What's Good About Allegro PCB Editor Associative Dimensioning? Check Out 16.5!

With the Allegro PCB Editor SPB16.5 release we've enhanced the existing Allegro drafting dimensioning capabilities, so that when a dimension is created involving one or more design database objects the dimension will subsequently remain internally ‘associated’ with those objects as well. Subsequent editing operations such as the moving of an object can then appropriately and automatically update as required any dimensions that are associated with that object.

Read on for more details …

There's a great movie showing all the details that you can find on Cadence Online Support HERE !

The Allegro PCB Editor dimension environment is entered by selecting Manufacturing — Dimension Environment. While in the dimension environment you have access to the following commands which are available in the RMB pulldown.

 
     
     
Parameters               Invokes the Global parameters form
Show dimensions     Displays information on the dimension including if it is an associated dimension.
Align dimensions      Aligns dimension text. Select the master and then window select remaining text to align with the master.
Lock dimensions       Locks the location of the dimension text.
Unlock dimensions    Unlocks the location of the dimension text.
Z-Move dimensions   Allows you to move the dimension to an alternate Class/Subclass combination.
     Allowable class/subclasses
     Board Geometry/Dimension
     Board Geometry/Assembly Notes
     Board Geometry/Any User Defined subclasses
     Drawing Format/ Any User Defined subclasses
     Manufacturing/ Any User Defined subclasses
    
Delete dimensions   Deletes existing dimension text.
Move text                 Moves dimension text.
Change text             Allows you to change text strings.
Edit Leaders            Allows you to edit leader lines such as adding a vertex.

Instance based parameters

Along with the normal global parameters that you can set you can also set instance based parameters. Just as with instance based shape parameters, the text that is highlighted in blue allows for an instance to have a different parameter than the global setting.

In the image below the connectors were dimensioned with the global parameters and then an instance based parameter for the tolerance of +/- .01 IN was applied to the connector on the right.

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In this example an instance based dimension that used dual dimension was applied with the secondary dimension being below the primary.

Migration from older releases

When upreving a design the dimensions will remain in a non-associated manner. In order to get the associative behavior, all dimensions, leaders etc. will have to be deleted and added back into the design.

Downreving a design to a previous release

All dimension elements will remain in the design however the association will be removed.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

How do I delete associative dimensioning?
You must use the “delete dimensions” command associated with the dimension edit environment.

What happens if I delete the object the dimension is attached to?
The dimension would be deleted as a result.

How do I move dimension leader lines and text?
Use the “move text” or “edit leaders” commands associated with the dimension edit environment.

After moving a component in the y-direction, the dimension text does not maintain its former y position. What can be done to maintain the former y location?
Consider using the “Lock dimensions” command to lock the text in place prior to moving the component.

What does the color blue represent in the parameter forms?
Parameter form changes apply to future dimensions that are added. They do not apply to existing dimensions.
Instance Parameter form – changes apply only to the dimension you select in the canvas.

Please share your experiences using this new 16.5 capability.

Jerry "GenPart" Grzenia