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Design Entry PCB Place and Edit Auto, Interactive and Manual Routing Signal Integrity Analysis Design Output Library Management

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Discover how P-CAD 2001 gives you the power and control to produce professional results every time

Contents
How to install P-CAD 2001 Trial Version About this booklet Getting to know P-CAD 2001 Altium Total Support your access to world-class PCB design expertise Design entry & management How do I setup a new schematic design in P-CAD 2001? How do I check the electrical integrity of my schematic? How do I create a bill of materials for my design? How do I generate a netlist? How do I generate a table of power pins and power components? Precision PCB placement and editing How do I start to layout my board? How can I organize and plan my layout once I have loaded a netlist? How do I select and move a group of components assigned to a defined room? How can I check my design constraints while placing components? How do I save my placement and/or constraint changes back to the design environment? 3 4 5 8 9 9 11 14 15 16 17 17 18 19 21 22 Manual, interactive and shape-based automatic routing How do I manually route my board? How do I interactively route my board? How do I automatically route part or all of my PCB? Advanced signal integrity analysis How do I import my PCB nets into P-CAD Signal Integrity for analysis? How do I specify the PCB layer stack for my Signal Integrity analysis? How do I perform a net screening as a means of identifying my critical nets? How do I perform a Reflection simulation? How do I perform a Crosstalk simulation? Integrated component library management with P-CAD 2001 Where do I locate the P-CAD 2001 integrated libraries? How do I setup the P-CAD libraries for use within my design environment? How do I locate and then place a schematic symbol for a Polarized Capacitor? How do I create a new PCB pattern using the Pattern Wizard? Comprehensive design output and manufacturing support How do I generate manufacturing output? How do I generate a DXF output file? How do I create a drill table? How do I place a layer stack diagram within my PCB design database? How to purchase P-CAD 2001 23 23 25 28 30 30 31 31 33 34 36 36 36 37 39 41 41 43 44 46 Back cover

How to install P-CAD 2001 Trial Version

1. Insert the P-CAD 2001 Trial CD into your CD ROM drive. On most systems the setup program will automatically start shortly after the CD drive tray is closed. 2. If the installation program window does not appear automatically, run the Setup.exe program in the P-CAD 2001 directory of the installation CD. Once the setup program initializes, a Wizard will guide you through the installation process. Note: If you are installing P-CAD 2001 under Windows NT, you will need local administrator privileges to successfully complete the installation.

About this booklet

While this booklet points out some of the main options and features, it is by no means an exhaustive look at all that P-CAD 2001 has to offer. For more information, or for technical support, please visit www.pcad.com.

Note on the trial version

The trial CD includes a full working version of P-CAD 2001, time-limited for a period of exactly 30 days from the first time the software is run. Re-installing the software will not increase the length of the trial period. Warning: The trial version of P-CAD 2001 can only be installed once on a particular computer. If you attempt to extend the trial period by changing the system clock, re-installing the software or moving it to a different directory, you will render the trial version unusable. If anything goes wrong during the installation do not uninstall, simply reinstall to the same directory.

System requirements:
Recommended requirements: - Windows NT 4/2000 Professional Minimum requirements:

- PC with Pentinum III Processor - 128MB RAM (256MB for high

component/net count)

- Windows 95/98/2000Me - PC with Pentium 166 MHz - 64 MB RAM - 200MB Hard Disk Space
(without ISO libraries)

Note for existing P-CAD users

Installing P-CAD 2001 trial version will not affect existing P-CAD installations. The P-CAD 2001 trial version will run concurrently with previous versions of P-CAD software, including P-CAD 2000.

- 400 MB Hard Disk Space - Desktop area 1024x768 pixels - 32-bit color Palette - CD-ROM Drive - Mouse or compatible pointing device Starting P-CAD 2001

- Desktop area 800x600 pixels - 256 Color Palette

To start P-CAD 2001, select the appropriate icon in the Programs P-CAD 2001 Trial Version folder of your Windows Start menu.

Getting to know P-CAD 2001

1. Command Toolbar. Contains a combination of standard Windows functions together with unique P-CAD 2001 commands. 2. Interactive Routing Toolbar. During the PCB routing phase, use this toolbar to perform interactive routing techniques such as fan-out, trace pushing, bus routing, and multi-wire routing. 3. Documentation Toolbar. Contains shortcuts to functions used in the creation of design file documentation. Used within both PCB and Schematic. 4. Placement Toolbar. Implements placement of design entities such as components, connections, wires, and buses. 5. Prompt Line. Dynamic toolbar that prompts you as to what to do next. 6. Status Line. Provides key design status information. a. Coordinates - Provides current design coordinates. Use the "J" key to enable the input box to enter the coordinates. Use the TAB key to toggle from the X coordinate to the Y coordinate. b. Grid Setting - Provides the current grid setting. Can also be used to toggle between absolute and relative grid settings. c. Grids - Provides current grid status. Can add grids "on-the-fly" by entering new grid spacing from the status line. Automatically converts the grid spacing entered to the defined workspace units. d. Macro Record - Press to record or stop recording a macro. e. Layer/Sheet Dialog - Press to activate dialog box for current layer or sheet selection. f. Layer/Sheet Selection - Press to change from one layer or sheet to the next. g. Line Width - Press to select from a list of available line widths. h. Radius comb box - In PCB and Pattern Editor, this displays the current radius setting when polygonal shapes are placed with rounded corners. You can select a radius setting from the pull down list or enter a new radius setting.

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Getting Help
To utilize the online help function in P-CAD 2001, simply select Help from the Menu Bar or press F1 from anywhere on the screen. This will connect you to the Windows Help system, where instructions on how to use the help system are provided. P-CAD 2001 also provides a Tool Tip to help users define icons within the interface. To find out what an icon is, simply place the cursor over the icon and a box will appear containing the information.

