Area Fill (Rectangle)

The Area Fill (Rectangle) command allows you to create a rectangular area fill, height limit area, rule area or component group on the canvas. It is displayed by clicking Home > Area Fill > Rectangle, or Shape > Area Fill > Rectangle on the ribbon in eCADSTAR PCB Editor. It is only available in 2D View mode. Select an option in the top of this dialog to specify relevant settings for the selected option. The following options can be selected.

Item	Description
Copper	If a conductor layer is set as the Active Layer, then selecting this option allows you to specify a copper area fill for it. If a non-conductor layer is set as the Active Layer, then this option is made unavailable. You can create a template area by selecting ON in the Template area field. Before you define the template area, you must specify an object on the canvas that has a net. Warning If no signal is selected when creating a copper area fill, then the copper shapes that are created are added to the No net net. Consequently, they are connected to all other copper items on this net, including pads, pins and copper areas. Shorting all unconnected items together in this way may be particularly problematic if aNo netpin is internally connected within a component.
Figure	If a non conductor layer is set as the Active Layer, then selecting this option allows you to specify an area fill for it. If a conductor layer is set as the Active Layer, then this option is made unavailable.
Height limit	For a design that has height limit area layers, this option allows you to create a height limit area. See: Creating a Height Limit Area.
Rule	Allows you to create a rule area. The rules that you specify for a rule area override the routing rules in the associated technology. See: Creating a Rule Area.
Component Group	Allows you to create a component group on the canvas. Before doing this, you must create a component group using the Component Group Settings dialog. The component groups that you create can be selected in the Name box, in this dialog. After you add component groups to the canvas, add the associated components by selecting the relevant component group in the Grouped components section of the Arrange Components dialog. Alternatively, click the Component Group option and draw an area on the canvas that includes the components associated with the relevant component group.

Copper

Refer to the Warning message above before selecting this option.

Tangent arc

Value	Description
ON	A tangent arc with the radius specified in Radius of tangent arc is generated at the corner of a figure.
OFF	The vertex is placed at the corner of a figure.

Radius of tangent arc

Value	Description
Real number greater than 0.	Set the radius of tangent arc to be generated.

Template area

Value	Description
ON	If Copper is selected in this dialog, then a template area is created on the canvas. Before you define the template area, you must specify an object on the canvas that has a net. This field is made available only if Copper is selected. Note When adding a template area to a rule area on the canvas: if the Minimum copper width is defined by Track width stack check box is selected in the PCB Editor: Application Settings, Area fill section, then the track width is ignored that is set for the rule area. The track width stack is applied that you specify in the Default track width stack box in the Rule Editor Dialog: Tracks Tab. However, this value is overridden by any values specified for the relevant net in the Design Rule tab, Track Width Stack column in the Constraint Browser: Signals section, Signals Tab or Constraint Browser: Signals section, Classes/Groups tab. To assign mesh parameters to template copper, select the template area on the canvas, and then specify values in the Mesh Parameters dialog. This is displayed by clicking Shape > Mesh > Generate Mesh on the ribbon, and then clicking Settings in the Generate Mesh dialog. Alternatively, right-click a template area on the canvas and select Generate Mesh on the assist menu. Warning If a template area is changed to a mesh, then it is not affected by the following commands. Automatic Repour in the Template Area Settings dialog. Generate/Delete Conductor Area. If a template area is changed to a mesh, then deleting the contents of the mesh reverts it to a template area.
OFF	A template area is not created on the canvas.

Value

Description

If Copper is selected in this dialog, then a template area is created on the canvas. Before you define the template area, you must specify an object on the canvas that has a net. This field is made available only if Copper is selected.

Note

When adding a template area to a rule area on the canvas: if the Minimum copper width is defined by Track width stack check box is selected in the PCB Editor: Application Settings, Area fill section, then the track width is ignored that is set for the rule area. The track width stack is applied that you specify in the Default track width stack box in the Rule Editor Dialog: Tracks Tab. However, this value is overridden by any values specified for the relevant net in the Design Rule tab, Track Width Stack column in the Constraint Browser: Signals section, Signals Tab or Constraint Browser: Signals section, Classes/Groups tab.
To assign mesh parameters to template copper, select the template area on the canvas, and then specify values in the Mesh Parameters dialog. This is displayed by clicking Shape > Mesh > Generate Mesh on the ribbon, and then clicking Settings in the Generate Mesh dialog. Alternatively, right-click a template area on the canvas and select Generate Mesh on the assist menu.

