Add Route

The Add Route command allows you to manually add a routing pattern while specifying the path (only available in 2D View mode). It is launched by clicking Net / Route > Routing > Add Route on the eCADSTAR PCB Editor ribbon. Alternatively, click Home > Add > Route on the eCADSTAR PCB Editor ribbon. For autorouting, refer to the Routing Strategy Help topic.

Note

The following should be considered when routing a differential pair that has a topology template assigned.
In the Signals Tree, if you right-click the top level of the differential pair, and click Send Selection on the assist menu, then the entire differential pair is selected and displayed on the canvas. This allows you to start routing it using the Add Route command. However, when selecting a differential pair at this level, an incorrect Differential Pair Rule Stack may be applied to the transmission line which you start routing. This can create width and clearance errors in the routed tracks. To ensure that correct Differential Pair Rule Stacks are applied to each transmission line, follow one of these procedures.
In Constraint Browser, select the pin from which to start routing, and click Send Selection to select it on the canvas. Alternatively, manually select the differential pair on the canvas.
If you send a differential pair to the canvas from Constraint Browser, then select Next Topology Pin Pair on the assist menu when you start routing. Alternatively, press the N key.
If you create a layer exchange when routing a topology, then a Virtual Branch Point (VBP) will snap to the relevant via if within an appropriate distance from it. This occurs even if the topology is not completely routed.

Routing style

Specify the routing style as Activ-45, or select 45-degree, 90-degree or Free. When you start routing, the Routing style box is made unavailable.

Value	Description
Activ-45	Allows you to add tracks using the Activ-45 router. Tracks are added in 45 degree increments that follow the mouse trace.
45-degree	The angle between the track segments to be added is limited to 0, 45, 90, 135, 180, 225, 270, and 315 degrees.
90-degree	The angle between the track segments to be added is limited to 0, 90, 180 and 270 degrees.
Free	The angle between the track segments to be added is not locked.

Note

When manual routing in the 45-degree or 90-degree modes, automatic pin swapping is limited to 2 pin passive components only. For any part other than a 2 pin passive part, use the Swap Pins or Swap Gates command to swap the pins or gates.
When attempting to add vias though an invisible layer: if Automatic repour is selected for a copper flooded template, then note the following.
Vias cannot be added when trunk routing, or routing in Activ-45 mode.
Vias can be added when routing using the 45-degree, 90-degree or Free modes.

Push aside

Allows you to specify whether existing tracks are pushed aside by the track or trunk that you are routing. Tracks that are pushed aside conform to the design rules in the Rule Editor dialog. The Push aside functionality varies depending on whether Activ-45, or one of the 45-degree, 90-degree or Free options is selected. It also varies when routing a trunk. See Push aside mode, below.

Note
To enable this functionality for the 45-degree, 90-degree or Free routing styles, Online DRC must be toggled on.

Value	Description
ON	When an object is added or edited, tracks that become obstacles are pushed away. Specify how tracks are pushed away in the Push aside mode box.
OFF	When an object is added or edited, tracks that become obstacles are not pushed away. The Push aside mode box is made unavailable.

Push aside mode

The Push Aside mode activates when the Push Aside option is turned on. Users can specify the Tidy or No Tidy options, providing the flexibility to either push while keeping tracks optimized or opt for No Tidy, allowing for a greater number of segment breaks.

For additional details, refer to the following information:

Activ-45 Push aside mode
45-degree, 90-degree and Free angle push aside mode
Trunk Routing Push aside mode

Activ-45 Routing style

Value	Description
No tidy	When you move the cursor, tracks are pushed directly around the routing. Segment breaks are added to existing tracks to accommodate the routing. Tracks can be pushed over obstacles.
Tidy	When you move the cursor, tracks are pushed away by generating breaks in segments, if necessary. They are moved in the optimum way, which minimizes the number of corners that are added. Tracks can be pushed over obstacles.

45-degree, 90-degree or Free Routing style

Online DRC must be toggled on to enable this functionality.

Value	Description
No tidy	When you click the canvas, the tracks are pushed directly around the routing. Segment breaks are added to existing tracks to accommodate the routing. Tracks cannot be pushed over obstacles.
Tidy	When you click the canvas,the tracks are pushed away without generating segment breaks. Tracks cannot be pushed over obstacles.

When Routing a Trunk

When routing a trunk, the Push aside mode behavior is as follows, regardless of the specified Routing style.

Note

When attempting to add vias though an invisible layer: if Automatic repour is selected for a copper flooded template, then note the following.

Vias cannot be added when trunk routing, or routing in Activ-45 mode.
Vias can be added when routing using the 45-degree, 90-degree or Free modes.

Value	Description
No tidy	When you move the cursor, tracks are pushed around the trunk. Segment breaks are added to existing tracks to accommodate the trunk. Tracks cannot be pushed over obstacles.
Tidy	When you move the cursor, tracks are pushed away without generating segment breaks. Tracks cannot be pushed over obstacles.