Altium Total Support for P-CAD 2001

At Altium our vision is to help every engineer, designer and developer turn their ideas into successful products and applications in the easiest and most productive way. For this reason, we have introduced Altium Total Support (ATS). This new and enhanced support system succeeds P-CAD Total Support and keeps you at the leading edge of electronic design with all the latest product releases, service packs, addons and bonus technologies delivered to you as they are created. ATS membership ensures that you avoid the inconvenience and complication of large upgrades as well as enjoying the assurance of 24 hour, 7 day technical support, new and updated libraries, educational tips and special bonus offers exclusive to members. ATS membership not only keeps you up to date with the latest technology, but represents the most cost effective method of doing so. ATS members also receive exclusive access to special offers across our whole design software range, allowing you to expand your tool set at the most competitive rates available. ATS delivers the best of both worlds. As an Altium software user you have invested in some of the best design tools in the industry, with ATS you can access a wealth of cumulative experience and knowledge to ensure you always get the most from your investment. ATS membership is annually renewable, simply contact your sales and support center to find out how ATS can benefit you. Stay at the leading edge of electronic design Access superior support quickly and easily Minimize the impact of training your design team Optimize the performance of your design tools Eliminate the inconvenience of constantly lobbying for software upgrades The end result, and the sole focus of ATS, is to help you get your products to market faster and with the highest possible level of quality keeping you on the fast track to design success.

P-CAD 2001 Trial Booklet

Useful Shortcuts
The following P-CAD 2001 keyboard shortcuts are set up by default. You can modify these shortcuts by selecting Options >> Preferences from the command toolbar.

F1 Shift+F4 Shift+mouse Del Esc PgUp PgDn Ctrl+mouse Ctrl+PgUp Ctrl+PgDn (+) or (=) (-) Arrow Keys A

Help Window Tile Sub select Deletes selected object Mouse cancel Scroll page up Scroll page down Multiple select Scroll page left Scroll page right Zoom in Zoom out Moves cursor 1 grid point Grid toggle

C F G J M O R S U Z

Zoom center Flips objects/toggles orthogonal mode Cycles forward through the grids Enter coordinate Starts or stops the macro recorder Cycles forward through orthogonal modes Rotates objects 90 degrees Edit select Undo Zoom window

Design Entry and Management

How do I setup a new Schematic design in P-CAD 2001?
1. Select the Schematic icon in the Programs P-CAD 2001 Trial Version folder of your Windows Start menu. 2. Select File New. 3. Select Options Configure to define your design capture environment. Choose one of the pre-defined workspace sizes or setup your own workspace size by selecting the User dialog button and entering a custom Width and Height. Click on the Edit Title Sheets button to define and display border perimeters, horizontal and vertical zones, and custom or pre-defined title blocks. Close out of the Edit Title Sheets dialog to return to Options Configure and set the desired Orthogonal Modes for wire, bus, and line placement. Set the Net Increment as your step value when incrementing net names during the copy functions. Choose the Engineering Change Order format for recording changes to the active design select ECO format when full part, net, node, or attribute additions, deletions, and modifications are to be recorded. Select Was/Is Format to keep track of RefDes changes only. Use the controls in the AutoSave frame to enable the AutoSave feature, which regularly saves your files at a user-defined interval in a compressed or non-compressed format. Use the Units frame to alter your display units between mils, millimeters, and inches. Within the File Viewer, define the viewer to be used for viewing reports, log files, error reports, etc. Enter the program name (e.g., Notepad). If the program is in a directory that is not included in your system's path statement, include the complete pathname here. Type a value in the Zoom Factor box to adjust the amount of zoom that occurs when you choose View Zoom In (+) or View Zoom Out (-). The Autopan frame allows you to adjust the amount of autopanning that occurs when you move the cursor to the edge of the screen with the arrow keys. Enable DDE Hotlinks to exchange hotlink data with your printed circuit board design. Select the Compress Binary Designs check box to enable the automatic compression of binary files whenever those files are saved. 4. Once the design environment has been configured, close out of the dialog by selecting OK. Choose Options Grids from the Command Toolbar to configure grid spacings to use when entering your circuit design. Type a grid setting in the Grid Spacing frame and select the Add button. Enter as many grids as desired. Choose a visible grid style or disable it entirely. Select a Mode to employ an Absolute or Relative grid origin. If Relative grid is selected, either enter the desired origin coordinates in the Relative Grid Origin frame or select Prompt for Origin to enter the design environment and click on the selected point of origin. Select OK to exit the Options Grids dialog and save your settings. 5. Enter Options Sheets to define the number and order of schematic sheets to use within your design. To create a multi-sheet schematic, enter the name of the additional sheet in the Sheet Name frame.

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Select the Add button to enable that sheet within your design. Up to 999 sheets can be added to a schematic design. Use the Move Up and Move Down buttons to reorder the sheets within your design. Once the desired number of sheets has been configured, select the Close button to return to the design capture environment and begin placement of your schematic design objects.

3. Within the Design Rule Checks frame, enable all checks except Hierarchy Rules. The options chosen in this dialog determine which errors will be output to the report. Select the Filename button to alter the name of the report, if desired. 4. Select the Severity Levels button to apply a severity level of Error, Warning or Ignored to individual rules. 5. Click on the Rule Category header to sort the design rules by category. 6. Multi-select the Electrical rules Bi Pin To Power Pin and Power Pin to Bi Pin and choose the Severity Level radio button, Warning. Violations in this category will now be flagged as a warning rather than an error. 7. You can remove the changes you have made and return to the original settings by clicking the Set to default box. Click OK to return to the Utils ERC dialog. 8. Enable View Report to receive a screen display of the ERC report file when the ERC is complete. Enable Summarize Ignored Errors to show the summary of those errors set to a severity level of Ignored. 9. Select Annotate Errors to display ERC error indicators on your design where violations occur. 10. Click OK to run ERC. The ERC report Digdemo.erc will be automatically created and displayed.