Warning

If a template area is changed to a mesh, then it is not affected by the following commands.

Automatic Repour in the Template Area Settings dialog.
Generate/Delete Conductor Area.

If a template area is changed to a mesh, then deleting the contents of the mesh reverts it to a template area.

OFF

A template area is not created on the canvas.

Pen width

Value	Description
Real number equal to or greater than 0.	Set the pen width of the area fill to be generated.

Thermal relief

Value		Description
ON		In the same net as the area fill to be generated: the subtract process is executed on pins, vias, and padstacks in components. This generates thermal lines.
OFF		In the same net as the area fill to be generated: the subtract process is not executed on pins, vias, and padstacks in components.
	Settings	Displays the Design Settings dialog. This allows you to set the thermal relief values which are shared between multiple commands.

Subtract parameter

Value	Description
Settings	Displays the Design Settings dialog. This allows you to set the Subtract parameter values which are shared between multiple commands.

Figure

Tangent arc

Value	Description
ON	A tangent arc with the radius specified in Radius of tangent arc is generated at the corner of a figure.
OFF	The vertex is placed at the corner of a figure.

Radius of tangent arc

Value	Description
Real number greater than 0.	Set the radius of tangent arc to be generated.

Pen width

Value	Description
Real number equal to or greater than 0.	Set the pen width of the area fill to be generated.

Note
If you create an area fill on a user-defined keepout layer using the Figure option, then you can select whether nets or area fills are allowed within the area fill. In the Properties Panel , Net keepout settings row, click

in the Value column. The Net Keepout Settings dialog is displayed. Select Line allowed or Area fill allowed in the Allow line/area fill box.

Height limit

Tangent arc

Value	Description
ON	A tangent arc with the radius specified in Radius of tangent arc is generated at the corner of a figure.
OFF	The vertex is placed at the corner of a figure.

Radius of tangent arc

Value	Description
Real number greater than 0.	Set the radius of tangent arc to be generated.

Height

Value	Description
Real number equal to or greater than 0.	Specify the limit value for height limit areas.

Layer name

Value	Description
Layer name	Lists the height limit area layers in the design. Select the layer on which height limit areas are added.

Rule

Tangent arc

Value	Description
ON	A tangent arc with the radius specified in Radius of tangent arc is generated at the corner of a figure.
OFF	The vertex is placed at the corner of a figure.

Radius of tangent arc

Value	Description
Real number greater than 0.	Set the radius of tangent arc to be generated.

Rule area attributes

Value	Description
Detail	Displays the Rule Area Attributes dialog. This allows you to specify the details of the rule area.

Component Group

Tangent arc

Value	Description
ON	A tangent arc with the radius specified in Radius of tangent arc is generated at the corner of a figure.
OFF	The vertex is placed at the corner of a figure.

Radius of tangent arc

Value	Description
Real number greater than 0	Set the radius of tangent arc to be generated.

Name

Value	Description
String	Select the name of the target component group. This is specified in the Component Group Settings dialog.

Placement side

Value	Description
Side A	A component group for side A is created. The name "[component group name](A)" is assigned to it.
Side B	A component group for side B is created. The name "[component group name](B)" is assigned to it.
Both	A component group for both sides is created. The name "[component group name]" is assigned to it.

Group settings

Value	Description
Settings	Displays the Component Group Settings dialog. This dialog allows you to create component groups, and add components to them.

Note
To display the names of component groups on the canvas, select Component group in the Canvas View Settings dialog, Mark tab.

Related Topics
Area Fill (Polygon)
Area Fill (Circle)
Creating an Area Fill
Creating and Using Template Areas
Creating a Rule Area
Creating a Height Limit Area
Adding Component Groups to the Canvas