Lengthening parameters

Value	Description
Settings	Displays the Design Settings dialog, Lengthen section. This allows you to specify the settings that are used by the Lengthen command. The specified settings are overridden by the settings in the Lengthening tab, in the Constraint Browser: Signals section, Signals tab or Constraint Browser: Signals section, Classes/Groups tab for a selected E-Net or E-Net class. If Re-lengthen at the end of interactive operations is selected in the Design Settings dialog, Lengthen section, then the following are re-lengthened to meet any length constraints. When the routing or re-routing of a signal is completed: The modified pin pair is re-lengthened. Associated single-ended and differential pair signals in the same skew groups as the pin pair are re-lengthened. When pushing signals: The pushed signals are re-lengthened, including both single-ended signals and differential pair signals. Associated single-ended and differential pair signals are re-lengthened that are in the same skew groups of the pushed signals. If its own routing is completed, then the signal that is pushing is re-lengthened. Note If any pushed signals move back to their original position, then any lengthening blocks on the signals are restored.

Value

Description

Settings

Displays the Design Settings dialog, Lengthen section. This allows you to specify the settings that are used by the Lengthen command. The specified settings are overridden by the settings in the Lengthening tab, in the Constraint Browser: Signals section, Signals tab or Constraint Browser: Signals section, Classes/Groups tab for a selected E-Net or E-Net class.
If Re-lengthen at the end of interactive operations is selected in the Design Settings dialog, Lengthen section, then the following are re-lengthened to meet any length constraints.
When the routing or re-routing of a signal is completed:

The modified pin pair is re-lengthened.
Associated single-ended and differential pair signals in the same skew groups as the pin pair are re-lengthened.

When pushing signals:

The pushed signals are re-lengthened, including both single-ended signals and differential pair signals.
Associated single-ended and differential pair signals are re-lengthened that are in the same skew groups of the pushed signals.
If its own routing is completed, then the signal that is pushing is re-lengthened.

Note
If any pushed signals move back to their original position, then any lengthening blocks on the signals are restored.

Single Trace (common)

Track width

Value		Description
Fix track width button		Allows you to fix the track width so that all subsequent tracks that you add using this dialog have the value that you specify. If you select a value in the Track width box, then this button is automatically toggled on.
	Selected:	If this button is toggled on, then the track width is fixed to the value that you specify in the Track width box. Subsequent tracks that you add using this dialog use this value. The icon is displayed. If you specify a value in the Track width box, then the Fix track width button is automatically toggled on.
	Not Selected:	If this button is toggled off, then the default track width is used for all new tracks that you add. This value is specified in the Rule Editor Dialog: Tracks Tab. However, if you continue routing an existing track, then the track width of the relevant track is used. This is described in more detail in the following note. The icon is displayed.
Track width box		Allows you to set the width of a new track, or the width of a new portion of an existing track that you continue to route. The specified value is used rather than the default track width. If you set a value, then the Fix track width button is automatically toggled on, and the specified value is used for subsequent tracks. The value is saved in the Track width box. Enter a real number greater than 0.

Note
If you continue to route an existing track by adding a new portion to it, then the width of the new portion is inherited from the existing track that you select. The Fix track width button must be toggled off, to make this functionality available. To continue routing a narrow track, to join a wider track, click on the narrow track in the position shown below.

To continue routing a wide track, to join a narrower track, click on the wide track in the position shown below.

If you click on the unrouted net between the two tracks, then the width of the new portion of track is inherited from the closest track to the position that you click. This is illustrated below.

1: Click here to create a wide track.
2: Click here to create a narrow track.

Padstack name

Allows you to select the default padstack, or specify a padstack by selecting it from this box. The padstacks that are listed are specified in the Available padstacks box, in the in the Rule Editor Dialog: Vias Tab.

Value	Description
Default Padstack	Selects the default padstack that is specified in the Rule Editor Dialog, Vias tab.
[Padstack name]	The padstack with the specified name is added.

Ring removal

Value	Description
ON	When routing tracks, tracks are automatically removed in order to avoid a loop being created between component pins. Note If you create loops by adding click points when routing in Activ-45 mode, then you must click a track where the target icon is displayed to immediately remove any loops before this point. Otherwise, crossing tracks are created. Because adding click-points is considered an intentional operation, the routing before this point is retained unless you click a target icon on a track. If Allow Ring is selected for a net in Constraint Browser, then setting Ring Removal to ON has no effect for the 45, 90 and Free routers only.
OFF	When routing tracks, loops are permitted between component pins. This allows you to manually remove them, if necessary.

Value

Description

When routing tracks, tracks are automatically removed in order to avoid a loop being created between component pins.

Note

If you create loops by adding click points when routing in Activ-45 mode, then you must click a track where the target icon is displayed to immediately remove any loops before this point. Otherwise, crossing tracks are created.