How do I check the electrical integrity of my schematic?

1. Open Digdemo.sch found in the \P-CAD 2001 Trial\Demo\ folder. 2. P-CAD 2001's schematic editor includes extensive electrical rules checking features that allow you to verify the drafting and electrical integrity of your design at the capture stage. Select Utils ERC. The Electrical Rules Check dialog displays indicating a number of drafting and electrical design rules to be checked, a variety of reporting options, the ability to enable visual indicators for violations, and a severity level dialog that categorizes and defines the electrical rules by severity and type.

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11. In the ERC report, note that several errors and warning are shown regarding Electrical Rules and Unconnected Pins violations. These are conditions configured in the Severity Level and pertaining to the electrical types of the pins within your components. Select File Exit in the current text editor to close the ERC report from view and return to the schematic design. 12. Since the Annotate Errors option was selected, error indicators are placed in the design wherever a rules violation occurs for rules whose severity level is set to Error. To view the error information associated with a particular design object, either enter the design, manually select an error indicator and access its properties, or select Utils Find Errors to enable the Find Errors navigational tool. 13. The Find Errors dialog allows easy navigation to the problem areas of your schematic, regardless of which sheet contains the error. To use this dialog scroll through the error numbers noting the violation, sheet location, and object coordinates. When further investigation of a violation is necessary, select the Jump To dialog button to position your cursor at the exact location of the error within your design.

With an extensive set of electrical rules, the categorization of errors by severity and type, and advanced error management, P-CAD 2001 is designed to help you maintain the integrity of your designs from start to finish.

How do I create a bill of materials for my design?

1. Open Modfax0.sch found in the \P-CAD 2001 Trial\Demo\ folder. 2. Select File Reports. Select Bill of Materials from the Report to Generate frame. 3. Choose Filename to alter the name and location of the report to be produced. By default the Filename is the same as that of the current design, and is in the location where saved reports are stored. 4. Select the Report Destination. Output can be sent to the Screen for viewing using the file viewer, to a File or to a Printer. 5. Choose the output format as being either a Separated List or a P-CAD Report. If Separated List is chosen, select a character to use as the list separator. 6. Select Customize to create a user-defined report allowing custom formatting, specialized fields, a specific sort order, and even a custom file extension. 7. Select Generate to create the Bill of Materials report as configured.

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How do I generate a netlist?

1. Open Digdemo.sch found in the \P-CAD 2001 Trial\Demo\ folder. 2. Choose Utils Generate Netlist. From the Utils Generate Netlist dialog, choose a netlist filename by selecting the Netlist Filename button. This will display the Netlist File dialog, which is a standard Windows File Open dialog. 3. Select the netlist format to be generated from the combo box. The currently available formats are: - P-CAD ASCII - Master Designer - Tango - EDIF v.2.0.0 - FutureNet Netlist - Pspice - FutureNet Pinlist - XSpice

How do I generate a table of power pins and power components?

1. Open Digdemo.sch found in the \P-CAD 2001 Trial\Demo\ folder. 2. Create a third schematic sheet by entering Options Sheets, typing Sheet 3 in the Sheet Name field, and selecting the Add button. Highlight Sheet 3 and choose Current to make Sheet 3 current in the workspace. Select Close to save your changes. 3. The schematic editor should now display Sheet 3. Select DocTool Place Table and click once in the workspace to open the Place Table dialog. 4. Select Power Table from the Table Type list and enter the table name you would like to appear at the top of the table when placed. Select a text style and line width for the table. Choose All Pins from the Pins to Include field and All Components from the Components to Include field. Select OK to confirm the selections in the dialog and exit to place the table. 5. Click once in the bottom left hand corner of the sheet to place the Power Table. The power table is just one of many tables that can be placed in the schematic to enhance your design management. The power table summarizes the reference designator, component type, component pattern, and the power and ground nets for the component's power pins. Data contained within any of the schematic tables can be automatically updated by implementing the Update functions within the DocTool menu.

4. Enable the Include Library Information check box if you want an optional library section to be written to the netlist. When loading a netlist into the PCB editor, library information is read but not processed; it is merely informational. However, this library section may be used to create a P-CAD library file using the library translate command. 5. Click OK in the Netlist Generate dialog to generate the netlist with the filename and format you have specified.

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Precision PCB Placement and Editing

How do I start to layout my board?
1. Select the PCB icon in the Program P-CAD 2001 Trial Version folder of your Windows Start menu. 2. Select File New. 3. Select Options Configure, General tab to define your layout environment. Enable your desired units and workspace size. Notice the workspace size was automatically set to 11,000 by 8,500 mils to match an 11"x 8.5" sheet of paper. Select OK to return to your workspace. 4. Create the board outline. The board outline is traditionally placed on the nonsignal layer, entitled Board. Select Options Layers and change the Current Layer to Board by selecting the drop down arrow and choosing the desired layer. Select the Close button. Check the Status Line Layer setting to ensure that Board is displayed as the Current layer. 5. Choose Place Line and click in the workspace to define the shape of your board outline. For your convenience, load Demo1_o.pcb from the \P-CAD 2001 Trial\Demo\ folder. 6. P-CAD 2001 can be used to design printed circuit boards "on-the fly" by placing patterns and connections, but the preferred method is to transfer design data via a netlist created from the schematic editor. The netlist carries all design constraints, attributes, components, and connections from the circuit to the layout. Before either layout method can begin, you must first open the libraries that contain the components you will use. To setup a component library for use within the PCB editor, select Library Setup. From the Library Setup dialog, choose Add. Select Demo.lib from the \P-CAD 2000 Trial\Demo\ folder. Click OK to save your changes and return to the workspace. 7. Once the libraries are set, select Utils Load Netlist to load the netlist generated from the schematic design. Choose Demo1.net from the \P-CAD 2001 Trial\Demo\ folder. The format will be automatically configured as P-CAD ASCII once the netlist is chosen. Select Optimize Nets to automatically optimize the netlist connections. Select OK to load the netlist. Since the appropriate libraries are open, the components in the netlist will be automatically placed in the workspace. Now you can move components into position within the board outline. Notice that the electrical connections carried over in the netlist are visible in the PCB, forming a rats nest. You can turn off the display of any nets with the edit nets command to minimize distractions.

