Documentation

Colours - Component Rules

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This dialog is used to create colour rules for Symbol Shape or Text on components so that alternative colouring and filling can be done for all design symbols without doing each one in the library individually. The rules can be specific to a layer (PCB only) or area.

Locating this option

Available from: Setup menu > Colours > Component Rules tab

Using the Component Colour Rules Tab

The buttons to the right side of the dialog are used to navigate the grid, the general common buttons are detailed on the Technology Navigation page.

Add a component colour rule using the New button, which will create a row in the table.

Rules are applied when Apply is pressed at the bottom of the dialog.

Using the Editing pane

The PCB editing pane looks like this:

The Schematic editing pane looks like this:

Using the dialog

Attribute and Match

Choose the Attribute Name from the drop down list. This will define what how you want the rule to work. The Match value is used to match against relevant fields of a component. So the The matched value can be specific or a wildcard match.

Attribute Types

For both design types, SCM and PCB, the drop down list of Attribute types enables you select from system fields or your own attributes. For example, in a Schematic design, you could match the inbuilt attributes or with an appropriate matched value, such as C1, C*, R1, R* or a pin count of 2.

On Layers (PCB Only)

You must also specify if the rule applies to electrical layers, or just the Top, Bottom, all Inner or both Outer (Top & Bottom) electrical layers. Alternatively, you can specify a specific layer name, or a wildcard matching string. (So ‘Silkscreen*’ would match layers ‘Silkscreen Top’ and ‘Silkscreen Bottom’).

Within Areas

If you have any Areas defined in the design, a rule can be defined for a specific named area.

In PCB, rules can be defined for any combination of Layers and Areas, as required. Similarly, a wildcard string can be defined to match areas. The matching areas must be marked in the Area Properties with Styles, Spacings and Rules Override switch.

Colour

Defines the colour the rule will apply to the component Symbol Shape/Text. Clicking on the colour control displays the colour palette, where you can select a predefined colour, or define a custom colour.

Type

The Type drop down menu defines which part of the component is affected by the rule.

  • Text - Affects any free Text which has been added to the component.
  • Shape Outline - Affects the outline of any Symbol Shapes in the component.
  • Shape Outline & Text - Affects both the Symbol Shape outlines and any free Text.
  • Filled Shape (Schematic Only) - Affects the fill of any closed Symbol Shapes in the component. The outline colour is unaffected.
  • Filled Shape & Text (Schematic Only) - Affects both the fill of closed Symbol Shapes and any free Text. The outline colour is unaffected.

The Wildcard Wizard is enabled using the small icon next to the Match Value entry:

Export and Import CSV

Use the Export CSV button to export the data in your PCB design into a CSV format file. Using the Export CSV option will provide you with a formatted template ready for you to edit in your own data.

Use the Import button to import layers into the PCB design using a CSV format file.

The data in the file represents a spreadsheet of dialog contents with the data headings along the top row.

Colours - Overview | Design Settings | Text | Export CSV | Import CSV

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