Documentation

Technology - Pin Styles

6 min read

Pin Styles defines the Pin shapes that may be used in a design.

Shortcuts

Menu: Setup

Default Keys: T

Command: Technology

Locating this option

Available from: Setup menu > Technology option > Pin Styles tab

Using the Pin Styles dialog

From the Technology dialog, select the Pin Styles tab. Any existing Pin Styles for the Technology being used will be presented.

In the grid, the Y before the pin style Name shows that the style is used in the design. The used status is also indicated for the selected style in the properties pane with the Used box showing a ‘tick’. A style which is referenced in the Design Settings defaults is considered used.

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.

when using Copy, a new style is created with a name of the form ’

Use the Merge button to access the Merge Styles page from where you can merge selected styles.

Using the rules pane

Name

The Name of the style. It is recommended that a meaningful name is used, one that suitably describes the style when you choose it from a list in the design at time of use.

Named by

When New is used the initial style being added is taken from one of three states using the Named by: radio buttons.

Typed - the style has an explicit name.

Rule - this will use the rule defined in the Technology Pin Style Naming rules dialog. The name of the style is derived using the first matching rule, this is displayed in the greyed box below it. Once an item is defined as using a rule, if the rule then changes, it will change the style name.

Template - you can define the template explicitly for this style, you can use any of the fields available for Pin Style Naming.

Once the name has been entered, other properties on this page define the overall look and shape of the pin style:

Used

The Used field will be checked if the current style is used in the design. This is for information only.

Shape

Under the Shape heading are a set of controls which define the shape of the pin style

The shape Type can be selected from the drop down list. The following shape types are available:

  • Asterisk a 6 pointed star constructed from 3 crossing lines. You must specify the width of the shape, and the thickness of each line.
  • Bullet is a rectangular shape, rounded at one end. The rounded end points upwards when not rotated. You must specify the width and length of the shape.
  • Chamfered Rectangle is a rectangular shape, with angled corners. You must specify the width and length of the shape, and the ‘radius’ of the corner, which cannot be more than half the width.
  • Cross a diagonal cross. You must specify the width of the shape, and the thickness of each arm.
  • Diamond the shape inscribed by joining the centres of the sides of a rectangle. You must specify the width and length of the shape.
  • Octagon is a regular octagon. You must specify a width, which is the distance between opposite sides.
  • Oval is a rectangle with rounded ends. You must specify the width and length of the shape.
  • Plus is a vertical cross. You must specify the width of the shape, and the thickness of each arm.
  • Pointer is a rectangle sharpened at one end by angled lines going to a point. The pointed end points upwards when not rotated. You must specify the width and length of the shape.
  • Rectangle. You must specify the width and length of the shape.
  • Round is a circle. You must specify the width (diameter).
  • Rounded Rectangle is a rectangle, rounded at the corners. You must specify the width and length of the shape and the ‘radius’ of the corner, which cannot be more than half the width.
  • Special. Special shapes can be created in designs imported from other systems, you cannot create Special shapes within the application.
  • Square. You must specify the width.
  • Triangle is a triangle, pointed upwards when not rotated. You must specify the width (length of the base) and the length (height).

Each shape will require some dimensions. Some shapes, such as Square only require a Width. Others, such as Rectangle will also require a Length. Whilst others, such as Chamfered Rectangle, will require 3 dimensions with the extra field for Corner Radius specified. All shapes which have a length, have the length vertical when not rotated. The width and length are the extreme sizes in the horizontal and vertical respectively.

Width is the distance across the widest part of the pin. For example, on a round pin, this would be the diameter, or on a cross, this would be the ‘boxed’ width.

Length would be used if you specify a shape that requires a length, i.e. Rectangle. If this style of shape is used, the Length box is available and not greyed out.

Thickness is the width of the line used for the shape.

Each shape has a centre about which it is defined, this is the point which is reported as the position of a pin using this style and is normally the centre of the width and length. You can also define an Offset, which causes the pin shape to be off centre. In this way you can cause the pin shape to be to one side of the pin it belongs to.

You can also specify that the shape is drawn Filled or unfilled, in which case shapes which are normally closed and filled will be drawn as a thin outline.

Select the Filled check box if you wish to fill your shape. Most shapes used for pin styles will normally be filled. You may wish to uncheck the filled status if you wish to to display the shape outline.

Preview

As you create the pin style ,the preview is changed dynamically to give you a view on what your pin will look like when used.

Units

The Units button allows you to locally switch between Metric and Imperial units whilst in this dialog. Once the dialog is closed, the units revert back to the original design units. If switching to different units to the design units, the value typed will be converted when you next enter this page.

Technology Overview | Dialog Grids | Pin Defaults | Pin Style Naming

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