What's Good About Allegro PCB Editor Stipple Highlighting? See for Yourself in 16.5!

The 16.5 Allegro PCB Editor now has the added ability to accentuate objects and layers in Allegro PCB Editor by providing pattern support.

Read on for more details …

Stipple pattern support is provided through the assign color, highlight and color commands. The assign color command allows you to assign custom stipple patterns to objects in addition to assigning the color and default highlight patterns it currently supports.

The highlight command allows the assignment of a stipple pattern to objects only. No color assignment is done. This is the main difference between the highlight command and the assign color command. The find filter options for this command are the same as the assign color command. In order for stipples to be seen you must not have the variable "display_nohilitefont" enabled:

 

The Color dialog has been enhanced to allow stipple pattern assignment to layers. Assigning a pattern to a color cell is applied to all corresponding objects on that layer:

 

Assign Color command

Stipple patterns have been added to the Options form associated with the “Assign Color” command. A pull down is also provided to enable or disable pattern assignment. The pull down states are -
•    Solid
•    Selected Pattern - The selected color and pattern are assigned to objects. Selected pattern is displayed in ‘Selected pattern’ button.

The first pattern is the standard default "candy cane" stripe that was used in previous versions of Allegro PCB Editor:

 
Highlight command

This command assigns stipple patterns to objects without affecting the object color. A stipple pattern can be selected from the pattern buttons in the Options form. Selecting the first button deselects the active pattern.

Highlighting fixed elements

A new color dialog enhancement helps identify fixed objects by stipple pattern overlays. Assign any one of the available 15 stipple patterns to the new Fixed Object entry located in the Display folder of the dialog:

 
Check out the movie !

As always, I look forward to your feedback on this new 16.5 capability.

Jerry “GenPart” Grzenia