Because adding click-points is considered an intentional operation, the routing before this point is retained unless you click a target icon on a track.
If Allow Ring is selected for a net in Constraint Browser, then setting Ring Removal to ON has no effect for the 45, 90 and Free routers only.

OFF

When routing tracks, loops are permitted between component pins. This allows you to manually remove them, if necessary.

Single Trace (non Activ-45)

Via Spiral

Value	Description
ON	If selected, via spirals are automatically created, when required.
OFF	If selected, via spirals are not automatically created. However, you can create them manually.
Settings	Allows you to configure spiral vias in the Design Settings dialog.

Check From-To of layer span

Value	Description
ON	If selected, then the From-To values for via spirals are limited to those shown in the Via layer span section of the Rule Editor dialog, Vias Tab.
OFF	If selected, then the From-To values for via spirals are not limited to those shown in the Via layer span section of the Rule Editor dialog, Vias Tab.

Tangent arc

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

Radius of tangent arc

Value	Description
Real number greater than 0.	Set the radius of tangent arcs generated when Tangent arc is set to ON.

Teardrop

Value	Description
ON	Enables the insertion of teardrops at joints with pins or vias, or at track width changes.
OFF	Disables the insertion of teardrops.
Settings	Allows you to configure teardrops in the Design Settings dialog.

Antenna removal

Value	Description
ON	Single ended Antenna tracks are removed.
OFF	Antenna tracks are not removed.

Route to end

If 45-degree, 90-degree or Free is selected in the Routing style box, then this section allows you to display a suggested route on the canvas for a track. If Route to End is set to ON, then you can complete a routing pattern by clicking on the target destination, clicking the Spacebar or selecting Finish on the assist menu.

Value	Description
ON	For a selected track, a suggested route is displayed as a dotted line on the canvas. This is illustrated below for the 45-degree routing style. The suggested route for the 90-degree routing style is displayed below.
OFF	A suggested route is not displayed on the canvas for a selected track.

Value

Description

For a selected track, a suggested route is displayed as a dotted line on the canvas. This is illustrated below for the 45-degree routing style.

The suggested route for the 90-degree routing style is displayed below.

OFF

A suggested route is not displayed on the canvas for a selected track.

Shield control

Value	Description
ON	A shield pattern is generated.
OFF	No shield patterns are generated.
Settings	Allows you to configure shield control in the Design Settings dialog.

Jumper part name

Value		Description
String		Specify the part name of the jumper to be generated. Specify jumpers that satisfy the following conditions: A jumper attribute is given. The component has two pins. The pin object is a padstack.

Prefix

Value	Description
String	Set the alphanumeric prefix for the reference of the component to be generated. References are created by appending the Start suffix value to this value.

Start suffix

Value	Description
String	Set the start number for the references of components to be generated. References are created by appending this value to the Prefix value.

Placement side

Specify the placement side of the component to be generated.

Value	Description
Side A	Components are placed on side A.
Side B	Components are placed on side B.

Note
When routing a trace, press and hold Ctrl+Alt to display its entire connection.

Trunking

Via pattern style

Value	Description
Box	Vias are placed in positions where they do not overlap each other.
Inline	Vias are placed in series.
Sawtooth	Vias are placed in a zigzag pattern.
Forward diagonal	Vias are placed in an upward diagonal line.
Backward diagonal	Vias are placed in a downward diagonal line.

Differential Pair end routing

Allows you to set parameters for the end routing of differential pairs.

Value	Description
ON	When routing differential pairs, the end routing of the signals within the differential pair is done automatically.
OFF	When routing differential pairs, the end routing of the signals within the differential pair is not done.

Dynamic ends only

Value	Description
ON	Only the portion from the route being added to the pin ahead is automatically terminated.
OFF	The portion from the route being added to the pin ahead is automatically terminated. If the route has more portions that are not terminated, then those portions are also automatically terminated.

Distance from target

Value	Description
Large	When the cursor is a long distance from the target pins, the trunk attempts to connect to them.
Medium	When the cursor is a medium distance from the target pins, the trunk attempts to connect to them.
Small	When the cursor is a short distance from the target pins, the trunk attempts to connect to them.

Bus end routing

Allows you to set parameters for the end routing of busses. Busses comprise over two signals.

Value	Description
ON	When routing busses, the end routing of the signals within the bus is done automatically.
OFF	When routing busses, the end routing of the signals within the bus is not done.

Dynamic ends only

Value	Description
ON	Only the portion from the route being added to the pin ahead is automatically terminated.
OFF	The portion from the route being added to the pin ahead is automatically terminated. If the route has more portions that are not terminated, then those portions are also automatically terminated.

Distance from target

Value	Description
Large	When the cursor is a long distance from the target pins, the trunk attempts to connect to them.
Medium	When the cursor is a medium distance from the target pins, the trunk attempts to connect to them.
Small	When the cursor is a short distance from the target pins, the trunk attempts to connect to them.

Advanced

Value	Description
Settings	Allows you to specify advanced routing settings in the Design Settings dialog, Trunking (Advanced) section.