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  3. Symbol classifications getting discarded in DFA PkgToPkg...

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Symbol classifications getting discarded in DFA PkgToPkg Spacing symbol browser - OrCad X

Jason T
Jason T over 1 year ago

I’m running into a problem where symbol classifications in the OrCAD PCB Designer get discarded as I am trying to assign package-to-package spacing rules. Software version is OrCAD X 23.1, OrCAD PCB Designer Professional, 23.1-2023 S002 [2/5/2024] Windows SPB 64-bit Edition.

In the constraint manager, under Manufacturing->Design for Assembly->PkgToPkg Spacing I created a DFA spreadsheet, created new symbol classifications and assigned parts to the appropriate classifications. The spreadsheet (table with all of the spacing values for the different class combinations) looked as expected and I was able to complete initial placement using these spacings (tool showed DRC error flags when parts were too close).

At some point after this (as I was routing and adjusting placement), I noticed that I was no longer getting DRC errors when parts were too close. I opened the DFA spreadsheet again and the spreadsheet had not changed but the symbol classifications I created had vanished and many parts were no longer classified. I figured there had been some glitch so I just created the classifications again and assigned parts to them. After I clicked OK on the DFA Symbol Browser window and then opened the window again, the same classifications I added were no longer there. This is now a permanent problem with this design.

What could be causing the DFA Symbol Browser to be rejecting all of my new symbol classifications, after initially allowing me to create them and use them for placement? Why would it still show all of my original classifications in the spreadsheet?

Thanks for any suggestions  -Jason

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  • mahimag
    0 mahimag over 1 year ago

    Hello Jason T, try updating to latest hotfix of SPB 23.1 which is S004. I have seen some issues with DFA spreadsheet in older hotfixes, not sure if this is related.

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  • Jason T
    0 Jason T over 1 year ago in reply to mahimag

    Thank you for the suggestion. I installed the hotfix but it does not appear to have affected the behavior.

    I'm wondering if a netlist import that occurred after initial placement did something to the database. Not sure why this would prevent me from adding back the symbol classifications though.

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  • Jason T
    0 Jason T over 1 year ago

    More info on this…

     

    • If I delete the DFA CSET and create one from scratch, it still does not retain new symbol classifications.

     

    • If I create a new board file from scratch, import the netlist, place the parts then add a DFA CSET, it does appear to retain new symbol classifications. Therefore it appears that there is something specific about my design file that is preventing this from working.

    I'll try to import placement and in-progress routing from the fubar design to the one where the DFA spreadsheet is working and then cross my fingers that the problem does not re-occur.

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  • mahimag
    +1 mahimag over 1 year ago in reply to Jason T

    Hello Jason T, it might be database specific, I will contact you through email to check further on this.

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  • Jason T
    0 Jason T over 1 year ago in reply to mahimag

    Hello mahimag. I have been working this issue through EMA, and Cadence has reproduced it and assigned a CCR to it.

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