Signal classes

Signals being assigned to a certain class will show the same minimum track width and the same minimum spacing (aura) as designated to this class. Find this option in menu Actions/Edit signal classes or you may use menu "Settings/Signal classes". The edition of signal classes can be started either from the schematic view or from the layout view. The results will be visible only in the layout view(PCB).

Image 1: The respective item in menu "Actions"

Image 2: Dialog "Edit signal classes" in default view

In the untouched signal classes dialog (default view) press the plus key to name a new signal class. At the same time you can set values for minimum track width, minimum track spacing and the track length. These settings will be used later when routing the tracks in the layout.

Note: Switch over from imperial scale (mil) to metric scale (mm) by the grid dialog under the "Adjust view" icon = the eye.

EXAMPLE
We create new signal classes by pressing the plus-key:

• "Data", Minimum width 0,15mm, Minimum spacing 0,2mm
• "Power", Minimum width 1,0mm, Minimum spacing 0,3mm
• "HF", Minimum width 0,2mm, Minimum spacing 0,2mm

Image 3: Create a new signal class by click on the first line.

The square brackets behind the class names give space for the names of the signals which later are using the class. At this time they are empty because there is no signal assigned to the class yet. You can't enter values manually here. TARGET 3001! does it automatically.

In the schematic please highlight those signals (add key [Ctrl] eventually) you like to assign to a signal class. Press keyboard key [e] for edit and the dialog "Edit the highlighted elements" opens.

Image 4: Dialog: "Edit the selected Elements"

In the dialog place a tick at "Signal Wires" and press OK. The dialog "Change Signal Wires" opens:

Image 5: Dialog: "Change Signal Wires"

Now select the desired signal class from the drop down menu and immediately the designated values of minimum width and minimum spacing concerning this signal class appear. The values are greyed out because they are defined by the class settings. At this point they can not be adjusted. Only if you select the "Signal class" option <No signal class>, the values can be adjusted again.

Image 6: Assign signal class

You can delete a signal class at any time either by the [Del] key or by the button with the "x" in the dialog, see image 2. The only need is to have the name of the signal class highlighted. The signals of a class deleted keep the assigned values until you change them individually.

Note: You can search for a certain signal class by the use of the binoculars: just enter the name of the class to the search field and immediately see all signals belonging to the class highlighted. Signals of a certain class might be copied and pasted to another schematic page by the clipboard function. The membership to the class is kept.

Questions on this topic?? target@ibfriedrich.com