How can I organize and plan my layout once I have loaded a netlist?
1. Within P-CAD 2001's PCB editor, open IPLPCS Design by rules.pcb found in the \P-CAD 2001 Trial\Demo\ folder. 2. From the Utils menu, choose P-CAD InterPlace\PCS to launch P-CAD's powerful interactive placement tools.

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3. Choose File Load PCB Design. Expand the workspace to view the layout, aathe design manager, and the Constraint Editor. P-CAD 2001's interactive placement tools allow you to navigate and organize your design in a variety of ways. Within the layout view, receive a visual display of the board outline, its mounting holes, connections and components from different perspectives, such as Top Only, Bottom Only, Top Current and Bottom Current. From the Design Manager, organize and manipulate design objects by components, nets, logical partitions, rooms, net classes, and class-to-class definitions. Check out the constraint editor to verify or assign the hierarchical design rules configured within your design environment.

4. From the Design Manager view on the right, navigate through the Components, Nets, Partitions, Rooms, Net Classes, and Class-toClass definitions found within the design by clicking the tabs at the bottom of this view. 5. Select the Room tab. Click the + symbol next to Top in the navigation tree to expand the folder and display the room entitled Power. Click the + symbol next to Power to display the components to be placed within the boundaries of that room. 6. Click to highlight Power in the Design Manager. Once highlighted, select your right mouse button. Choose Highlight Room and Assigned Components. The highlighted components are those assigned to the highlighted room boundary that restricts component placement to the Top layer. 7. With Power remaining highlighted, select the right mouse button and choose Cluster by Type. Those components assigned to the room Power will display in the select color and be bounded by a selection box. The cursor will jump from the Design Manager view to the Layout View and change to the "X", or placement cursor. 8. Click your left mouse button once in the Layout View workspace to group, or cluster the components by the specified criteria type.

How do I select and move a group of components assigned to a defined room?

1. Within P-CAD 2001's PCB editor, open IPLPCS Design by rules.pcb found in the \P-CAD 2001 Trial\Demo\ folder. 2. From the Utils menu, choose P-CAD InterPlace\PCS to launch P-CAD's powerful interactive placement tools. 3. Choose File Load PCB Design. Expand the workspace to view the layout, the Design Manager, and the Constraint Editor.

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9. While the cluster of components is still selected, click and hold the left mouse button to drag the cluster into the desired room boundaries.

How can I check my design constraints while placing components?

1. Within P-CAD 2001's PCB editor, open IPLPCS Noise and Coupling Results.pcb found in the \P-CAD 2001 Trial\Demo\ folder. 2. From the Utils menu, choose P-CAD InterPlace\PCS to launch P-CAD's powerful interactive placement tools. 3. Choose File Load PCB Design. Expand the workspace to view the layout, the Design Manager, and the Constraint Editor. 4. Enter the Design Manager, Nets tab. Select Nets and click the right mouse button. Choose Show Connections. 5. Enter the Design Manager, Components tab on the right of your screen. Select Ref Des MTG1 and drag it across the window to the top left corner of the board outline in the Layout View. 6. Multi-select components J1 and J2 by holding down the CTRL key during the selection, once selected release CTRL key and drag them onto the left edge of the board.

7. Enter the Constraint Editor at the bottom of your screen. Click the + symbol next to the Component name in the constraint tree. Select Component T1. Notice the Component Spacing rule that is set to 30.0mil based upon an ifthenelse analysis involving other hierarchical design constraints. 8. Choose Physical Overlay from the Visual Placement Area Toolbar in order to show valid regions where T1 can be placed without violating its physical design constraints namely component spacing. 9. Select T1 from the Layout view and drag it into the board outline. Notice that P-CAD 2001 displays the board regions that satisfy the design rules, helping you to determine which design constraints are limiting placement options.

How do I save my placement and/or constraint changes back to the design environment?
1. Once you have completed your modifications to the component placement or to the definitions of the design rules, select File Update PCB or File Update Schematic. 2. All modifications will be written to the appropriate design database. 3. You are now done with P-CAD InterPlace/PCS, close the window and return to PCB.

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Manual, interactive, and shape-based automatic routing

How do I manually route my board?
Manual route is a flexible tool that allows you to place traces precisely. For easier and more efficient routing, you may want to use a relative or non-conforming grid. To do this, you can select the Options Grids command to display the dialog. Then, click at the location you want for the 3rd vertex; the orthogonal mode selected will create the second vertex for you. Limit the enabled orthogonal modes by entering Options Configure, Route and disabling the unwanted orthogonal modes. To toggle through the selected orthogonal modes, press the "O" key, when the mouse is depressed during routing. To toggle the vertex, use the keyboard shortcut "F". 7. Using the keyboard shortcut "L", change to the Bottom layer in order to route those segments where routing channels on the Top are blocked. When changing layers in routing mode, the current via or the via style specified within the net attributes is automatically placed to connect the layers. 8. During the routing and layer changing process, zoom in (+) and out (-) as needed. 9. To terminate routing, choose to complete the remainder of the trace by using the right mouse button or escape key. Stop routing without completing the trace by using the slash (/) key to suspend. The keyboard shortcuts used to complete or suspend routing can be custom configured under the Options Configure, Route dialog.

