Allegro X System Capture (EE Cockpit) - Recent Threads

Join our next Live Ask Me Anything Session on System Capture on September 23, 2026

Renu Vibha — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 05:35:29 GMT

Join us on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, for our next LIVE Ask Me Anything (AMA) session focused on System Capture.

This interactive session offers a unique opportunity to engage directly with experts and ask your questions on System Capture, whether you're looking to deepen your understanding of advanced design methodologies or seeking solutions to everyday design challenges. As always, the discussion will be moderated by a Cadence Engineer, who will share practical insights, best practices, and actionable techniques.

Session Details

Date: Wednesday, September 23, 2026
Time: 8:30 PM - 9:30 PM IST
Location: Join the session here: (https://community.cadence.com/cadence_technology_forums/pcb-design/f/allegro-x-system-capture/66323/join-our-next-live-ask-me-anything-session-on-system-capture-on-september-23-2026)

Be part of an engaging conversation with fellow engineers and industry experts.

We look forward to seeing you here

Spot the Missing Link: Verifying Unconnected Pins in System Capture

Akshay khosla — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 14:19:11 GMT

Missing pin connections can easily slip into a design and lead to costly debugging later. To help designers catch these issues early, Allegro X System Capture includes an Unconnected Pins schematic audit check that automatically identifies component pins that have been unintentionally left unconnected.

Simply enable the rule from Design Integrity → Configure → Schematic Audit Settings and run Design Integrity → Audit Schematic. The audit report lists any unconnected pins and lets you navigate directly to the affected location in the schematic for quick resolution. For pins that are intentionally left open, use a No Connect (NC) symbol to avoid violations.

This is just one of the many built-in Schematic Audit Checks available in System Capture. These automated checks help improve design quality, reduce review time, catch errors earlier in the design cycle, and ultimately speed up the overall design experience.

: How to create a schematic symbol for an existing custom footprint (padstacks already built) in Allegro X 25

AT202608047036 — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 02:38:51 GMT

Hey,

I've already built the padstacks and copper layout for a custom part (an inverted-F antenna element) as a footprint in the PCB library. Now I need to create the matching schematic symbol so I can place it on my schematic page and have it map to that existing footprint.

What I've checked so far:

File > New only offers Project, Block, Footprint, and Template based footprint — there's no "Symbol" option.
Place menu has Component, Wire, Bus, Special Symbols, Schematic Block, Abstract Component, etc. — nothing for creating a brand-new symbol from scratch.
Tools menu has Generate BOM, Launch PCB Editor, Cadence Unified Library Generator, and Part Manager.

I tried a few menus but none worked for me.
Any help is appreciated.

RE: : How to create a schematic symbol for an existing custom footprint (padstacks already built) in Allegro X 25

Ulf K — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 10:59:30 GMT

I cannot answer how this is done in System Capture as I do not have a license for that tool.

Schematic symbols are not created in the layout editor. It is done in the schematic editor.

For the Capture tool, the procedure is as follows:

(First open the layout editor and note the name/number of any pins in the symbol.)

Open your .OLB (library) from there add/create new part.

When in the schematic editor, draw whatever graphic you desire.

Add pins and name them with their respective names/numbers.

Define the footprint in the properties column. Save and exit.

Are You Leveraging System Capture to Its Full Potential - Design customization, custom DRC checks, importing blocks, creating variants and more?

Renu Vibha — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 09:34:41 GMT

How effectively are you using Allegro System Capture for your design process—are you missing any key capabilities?

Learn more with this
Allegro System Capture (Channel Video)

Why is include and remove option for xnet grayed out in system capture while working in schematic canvas?

Smith ecad — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 15:28:21 GMT

We were able to assign include and remove from XNET directly in schematic canvas for the nets I see it has been grayed out now? How to edit it?

SysCap – Tip of the Week: Placing multisection part on schematic

DesignTech — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 06:15:59 GMT

System Capture offers a unique feature to let you place other sections of a multisection part.

There is no need to select other symbols manually after placing the first symbol/section of the part.

Just enable the settings in Edit > Preferences > General > Schematic.

Click OK to save the setting. Now, try placing the multisection part on the schematic. It will place all sections of the selected part on the canvas with every mouse click.

Team DesignTech
Cadence Design Systems

RE: SysCap – Tip of the Week: Placing multisection part on schematic

GH202604086612 — Sat, 15 Aug 2026 07:07:21 GMT

I enabled this option still I am not able to place the multi section part

Getting Started with Power Topology Analysis in Allegro X System Capture

WallEE — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 07:34:34 GMT

As PCB designs continue to grow in complexity, understanding power distribution early in the design cycle becomes increasingly important. This is where Design Integrity in Allegro X System Capture adds value. Along with capabilities such as Schematic Audit, Electrical Stress (EOS), MTBF, and Thermal Analysis, it also provides Power Topology Analysis to help designers validate and visualize power networks directly from schematic data.

What is Power Topology?

Power Topology Analysis in Allegro X System Capture offers early validation of the Power Distribution Network (PDN) directly from schematic data. It enables designers to visualize power flow, verify power distribution, and identify potential issues before moving further into the design cycle.

