Layout Check

Edit: Check LayoutLayout Check

After importing a PCB or after setting up a PCB by the user the layout should be checked for unwanted overlaps between different nets or for unwanted open ended nets. The Layout Check function is best explained by using a simple structure. The figure below shows a trace (of net signal) overlapping with an area (of net power):

The corresponding dialog box after a Layout Check on this structure is shown in the figure below:

PCB Layout Check: Starts the Layout Check. During the check several messages are displayed in the Message Window. After finishing the errors are sorted and listed in two tabs.

Overlaps - tab: presents all overlap errors. The names of the overlapping nets are listed inside the left column. By expanding a net (by clicking on the + sign) all nets that intersects will be displayed. On the right hand side every intersection is listed in a table. The table includes the following columns:

• Layer: Displays the layer where the overlap occurs

• X, Y: The coordinates where the overlap occurs. This point is just the average of all points where the overlap occurs. The whole overlapping area is not shown.

• Part 1: The substructure (trace or area) of the first net (intersecting the second net)

• Part 2: The substructure (trace or area) of the second net (intersecting the first net)

By selecting an entry in the table the corresponding location (around the given x,y-coordinates) will be automatically zoomed in the Main View and the given x,y-point is marked with a crossbar.

Allow overlap: If the flag is activated the following mesh functions will accept that error and merge both nets together. This is a convenient feature because sometimes such overlaps between different nets may be designed deliberately.

Open-Ended Nodes - tab: presents all open ended nodes. The names of corresponding nets are listed inside the left column as shown for the net Signal in the figure below:

On the right hand side every open ended node is listed in a table. The table includes the following columns:

• Layer: Displays the layer where the open end occurs

• X, Y: The coordinates where the open end is located

• Part: The substructure (trace) where the ope end is located.

By selecting an entry in the table the corresponding location (around the given x,y-coordinates) will be automatically zoomed in the Main View and the given x,y-point is marked with a crossbar.