Manual routing steps:

1. Open Demo1_u.pcb found in the \P-CAD 2001 Trial\Demo\ folder 2. Zoom so you can easily select a connection line. Select the Route Manual command. 3. Enable online DRC for routing, by entering Options Configure, Online DRC and choosing the Enable Online DRC checkbox, or by clicking the Online DRC icon on the Command Toolbar. Within Options Configure, Online DRC specific Online Design Rule checks can be enabled. Online DRC will annotate and document design rule errors created while routing the board. 4. Using the keyboard shortcut "L", change the current layer to Top. Routing must occur on a signal layer. Since Top is a signal layer, routing can be done on this layer. Enter Options Layers to determine the types of layers present in your design. 5. Using the keyboard shortcut "G", toggle to a desired routing grid. This routing should be based upon the chosen connection. 6. Click directly over a connection line near a starting pad to select it for routing; notice the beginning of a trace. Hold down the mouse button and drag the trace segment as desired. Release at a location where you want the first vertex.

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How do I interactively route my board?

1. Open Demo1_p.pcb found in the \P-CAD 2001 Trial\Demo\ folder. 2. Select Options Configure, Route tab to set your Interactive Routing preferences. 3. Check Honor Layer Bias to honor the layer bias set using the Options Layers. 4. Check Show Routable Area to enable the visible routing area which displays the available routing channels taking into account the routing parameters such as clearance and trace width. Under Windows NT and Windows 2000, the area is shown as a transparent hatch; under Windows 95 and 98, the area is a transparent color. 5. Select Maximize Hugging or Minimize Length as a rule for traces routed interactively. When you select Maximize Hugging, trace placement is set to maximize the hugging of obstacles. The Minimize Length option generates the straightest (minimizing corners) possible vialess route. This option optimizes the use of 45 traces.

9. Using the keyboard shortcut "G", toggle to a desired routing grid. This grid should be based upon the chosen connection. 10. Zoom in (+) to an area of the design. Pick a connection to route. The end closest to the point where the connection is selected becomes the source point; the other end becomes the destination point. Hold your mouse button down while dragging the track to its desired location. Notice the visible routing area directing you through the proper routing channels, or those areas that do not violate the configured design constraints. These routing channels are determined by examining board entities and all defined clearance and width parameters, as well as any defined keepout areas. 11. The Interactive Route tool rubberbands uncommitted copper with the proper net width and design rule clearances from the source point to the position of the cursor. Notice while moving the cursor, the connection rubberbands from the cursor to the second node of the connection, indicating what remains to be routed. When you click and release at a coordinate that is not the destination node, the previously uncommitted lines are placed on the board. 13. After establishing a trace direction and manually routing through critical areas, select your right mouse button to enable the interactive context menu and choose Complete to enable the interactive routing algorithm to complete the trace. If the trace must maneuver through a congested area before completion, enable the Push Traces option by selecting it from the context menu or by enabling it on the Route Toolbar. Enable this option before completing the route as it allows you to bring in additional trace segments or vias into areas that are

6. Select OK to save your dialog settings and return to the PCB editor. 7. Enable Interactive Routing by selecting the Route Interactive tool from the Route Toolbar or select Route Interactive. 8. Using the keyboard shortcut "L", change the current layer to Top. Routing must occur on a Signal layer. Enter Options Layers to determine the types of layers present in your design.

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already routed. This option reroutes the trace obstacles automatically, minimizing manual editing and quickly completing the connection. If a push does not ease the congestion, use the context menu or the "L" keyboard shortcut to change to a new routing layer. When layers are changed during routing, a via is automatically placed into the design. The via style placed is the Current style as indicated through Options Via Style or the via style assigned to the net through Options Design Rule, Net tab. So, besides enabling Push Traces and changing layers, the context menu allows you to alter the Current Via Style, Suspend the trace, Cancel the routing, alter the Interactive Routing configuration settings, or Unwind the trace segments. 14. Continue this process until you are have cccccompleted your work. Interactive routing combines trace placement control with design rule intelligence in its many tools and features. Trace-pushing, maximum hugging, visible routing area and minimum length routes, along with bus routing, multi-wire routing, and automatic fan out help P-CAD 2001 maximize routing for even the toughest jobs.

How do I automatically route part of all of my PCB?

1. Open Demo1_u.pcb found in the \P-CAD 2001 Trial\Demo\ folder. 2. Select View Extent to show the extent of all objects placed in the workspace. 3. To automatically route a particular net, select Route AutoRouters. Choose P-CAD Shape Route from the AutoRouter pull down menu and select Start. 4. The design will enter the Autorouting interface. Select Tools AutoRoute Net. The cursor will change to an arrow. Select on any pad on the relevant net or on any connection line and the P-CAD Shape Based AutoRouter will automatically route the entire net. Continue to select other nets to route, or right click or press ESC to exit net autorouting mode. 5. With the P-CAD Shape Based AutoRouter, you can automatically route a single connection within a net, all pads on a particular component, or all connections within a defined area by repeating the above step and choosing the relevant P-CAD option from the Tools menu. 6. To automatically route the entire board, select Tools Start AutoRouter from the Shape Based Auto Router menu.

