What's Good About Allegro PCB Editor Disable of Open Space Routing? 16.6 Has It!

By default, the 16.6 Allegro PCB Editor ‘Add Connect’ command generates routes when a pick is made on database elements like pins or vias, but also when a pick is made in open or black space. Designers who push the mouse fast and hard frequently make false picks and are forced to opt out of the command then refine the pick to a logical element like a pin or rat line. Some designers may embrace the open space pick concept when interconnect strategies call for partial routing of buses or interfaces. Since there is no clear preference on default behavior, a solution driven by a user preference variable is offered. When enabled, the Add Connect command would reject any picks made that are not associated with database elements like rat lines, pins, vias, segments or shapes. The variable setting does not affect ‘multi-line’ route which is designed to work by making a pick in open space.

Variable: User Preference Editor – Route – Connect – ‘acon_disable_nullnet_route’

Read on for more details …

Invoke the ‘User Preference Editor’ (Setup – User Preferences). Open the Route – Connect folder then enable the variable ‘acon_disable_nullnet_route’. Setting this variable does not require the Allegro tool to be restarted. Invoke the ‘Add Connect’ command then try to make a pick in open space. Note the command window messaging informing you ‘no element was found’:


 

Please share your experiences using this new capability.

Jerry “GenPart” Grzenia