Track width

Define the entire track width for a signal in the schematic already

If you want to define the track width for an entire signal (net) beforehand, double-click a green signal segment of this signal (M11) in the 'schematic. In the dialog "Change signal wires" you can define the minimum track width and the minimum track spacing at "Signal". If you now want to place a track in the layout, it immediately has the required minimum width. This value also will be used by an autorouter.

Define track width for coming tracks in the layout

The width of a track to be placed (a future track) can be set during track placement by pressing the keyboard key [o] for options. So start a track by pressing keyboard key [2] or by the use of the Draw Track icon. Now you're in the "Place tracks" mode. Now press key [o]. The following dialog opens:

Track options dialog

Change the width after a track has already been placed

The width of already existing signal tracks can be changed with the keyboard key [@] or [e] for editing. The desired tracks must be selected before executing the edit command. To decide which part of the track you wish to select, please use these icons:
... the selection of that single segment.
... the selection of a branch of the signal.
... the selection of the connected signal island.
... the selection of the whole signal in that view.

Now enter to the dialog "Change Tracks". A Doubleclick M11 will do the same. Shall the track width be defined in advance for a whole signal (net), you can double click a green signal segment in the schematic with M11. In the appearing dialog "Change signal wires" you can set the minimum track width and the minimum spacing for the whole signal. If you now start a track in PCB, the desired track width is used automatically.

So the Options-dialog cares for the properties of future tracks, the Change-dialog modifies already existing tracks. This rule applies for all drawing elements in TARGET 3001!.

Save various track option settings to the buttons to the right

Different contents of the "Track Options" dialog (= different trace shapes) can be programmed using the buttons on the left. The first step is to set all track options in the dialog. Then press the small arrow to the right of an untouched button to save the "performance" of the track to the button i.e. to make it recallable by pressing this button.

Image:Save track options to buttons. 4B was entered by the user and shall be an abbreviation for "4mm bottom". It is up to you how meaningful the abbreviations are designed.

Image: The buttons S and L at the end of the button column

Using the buttons S and L will save the whole set of track options which you had saved to the buttons in order to load it at a later time or to use it in another project.

Keywords: Track, Width, Trace, Thickness, Strength, Weight