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Advanced Signal Integrity Analysis

7. When routing is complete, select File Save and Return to save the routing and return to the PCB editor. P-CAD 2001's autorouter combines state-of-the art routing algorithms with powerful polygonal shape-based architecture to create high-quality, fast autorouting with high completion rates and professional results with all component packaging technologies. P-CAD 2001's integrated Signal Integrity Simulator, available to all full suite licenses, is seamlessly integrated with the PCB editor to minimize costly post-layout changes and solve your high-speed design and EMC/EMI problems before you take your board to manufacture. As PCB designs become more sophisticated, with higher clock speeds, higher device switching speeds, and higher density, the need to analyze the signal integrity before the design is manufactured becomes more pressing. Propagation delays, net impedances, signal reflections and crosstalk are no longer just the domain of the high-frequency design specialist. Signal integrity problems can affect all board designs. Device manufacturers constantly produce smaller and faster devices with increasing device edge rates, and slower logic families are disappearing from manufacturers' inventories. It is becoming increasingly necessary for all designers to keep signal integrity issues in mind as they layout and route their boards.

How do I import my PCB nets into P-CAD Signal Integrity for analysis?
1. Open Demo.pcb found in the \P-CAD 2001 Trial\Demo\Signal Integrity folder. 2. Start P-CAD Signal Integrity by choosing Utils P-CAD Signal Integrity. The Signal Integrity application interface will display.

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3. To import the PCB nets, choose File Get Nets. A list of all nets and net classes in the active PCB design will display.

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How do I specify the PCB layer stack for my Signal Integrity analysis?
1. Open Demo.pcb found in the \P-CAD 2001 Trial\Demo\Signal Integrity folder. 2. Start P-CAD Signal Integrity by choosing Utils P-CAD Signal Integrity. The Signal Integrity application interface will display. 3. Import the PCB nets by selecting File Get Nets. A list of all nets and net classes in the active PCB design will display. 4. Choose Edit Layer Stack to display the Layer Stack dialog. 5. Select a layer and enter the desired changes to the Dielectric Type, Height, and EpsR. The Copper Height and order of the layers can also be modified from the dialog box.

3. To import the PCB nets, choose File Get Nets. A list of all nets and net classes in the active PCB design will display. 4. Choose Edit Nets to display the Edit Nets dialog. 5. From within this dialog, check that the category and voltages are correct for each of the nets in the active design. Select nets VCC, VCC1, VCC2 and VCC3 by depressing the CTRL key and selecting each of the net names. Change the net category to Supply and the Value to 5.00 V. Select Apply to alter the net values. 6. Select To Database to save these changes to the demo.pcb database as specific net attributes. 7. Select OK to return to the Signal Integrity application interface. From the net list box, multi-select nets DEMO_D0 to DEMO_D20. To perform a multi-select, choose net DEMO_D0, press and hold the Shift key, and while holding choose net DEMO_D20. The desired nets will highlight. 8. Choose Edit Take Over. The net details will now display in the P-CAD Signal Integrity window. 9. Choose Simulation Screening to display the P-CAD Signal Integrity Screening dialog. 10.From the Screening dialog, select View Arrange Nets by Maximum Overshoot (Rising Edge). You can now easily identify the critical nets that may require analysis.

How do I perform a net screening as a means of identifying my critical nets?

1. Open Demo.pcb found in the \P-CAD 2001 Trial\Demo\Signal Integrity folder 2. Start P-CAD Signal Integrity by choosing Utils P-CAD Signal Integrity. The Signal Integrity application interface will display.

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Screening provides a fast simulation of all the nets in your design to provide geometrical information and estimated values for Signal Integrity effects.

How do I perform a Reflection simulation?

1. Open Demo.pcb found in the \P-CAD 2001 Trial\Demo\Signal Integrity folder. 2. Start P-CAD Signal Integrity by choosing Utils P-CAD Signal Integrity. The Signal Integrity application interface will display. 3. To import the PCB nets, choose File Get Nets. A list of all nets and net classes in the active PCB design will display. 4. Select net Demo_A31 and choose Edit Take Over. 5. Choose Simulation Reflection to display the Signal Integrity Wave Analyzer. 6. Having identified this net as problematic, we can use the Termination Advisor to assist in reducing the voltage overshoot. Choose File Exit to return the Signal Integrity application interface. Choose Demo_A31 node U9 pin 9 from the Simulation window. 7. Choose Simulation Termination Advisor. Within the Termination Advisor dialog, choose Parallel R to GND. Set the resistance of R2 to 100.0 Ohm. 8. Select OK in the Termination Advisor to return to the Signal Integrity application interface. 9.

Choose Simulation Reflection to display the Signal Integrity Wave Analyzer and check the overshoot at U9-9 with the addition of the resistor. Since the introduction of the resistor has solved the ringing noise problem, we will save the termination solution to the PCB. Choose File Exit from the Wave Analyzer to return the Signal Integrity application interface.

10. Choose Simulation Termination Advisor. Within the Termination Advisor dialog, select Send to P-CAD PCB. An Info Point will be inserted into the PCB at the location where the resistor is needed. 11. To locate the info point, return to the PCB design. Choose Utils Find Errors. A Termination Network Error will appear. Select Jump in the Find Errors dialog to access the location of the info point.

How do I perform a Crosstalk simulation?

The P-CAD Crosstalk simulator simulates the coupling between traces with adjacent parallel segments. 1. Open Demo.pcb found in the \P-CAD 2001 Trial\Demo\Signal Integrity folder.

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Integrated Component Library Management with P-CAD 2001

2. Start P-CAD Signal Integrity by choosing Utils P-CAD Signal Integrity. The Signal Integrity application interface will display. 3. To import the PCB nets, choose File Get Nets. A list of all nets and net classes in the active PCB design will display. 4. Select Options Configure and enter 1 mm for both the Maximum Couple Distance and the Minimum Couple Length. This dialog sets the geometrical parameters for the automatic search for parallel traces. 5. Select OK to return the Signal Integrity application interface. Choose net DEMO_D1 and select Edit Find Coupled Nets. Nets DEMO_D1, DEMO_D0, and DEMO_D2 should be highlighted. Select Edit >> Take Over. 6. Select net DEMO_D1 in the Simulation window and select Simulation Set Victim Net. 7. Select Simulation Crosstalk. The Wave Analyzer should display with the Crosstalk Simulation result. Finding, creating and managing components are fundamental to efficient design. P-CAD 2001 takes library organization to new heights with a powerful library manager than acts as your complete library control center.

