The Lengthen command allows you to adjust the length of tracks or pin pairs that are selected on the canvas. This is done by inserting a meander line (lengthen pattern). It can be used in both High Speed and non High Speed environments, in 2D View mode. When used in a High Speed environment, you can lengthen a track to meet constraint values specified for its associated pin pairs. You can also lengthen multiple signals in this environment. Feedback can be viewed in the Routing Balloon.
Toggle on this command by clicking Net / Route > Routing > Lengthen on the ribbon in eCADSTAR PCB Editor. Alternatively, click Net / Route > Routing > Lengthen drop-down list > Lengthen. If signals are in the same Skew Group, then the Lengthen command allows you to adjust their length to meet pin pair constraints that are set for the Skew Group. Pin pair lengths in a Skew Group can be relative to a signal or to an arbitrary value.
- When lengthening multiple signals, you can select multiple segments by dragging the cursor on the canvas.
- When lengthening a single signal, only the selected segment is lengthened.
- You can lengthen trunks by clicking a track in the trunk. However, you cannot lengthen a curved section of a trunk.
In a High Speed environment, it is recommended that you lengthen a track by manually adjusting the size and spacing of the lengthen pattern, as well as executing the Meet Constraints command on the assist menu. After lengthening a track, use one of the following methods to accept the shape of the lengthen pattern. The Lengthen dialog remains open.
- Right-click and select Finish on the assist menu.
- Press the Space bar.
- Click outside the area enclosed by the grab handles.
If you click X in the dialog, the shape of the lengthen pattern is accepted and the dialog is closed. It is recommended that you display the Routing Balloon when using the Lengthen command. This is particularly useful when lengthening multiple signals within a Skew Group, as it immediately indicates whether a signal meets the required length constraints of the Skew Group.
- You can remove a lengthening pattern using the following methods.
- Select the lengthening pattern, and then click Net / Route > Routing > Lengthen drop-down list > Unlengthen on the ribbon.
- Click Net / Route > Routing > Lengthen drop-down list > Unlengthen on the ribbon, and then select the lengthening pattern.
- Drag the grab handles of the lengthening pattern until its size is reduced to nothing.
- Click Delete on the assist menu of the Lengthen command.
- You can remove multiple lengthening patterns by selecting them using the Ctrl key, or by dragging the cursor.
- The minimum clearance for a single signal is set in the Rule Editor dialog: Conductor Clearance - Conductor Tab. This value is set in the Same net box, in the Default design rule stack section.
- The minimum clearance for a differential pair is set in the Rule Editor Dialog: Differential Pairs Tab, Track spacing column, in the Differential pair rule stack table.
- When lengthening the signals in a Skew Group, where there are multiple Skew Groups in a design, it is important to consider the dependencies between the Skew Groups. The signals in the Skew Group at the highest level of the hierarchy must be lengthened first. The signals in the remaining Skew Groups must lengthened in the correct hierarchical order.
Command dialog
| Value | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Push aside | Allows you to specify whether routing tracks that become obstacles are pushed away when an object is inputted or edited. If you push aside tracks by increasing the size of a routing pattern and then subsequently reduce its size, then the tracks that are pushed aside do not spring back. | |
| ON | When an object is inputted or edited, routing tracks that become
obstacles are pushed away. Specify how tracks should be pushed
away in the Push aside mode box. Note If Re-lengthen at the end of interactive operations is selected in the Design Settings dialog, then tracks that become obstacles are re-lengthened automatically when pushed away. |
|
| OFF | When an object is inputted or edited, routing tracks that become obstacles are not pushed away. The Push aside mode box is made unavailable. | |
| Push aside mode | Allows you to specify whether bends are generated in segments when obstacles are pushed away. | |
| No Tidy | Obstacles are pushed away without generating bends in segments. | |
| Tidy | Obstacles are pushed away by generating bends in segments. | |
| Lengthening Parameters | Allows you to configure lengthening patterns and heights in the Design Settings dialog, Lengthen section. | |
| Settings | Displays the Design Settings dialog, Lengthen section. | |
| Auto lengthening: Mode | ||
| Meet Constraints | A lengthening pattern is added automatically to meet the length constraints that are set in Constraint Browser. | |
| Same Pin Pair Length | For selected pin pairs, lengthening patterns are added automatically to match the pin pair lengths to the longest value. The length constraints in Constraint Browser are not referred to. |
Assist menu
The following items can be selected by right-clicking the mouse:
