55
8.1.3 Interactive Routing Mode .............................................................................. 55
8.1.4 Look Ahead Routing...................................................................................... 55
8.1.5 Interactive Routing Properties ....................................................................... 55
8.1.6 Loop Removal................................................................................................ 56
8.2 Automatic Routing................................................................................................. 57
8.2.1 Automatic Routing Tips................................................................................. 57
8.2.2 Setting Up the Automatic Router................................................................... 57
8.2.3 Autorouter Options ........................................................................................ 58
9 Polygons..................................................................................................................... 59
9.1 Placing a Polygon................................................................................................... 59
9.2 Editing a Polygon................................................................................................... 60
9.3 Moving a Polygon.................................................................................................. 61
9.4 Editing Polygon Vertices ....................................................................................... 61
9.5 Deleting a Polygon................................................................................................. 61
9.6 Exercises – Working with Polygons ...................................................................... 61
10 Design Rule Checking ............................................................................................... 62
10.1 On-Line DRC..................................................................................................... 62
10.2 Design Rules Check Report ............................................................................... 63
10.3 Locating Design Rule Violations ....................................................................... 63
10.4 Exercise.............................................................................................................. 64
11 Printing....................................................................................................................... 65
11.1 Running Print/Preview....................................................................................... 65
11.2 Setting Scale and Orientation and Printer Options ............................................ 68
11.3 Copying Print Preview to the Window Clipboard ............................................. 68
11.4 PPC Documents ................................................................................................. 68
12 CAM Manager ........................................................................................................... 69
12.1 Bill Of Materials ................................................................................................ 71
12.2 DRC ................................................................................................................... 71
12.3 Gerber ................................................................................................................ 72
12.4 NC Drill ............................................................................................................. 72
12.5 Pick and Place .................................................................................................... 73
12.6 Test Point Report ............................................................................................... 73
13 3D Viewer.................................................................................................................. 74
14 PCB Library Editor .................................................................................................... 76
14.1 The PCB Library Workspace ............................................................................. 76
14.2 PCB Library Editor Panel .................................................................................. 77
14.3 Creating a Component Using the Component Wizard ...................................... 78
14.4 Manually Creating a Component ....................................................................... 78
14.5 Copying a Component ....................................................................................... 78
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14.6 Special Strings in the Library Editor ................................................................. 78
14.7 Component Rule Check..................................................................................... 79
14.8 Exercise – Libraries and Components ............................................................... 79
15 Short Cut Key Summary............................................................................................ 80
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1 PCB Design Process
Draw Schematic Annotate ERC
Create Schematic Synchroniser
Symbols (if not in
Library)
Update
Errors UpdatePCB
Schematic
Create PCB
Symbols (if not Components
in Library) Placed
Outside PCB
Outline
Define PCB Outline
Output for
(Board Wizard) Place Components Route PCB Re-Annotate PCB Works?
Manufacture
Define Design Rules
Production
Figure 1Overview of the PCB Design Process
The diagram above shows an overview of the PCB design process from schematic entry
through to PCB design completion.
PCB Design Training Manual 1
2 The PCB Editor Workspace
2.1 PCB Editor Panel
The various sections of the PCB editor panel are described below.
2.1.1 Browse Section
This section allows you to list, locate or edit the
following PCB object types:
• Nets
• Components
• Libraries
• Component Classes
• Net Classes
• Design Rule Violations
• Design Rules
When you select an object in the Browse section,
you can view its location in the workspace in the
MiniViewer. Each of the browse functions is
described in the following pages.
2.1.2 MiniViewer
This provides an overview of the workspace.
When you are working in the editor workspace,
the MiniViewer displays a dashed rectangle to
indicate where in the workspace the current
display window is.
When objects are selected in the browse section,
they are highlighted in the MiniViewer so that you
can locate them in the workspace.
The MiniViewer also provides the following
display control functions:
Panning Click and drag in the dashed rectangle to
pan around the workspace
Change View Window Click and drag on a
vertex of the dashed rectangle to change the view
window of the workspace
Magnifier Select the Magnifier button and then
move the cursor into the main workspace. The MiniViewer displays a magnified view of the
cursor location. You can set the magnification level by pressing the Configure button (hint –
you can also change the magnification level by pressing the SPACEBAR when the cursor is a
magnifying glass).
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2.1.3 Current Layer Section
This section indicates the current layer and its colour and allows you to change it.
2.2 Using the Panel to Browse
2.2.1 Browsing Nets
• To browse nets, select Nets in the drop down box.
All nets in the PCB are listed in the upper scroll
box.
• Click on a net name to select it and all the pads
(or nodes) that belong to that net are listed in the
lower scroll box. Also, the net is highlighted in
the MiniViewer.
• Click on the Edit button to display the Change
Net dialog box for the selected net or double-
click on the net name.
• Click on the Zoom button to display all the
connection lines for the selected net in the
workspace.