Where do I locate the P-CAD 2001 integrated libraries?

P-CAD 2001 comes supplied with a comprehensive set of integrated libraries. These libraries can be found in the \P-CAD 2001\Lib folder. In addition, the P-CAD Library Development Center (PLDC) continually develops ISO 9001 certified component libraries available free to download from the P-CAD website, www.pcad.com. These comprehensive, quality assured integrated components are defined with complete symbolic, physical, and electrical data.

How do I setup the P-CAD libraries for use within my design environment?
To use the integrated components contained within the P-CAD 2001 libraries in a schematic or PCB design, you need to first setup the library within the design environment. 1. Start in any schematic or PCB design. Select Library Setup. 2. Click the Add button within the Library Setup dialog box to open the Library File Listing dialog. Browse your Windows system to locate the

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desired library file (*.lib). The integrated libraries supplied with the P-CAD 2001 trial are located in the \P-CAD 2001\Lib folder. 3. Select the desired library and choose Open. To select more than one library, depress the CTRL key while selecting each desired library. When you choose Open, all of the desired libraries will be listed in your Library Setup dialog. Select OK to close the dialog. The selected libraries are now loaded into the schematic or PCB editor and their components can be added to your design.

Number of Pins field and use the pull down menu to select the operand = . Type 2, so that the cell now reads "=2". Query supports logical comparisons (<,>,=) and Boolean operations (AND, OR) on component attributes and property value. It also supports the "*" as a multi character and "?" as a single character wildcard. 6. Click Query to locate those components that matched the search criteria. 7. A Viewer dialog will open displaying the properties and attributes of the matching components. Scroll to the right to locate the Description attribute. 8. Click Axial Polarized Capacitor to select this component for placement. 9. Select Place to close the Viewer and immediately open the Place Part dialog to the selected component. 10. Since the desired component, CAP100AP, is pre-selected, simply click OK to place the desired capacitor within your design. P-CAD 2001 contains a powerful search and place capability, with access to both system and user-defined attributes, which can be invoked from schematic, PCB, or the library management.

How do I locate and then place a schematic symbol for a Polarized Capacitor?
1. From within the schematic environment, setup the Demo.lib and the Modfax0.lib following the setup procedures above. These libraries are located in the \P-CAD 2001 Trial\Demo folder. 2. Select Place Part from the schematic menu or from the Placement toolbar. 3. Select Query from within the Place Part dialog. 4. The Query dialog will open. In order to apply the query to both libraries, check Demo.lib and Modfax0.lib under the Open Libraries header within the dialog. 5. Select Criteria (And) for the Component Name field and use the pull down menu to select the query operand IsLike. Then select that cell and enter Cap*, so it now reads "IsLike Cap*". Next, select Criteria (And) for the

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How do I create a new PCB pattern using the Pattern Wizard?

1. Open the P-CAD Pattern Editor from the Utils menu of schematic or PCB, from the Programs P-CAD 2001 menu, or by launching pated.exe. 2. When Pattern Editor is launched, select Pattern Pattern Wizard to open the Pattern Wizard, a graphical wizard that enhances the pattern creation process. 3. Specify a Pattern Type of ARRAY, 11 as both the number of pads down and number of pads across, 100.0mil as the pad to pad spacing and 3 cutout pads for both down and across. Choose (Default) as the pad style of choice. Control the corner pads as desired. 4. Enable the Silk Screen. Configure the Silk Screen settings to be line width of 10.0mil, rectangle width of 1200.0mil, rectangle height of 1200.0mil, and notch type as Upper Left. 5. Configure the pin numbering for the Array by selecting the Default Pin Designators button. Enter the Default Pin Designator Assistant and choose a beginning Row Value of A and a beginning Column Value of 1.

Check the top left corner box to set it as the start location for numbering. Once selected the graphic at the right should dynamically update to reflect the new numbering scheme. Enter I,O as characters to be skipped during the numbering of the array. Confirm the pin designator numbering and select OK to return to the Pattern Wizard. 6. Confirm the pattern shape and settings and press Finish to place the newly created pattern within the editor. 7. Add user defined attributes using Pattern Attributes if desired. 8. Choose Pattern Save to save the object as a pattern into a selected library or choose Pattern File Save As to save the design as a pattern database file (*.pat) for future editing. P-CAD 2001 supports graphical wizards for both symbols and patterns. These wizards combined with full suites of symbol and pattern editing tools, not to mention the ability to cross link and verify corporate data to component definitions make modifying, creating and managing component data with P-CAD 2001 fast, efficient, and most importantly accurate.

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Comprehensive design

output and manufacturing support

8. Click Close to exit the dialog and return to the main File Gerber Out dialog. The Gerber files Tutor3.TOP, Tutor3.BOT, Tutor3.TSK appear in the Output Files listbox. 9. From the File Gerber Out dialog, click Apertures to display the Aperture Assignments dialog. From here you can create and assign apertures either automatically or manually. Click Auto to automatically assign the aperture and select Close to save the settings and return to the File Gerber Out dialog. 10. From the File Gerber Out dialog, click Drill Symbols to display the Drill Symbol Assignments dialog. From this dialog, you can assign drill symbols either manually or automatically. Click Auto to auto assign the drill symbols. Select Close to save your changes. 11. Select Gerber Format from the File Gerber Out dialog to setup your output units, numeric type and format. By default, the output format is set to 274-D. Select Close to save your settings. 12. Choose Set All to highlight all of the gerber files configured in your Output Path. If desired, select SelfExtracting (.EXE) or Compressed (.ZIP) to compress the output files into either file format or select Load in Camtastic. 13. Click the Generate Output Files button in the File Gerber Out dialog to generate your gerber manufacturing files.

