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Pad/Layer/Net/Component Classes in CircuitStudio

bakermattj

In the Design Rule Wizard, Advanced Rule Scope, there are drop down options to match a Pad/Layer/Net/Component class.  That seems really useful, but I could not figure out how to create or assign any of these classes in the Schematic or Layout editor.  Is it possible or is that just an AD feature remnant?

 

For my use case, I ended up matching some nets directly by name, but it would have been more useful to assign a single net class, or to be able to apply the rule only inside of a small polygon area.  I tried using "Belongs to Polygon" but this seems to be, for example, bits of metal that are part of polygon, not any net inside of the polygon.

  • 0

    I think you're right - it's probably a remnant of Altium Designer.

    In searching the online help I can't find an occurrence of "net class"  at all.

  • 0

    I made a short video explaining how you can use them.  Hopefully this helps.

    https://youtu.be/b4ld1NwqOdk

  • 0 in reply to harvie256

    Neat trick.  I'll try this on the next design revision.  Should be perfect for how I wanted to use it -- to allow tighter routing tolerances on only a couple of nets.

  • 0

    I have suddenly find somewhere in the net that Altium actually add net classes functionality into free circuit maker, but they don't add it into 1k$ commercial Circuit studio.. This is confusing for me. Want to hear what a community think about this. In my opinion this is stupid marketing trick to add this feature later and get cash from updates.

  • 0 in reply to Former Member

    They don't have bad intentions from what I can tell.  The two products are probably managed in separate teams and fairly decoupled in product decision making.  If anything, the presence of this feature in circuit maker is a positive indicator that they will enable it soon in CircuitStudio -- much the same as they did for the manufacturing rules in the design rule check.  In the mean time, harvie256 posted a workaround for adding net classes using directives.  Other than minor usability gripes, CS has been a great tool and timesaver for our projects.

  • 0 in reply to bakermattj

    Previous post was mine. I just forgot to log in.

    CS is a great program (if you do not need a high speed PCB layout functionality)! But a proper net classes - is one of the "must have" feature. At least for me. You extremely need it if you board has thousands of nets.

    Hope they will add them in the future.

  • 0 in reply to vadim007

    Hi Matt, harvie256, Dmitry,

     

    Good to hear your encouraging words!

     

    The products do indeed have different update lifecyles and feature sets that are evolving slightly different to each other. The net class functionality is one I've seen mentioned in several places so will be considered in future versions and I will bump it somewhat.

     

    harvie256's video is very helpful to utilize classes in the mean time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4ld1NwqOdk

    harvie256's hack in a nutshell:

    Hack a DifferentialPair directive and remove the parameter, add parameter ClassName with value Power, for example, to name the class.

    Use Rule Wizard to create a width rule.

     

    Best regards,

     

    James Harriman

    Altium