• In the Nodes section, click on an entry to select a
pad in the net.
• Click on the Edit button to display the Change
Pad dialog box for the selected pad or double-
click on the node name.
• Click on the Jump button to zoom in the selected
pad in the workspace.
PCB Design Training Manual 3
2.2.2 Browsing Components
• To browse components, select Components in
the drop down box. All components in the PCB
are listed in the upper scroll box.
• Click on a component name to select it and all
the pads that belong to that component are listed
(with their net name) in the lower scroll box.
Also, the component is highlighted in the
MiniViewer.
• Click on the Edit button to display the Change
Component dialog box for the selected
component or double-click on the component
name.
• Click on the Jump button to zoom in on the
selected component in the workspace.
• In the Pads section, click on an entry to select a
pad in the component.
• Click on the Edit button to display the Change
Pad dialog box for the selected component or
double-click on the pad name text.
• Click on the Jump button to zoom in on the
selected pad in the workspace.
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2.2.3 Browsing Libraries
• To browse libraries, select Libraries in the drop down
box. All libraries in the current library list are listed in
the upper scroll box.
• Click on a library name to select it and all the
components that belong to that library are listed in the
lower scroll box.
• Click on the Add/Remove button to display the PCB
Libraries dialog box to add of remove libraries from the
current library list.
• Click on the Browse button or double-click on the
library name to display the Browse Libraries dialog
box.
• In the Components section, click on an entry to select a
component in the library. That component is displayed
in the MiniViewer.
• Click on the Edit button to switch to the Library Editor
to edit that component.
• Click on the Place button to place the selected
component in the workspace or double-click on the
component name.
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2.2.4 Browsing Net Classes
• To browse net classes, select Net Classes in the
drop down box. All net classes in the PCB are
listed in the upper scroll box.
• Click on a net class name to select it and all nets
that belong to that net class are listed in the lower
scroll box.
• Click on the Edit button to display the Edit Net
Class dialog box for the selected net or double-
click on the net class name.
• In the Nets section, click on an entry to select a
net. The net is highlighted in the MiniViewer.
• Click on the Edit button to display the Edit Net
dialog box for the selected net or double-click on
the net name.
• Click on the Focus button to put the selected net
into focus.
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2.2.5 Browsing Component Classes
• To browse component classes, select Component
Classes in the drop down box. All component
classes in the PCB are listed in the upper scroll
box.
• Click on a component class name to select it and
all nets that belong to that net class are listed in
the lower scroll box.
• Click on the Edit button to display the Edit
Component Class dialog box for the selected
component class or double-click on the
component class name.
• In the Components section, click on an entry to
select a component. The component is
highlighted in the MiniViewer.
• Click on the Edit button to display the Change
Component dialog box for the selected
component or double-click on the component
name.
• Click on the Jump button to zoom in on that
component in the workspace.
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2.2.6 Browsing Design Rule Violations
• To browse DRC Violations, select Violations in
the drop down box. All violation types in the
PCB are listed in the upper scroll box.
• Click on a violation type and all violations of that
type are listed in the lower scroll box.
• Click on the Details button or double-click on the
violation to display the Violation Details dialog
box for the selected violation.
• Click on the Highlight button to locate the
violation in the workspace.
• Click on the Jump button to zoom in on that
violation in the workspace.
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2.2.7 Browsing Design Rules
To browse Design Rules, select Rules in the
drop down box. All Rule Classes are listed in
the upper scroll box.
Click on a Rule Class and all rules defined for
that class are listed in the lower scroll box.
Click on the Edit button or double-click on the
rule to display a dialog box to edit the selected
violation.
Click on the Select button to select all objects
affected by the selected rule.
Click on the Highlight button to highlight all
objects affected by the selected rule.
2.2.8 Exercises – Using the MiniViewer
1. In the Show/Hide tab of the Preferences
dialog box (shortcut keys OD) turn on the
Show Pad Nets and Show Pad Number
options.
2. Choose the Fit Board view command.
3. Use the MiniViewer Magnifier to display
the number and net information of pads.
4. Now, browse each object type and explore
the options
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2.3 Preferences Dialog Box
The Preferences dialog box allows you to set up parameters relating to the PCB editor
workspace. This dialog box is displayed using the Tools » Preferences menu command.
Settings in this dialog box remain the same when you change active PCB files. The dialog box
has 6 tabs. The options in each of the tabs are described below:
2.3.1 Options Tab
Figure 2 Options Tab of the Preferences dialog box
Editing options section
Online DRC
When checked, any design rule violations are flagged as they occur. The design rules are
defined in the Design Rules dialog box (select the Design » Rules menu command).
Snap to Centre
When checked, the cursor snaps to the centre when moving a free pad or via; snaps to the
reference point of a component; snaps to the vertex when moving a track segment.