How do I generate manufacturing output?

1. Open Tutor3.pcb from in the \P-CAD 2001 Trial\Tutorial\ folder. 2. From the File Export Gerber dialog, click Setup Output Files to display the Setup Output Files dialog. 3. Type TOP in the File Extension edit box. The output files have the same base name as the design file, but a unique extension. Typical extensions used to differentiate files would be layer-specific, such as TOP for Top layer, BOT for Bottom layer, TSK for Top Silk, etc. 4. Highlight the Top layer in the Layers list box. Enable Pads and Vias. Check View log file upon completion to report errors during gerber generation. Then click Add to add Tutor3.TOP to the Output File list. 5. Type BOT in the File Extension edit box. Select the Bottom layer in the Layers list box and deselect any others. Use the same options and output path as you did for TOP. Click Add to add Tutor3.BOT to the Output File list. 6. Type TSK in the File Extension edit box. Highlight the Top Silk layer in the Layers list box, disabling all other layers. Enable Ref Des, Type, and Value, disabling all other items. Click Add to add Tutor3.TSK to the Output File list. 7. Specify the Output Path. If you enter an invalid path, you'll get an error message when you try to close the dialog.

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How do I generate a DXF output file?

1. Select File Export DXF from the toolbar to open the dialog.

11. Suppress the output of mounting hole copper with a check next to the No Mt Hole Cu box. 12. Check the Include Title Sheet box to output title sheets. 13. Check the Include True Type Fonts box to output True Type text. Deselecting this box allows you to export a DXF file that is compatible with Revision 9 DXF. 14. Select OK to generate the DXF output file. You can cancel the operation by pressing Esc or by clicking the right mouse button. The DXF Out command is used to create DXF files from your PCB designs. These files can be transferred to AutoCAD (version 9.0 and above) and other mechanical CAD packages.

2. Click the DXF Filename button and the File Save dialog appears for you to select a file or enter a file name. 3. Type the name of the DXF file you want to save in the File Name box. 4. Click Save. 5. Select the PCB layers you wish to output using the Layers list box. Each PCB layer is output to a separate DXF layer. The Set All and Clear All buttons let you select and clear all the board layers at once. 6. If you choose to output Drill Symbols, specify a size for the resulting drill symbols. Also, select the desired hole types to export. Your choices consist of Plated Holes, Non-plated Holes or All Holes. To make or examine drill symbol assignments, choose the Setup button to open the Drill Symbol Assignments dialog. 7. Choose the desired output unit, inch, cm, or mm, by clicking the appropriate radio button in the DXF Units area. 8. If you want to output only certain objects, select those objects in the design before selecting File Export DXF and then enable the Selected Objects option. 9. Click the Draft box to output in draft mode. Draft mode produces smaller files that process faster, but the drawings are not technically accurate since the lines have no width and the areas are not filled. 10. Check the Component Height box to output the height of components based upon their assigned Component Height attribute.

How do I create a drill table?

1. Open Tutor3.pcb found in the \P-CAD 2001 Trial \Tutorial\ folder. 2. Enter File Export Gerber, click Drill Symbols to assign drill symbols for your hole diameters. From the Drill Symbol Assignments dialog, assign drill symbols by selecting the Auto button. This will automatically assign the drill symbols. Select Close to save your changes and close the File Gerber Out dialog. 3. To create a drill table using P-CAD's advanced design documentation tools, select DocTool Place Table and click once in the workspace. The Place Table dialog appears.

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4. From the Table Type list, select Drill Table as the table to be placed. 5. Specify the Line Width to define the thickness of the table cell borders. 6. Enter a Table Name. This name is centered above the placed table. 7. Select a Text Style for the table contents. To modify text styles, click the Text Styles button to enter the Options Text Styles dialog. 8. Click the Advanced button to customize the drill table. The dialog is extended to include a view of the current drill table. 9. In Hole Dia Units, choose the units of the hole diameter in the drill table: inches or millimeters. 10. Add a user-defined column through this dialog if desired. 11. Select OK to save the dialog settings and return to the PCB workspace to place the table. 12. Use the keyboard shortcut "L" to navigate to the non-signal layer, Board. Click where you want to position your table. If you hold down the mouse button, a ghosted outline of the table appears. Drag this ghosted outline to a more precise location. The drill table is just one of many tables that can be placed within your printed circuit board database to enhance your design documentation and management.

The drill table maps the drill symbols displayed on the PCB design to its physical characteristics. The following information is contained within the drill table: the hole diameter, the symbol used to identify the drill hole, the number of holes of time in the design, and whether the hole is plated. Data within the drill table or within any of the PCB tables can be automatically updated by implementing the Update functions within the DocTool menu.

How do I place a layer stack diagram within my PCB design database?

1. Open Digdemo.pcb found in the \P-CAD 2001 Trial\Demo\ folder. 2. Use the keyboard shortcut "L" to navigate to the non-signal layer entitled Info. 3. From the PCB menu, select DocTool Place Diagram then click once within the workspace to open the Place Diagram dialog. 4. Alter the Title from "Layer StackUp" to "Layer Configuration". 5. Select Diagram Style #2. 6. Set the Line Width to 20.0 7. Click OK to leave the dialog and enter the layout for placement of the layer stackup diagram. 8. Position your cursor over the placement location and click once in the workspace and release. The layer stack diagram will be included in gerber manufacturing output as well as hardcopy and DXF.

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