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Feature request: online DRC check for un-routed nets

jaza_tom

I'm using the Rules and Violations dialogue to jump to un-routed nets in my design.

 

When I finish routing a given net, the error is still listed in the Rules and Violations dialogue.

 

I think un-routed nets are only updated by batch DRC check (not online DRC check).

 

See screenshot:

 

image

 

 

Note that this is the only design rule in the Electrical design rule class that doesn't have a "Online" checkbox.

 

I assume that this is due to an extra line of code that the developers added when creating CircuitStudio that disables the feature (to try and make you buy Altium).

 

So, I am officially requesting this feature.

  • One option might be to use the View | PCB > Nets command and sort by the Un-Routed column. This updates in real time without requiring a batch check operation. However when using polygons for connectivity sometimes you will need to use Polygon Actions > Rebuild All to recalculate the numbers.

  • in reply to e14softwareuk

    A good suggestion to be sure.

     

    However, this mostly just shows polygons with nets assigned to them (which have Un-Routed value of 0)

     

    See screenshot:

     

    image

  • in reply to jaza_tom

    Edited previous reply because when using polygons it seems that sometimes a Rebuild All is needed to force the lengths to update.

     

    When you say that unrouted lengths are showing 0 is this for nets that have polygons and are fully routed (all pins on the net connected) or is it showing 0 when there is still more routing to be done on that net? Try using Polygon Actions > Rebuild All just to make sure the numbers are up to date.

  • in reply to e14softwareuk

    In general, it is expected that the unrouted net check is not something you would be doing as you design, but something done near the end of the design to make sure nothing was missed, or when Connection Lines are not quite as obvious as most of the routing has now been done.

     

    If this was enabled in OnLine DRC all unrouted nets would be getting flagged each time an edit was made.  This is the same as how it works in Altium Designer.

     

    The method I would suggest for Unrouted Nets would be to use the Rules and Violations Panel.  Scroll to the Unrouted Net Category and right-click on it.  From here you can do three things easily.  Clear existing error markers for this category, or quickly re-run the batch DRC check only for this category, and navigate to the violation markers.

     

    So, as I near the completion of a PCB, I check for unrouted nets in this way, navigate to them from the panel, correct them, then right-click and rerun the DRC to either clear the corrected violation, or navigate to another section needing correction(not online, but still quite convenient)

     

    I hope that is helpful.

  • in reply to csiemer

    That is the approach I have adopted as well.  Its just annoying to have to wait the 5-10 seconds for the Design Rule Check to run each time I want to see if there are unrouted nets

  • Hmm,  That seems like a long time for what should be a quick un-routed net check.  Are you re-running only that check, or all of them?  If you right-click on just Unrouted Net on the Rules and Violations Panel and run only that rule, it should be super fast unless your PCB is very large.

     

    I can take a look at your PCB if you like, just as a sanity check.  And I would also like to make sure there is not a performance issue hiding in there somewhere.  If you can send the CSPCBDoc to me, I can take a look and let you know what I find.

     

     

    colby.siemer at altium com