Extend Selection
Selection is cumulative with this option enabled. With it disabled all currently selected objects
are de-selected each time a new selection is made.
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Remove Duplicates
With this option enabled a special pass is included when data is being prepared for output.
This pass checks for and removes duplicate primitives from the output data.
Confirm Global Edit
Displays a dialog box reporting the number of objects that will be altered by the global edit
and allows you to cancel.
Protect Locked Objects When checked, locked objects cannot be edited.
Other section
Rotation Step
When an object that can be rotated is floating on the cursor, press the spacebar to rotate it by
this amount in an anti-clockwise direction. Hold the shift key whilst pressing the spacebar to
rotate it in a clockwise direction.
Undo/Redo
This sets the undo stack size.
Cursor Type
Set the cursor to small or large 90 degree cross, or small 45 degree cross.
Autopan options section
Style
If this option is enabled, auto pan becomes activated when there is a cross hair on the cursor.
There are four Auto pan modes:
• Re-Centre - re-centres the display around the location where the cursor touched the
Window edge. It also holds the cursor position relative to its location on the board,
bringing it back to the centre of the display.
• Fixed Size Jump - pans across in steps defined by the Step Size. Hold the SHIFT key to pan
in steps defined by the Shift Step Size.
• Shift Accelerate - Pans across in steps defined by the Step Size. Hold the SHIFT key to
accelerate the panning up to the maximum step size, defined by the Shift Step Size.
• Shift Decelerate - Pans across in steps defined by the Shift Step Size. Hold the SHIFT key to
decelerate the panning down to the minimum step size, defined by the Step Size.
• Ballistic – Pans at maximum speed
• Adaptive – Pans at the rate set in the Speed field
Speed
Sets the panning speed for Auto-panning.
PCB Design Training Manual 11
Interactive Routing section
Mode
This drop down box has three options as follows:
• Ignore Obstacle - If you select this option you can place tracks anywhere in the workspace.
If the Online DRC feature is enabled clearance violations are flagged immediately.
• Avoid Obstacle - If you select this option you can only place tracks where they do not
violate any design rules. This feature is particularly useful when using interactive routing
as it allows you to route hard up against existing objects, without fear of violating any
clearance rules.
• Push Obstacle - If you select this option the editor will attempt to move tracks out of the
way so that you can route the current track.
Plough Through Polygons
Marking this check box allows you to override the design rules so that the interactive routing
command can route within the area of a polygon.
Automatically Removal Loops
With this option enabled, loops that are created during manual routing are automatically
removed.
Polygon Repour
This has three options for determining whether a Polygon repours when edited:
Option Description
Never No automatic repour
Threshold Prompt of polygon has threshold primitives
Always Polygon always repours
Component Drag
This option determines how connected tracks are dealt with when moving a component. When
Connected Tracks is selected, tracks drag with the component, otherwise they do not.
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2.3.2 Display Tab
Display options
Convert Special Strings
When enabled, Special strings that can be interpreted on screen are displayed. Regardless of
this setting, all Special Strings are visible when output is generated.
Highlight in Full
Completely highlights the selected object in the current selection colour. With this disabled the
selected object is outlined in the current Selection colour.
Use Net Colour For Highlight
Highlights the selected net in the net colour (assigned in the Change Net dialog box). Use with
the Highlight in Full option for better results.
Redraw Layers
Forces a screen redraw as you toggle through layers, with the current layer being redrawn last.
Single Layer Mode
Displays the current layer only. Provides a method of examining what will be output on each
layer. If the current layer is a signal layer, multi layer objects are also displayed. Use the “+”
and “-” keys to toggle through the layers; press END to redraw the screen. Shift + S also toggles
this mode.
PCB Design Training Manual 13
Transparent Layers
Gives layer Colours a “transparent” nature by changing the colour of an object that overlaps an
object on another layer. Allows objects that would otherwise be hidden by an object on the
current layer to be readily identified.
Show section
The check boxes is this section perform the following when checked:
Pad Nets Displays net names on pads
Pad Numbers Displays pin numbers on pads
Via Nets Display net names on vias
Testpoints ****
Origin Marker Displays the Origin Marker
Status Info Displays information about the object under the cursor in the status
bar
Draft thresholds Section
Tracks
Tracks of the width entered in the check box (or narrower) will be displayed as a single line;
tracks of greater width will be displayed as an outline (when tracks are displayed in Draft
Mode).
Strings
The number entered in this field determines which strings are displayed as text and which are
displayed as an outline box.
Strings that are placed at or less than the value stipulated (at the current zoom level) will be
displayed as text; strings that are placed at a greater value will represented by an outline box.
Layer Drawing Order Button
The PCB editor allows you to control the order in which layers are re-drawn. Press the Draw
Order button to pop up the Layer Drawing Order dialog box. The order that the layers appear
in the list is the order that they will re-draw in. The layer at the top of the list is the layer that
will appear on top of all other layers on the screen.
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