The generated topology includes:

Power net names and voltage rails
DC sources and regulators
Pass-through components
Decoupling capacitors
Power sinks and consuming devices
Source-to-sink power flow relationships.

Quick Setup

Open Design Integrity → Configure → Power Topology Settings
2. Define DC Sources
3. Configure DC-DC/LDO devices
4. Identify Pass-Through components
5. Define Power Sink pins
6. Configure required source and sink parameters for the pins.

Once configured, System Capture has sufficient information to build the PDN and understand power flow throughout the design.

Running the Analysis

Run Electrical Analysis → Analyze Power Topology.

You can review results through Graphical View, Hierarchical View, or Dashboard View. The graphical view provides a visual representation of power flow through the design, while the dashboard helps review analysis results and identify potential issues.

Prerequisites

To perform Power Topology Analysis effectively, it's essential to specify power sources, sink pins, and DC-DC/LDO devices along with detailed voltage and current data. This ensures the PDN can be constructed and examined accurately.

Key Benefits

Early validation of power distribution networks with graphical visibility into source-to-sink power flow, enabling faster review and understanding of complex power architectures.
Efficient debugging through cross-probing between topology and schematic data, reducing design iterations while establishing a foundation for downstream PI, IR-drop, and implementation workflows.

I'm new to Decoupling analysis. How can I select and place Decoupling caps for IC in ASC?

Smith ecad — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 14:19:01 GMT

Overview of DECAPS placement in System capture

SysCap – Tip of the Week: Allegro System Capture in Offline Mode

DesignTech — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 10:07:35 GMT

With SPB 23.1, Allegro System Capture offers an offline mode functionality to work without being connected to the Pulse server. It also benefits the schematic engineer to work seamlessly when there is weak or no internet connection (local license should be available). Through this functionality, System Capture lets you disconnect from the Pulse server and work with preexisting parts that are available in the design cache.

You can do several operations if System Capture is in offline mode. A few of these are:

Allows editing of any assigned page or block
Allows connectivity change to the existing parts
Allows adding new parts from the cache library
Allows PDF generation and schematic checking (Audit)
Allows using the existing parts (addition, find and replace)
Allows copying project as…
Allows saving, closing, and opening the design

Team DesignTech
Cadence Design Systems

RE: SysCap – Tip of the Week: Allegro System Capture in Offline Mode

EL202607302852 — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 04:35:42 GMT

Great feature! Offline mode makes it much easier to continue schematic work without interruptions when the internet connection is unavailable.

RE: Opening project done in Cadence 16.6 with Free version 25.1

VA202606266120 — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 19:56:22 GMT

Good day @Zhifeng Jin. Thank you for your answer. I have been trying to open it with the system capture viewer (which comes with the free trial version), but in this version there is no possibility for "Project from Existing Design". I have suscribe for a free trial of the system capture (for Allegro X free trial request (Allegro X Free Trial | Cadence)), but havng gotten any reply yet. I will wait for this and come back.

Opening project done in Cadence 16.6 with Free version 25.1

VA202606266120 — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 19:48:53 GMT

Good day, one question please. I am new to Cadence, and I want to open a project done with Cadence version 16.6. I have downloaded the free tryal (version 25.1), but I am not able to open it. When I try to open the .cpm file from Allegro X system capture viewer, it says that the .cpm file is not an Allegro system capture project. Also, I have been able to open the PCB file (.brd), but not an schematic files. Is it possible to open this project from version 25.1?
I see a vhdl file, and some .map, .csv, .csd, .csb, csa, which I understand are the schematic files.

Thanks a lot in advance,

best regards.

RE: Opening project done in Cadence 16.6 with Free version 25.1

VA202606266120 — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 19:49:36 GMT

Hello @Elecguy . Yes, I tryed dbdoctor, from which I could see the PCB board, but not the Schematic. As I have seen/read, its because the version in which it was created.

RE: How to I map capture olb libraries in system capture without the use of default capture.ini?

rg13 — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 10:26:47 GMT

You can have CDS_SITE setup and can place capture.ini there inside cdssetup folder. Also, you need to have certain directive inside site.cpm inside projmgr folder. You can refer following article on Cadence ASK portal:

Article (20491218) Title: How to configure Allegro Design Entry CIS (OrCAD Capture CIS) libraries with Allegro System Capture
URL: https://ask.cadence.com/ASK/article-viewer?id=a1O3w000009xxGVEAY&pageName=article-viewer

Also, I would suggest you use batch file which has CDS_SITE variable set to launch System Capture.

How to I map capture olb libraries in system capture without the use of default capture.ini?

Smith ecad — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 06:00:43 GMT

Hi, our team uses both capture cis and system capture issue is when we work on capture cis the capture.inin gets reset. We want method to have both tool map libraries different places and not same file.

RE: Opening project done in Cadence 16.6 with Free version 25.1

rg13 — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 04:27:03 GMT

Absolutely correct!

This is the way which user should use to open/translate/migrate DEHDL schematic (.cpm) to Allegro X System Capture v25.1.

File > New > Project from Existing Design.

RE: Opening project done in Cadence 16.6 with Free version 25.1

rg13 — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 04:25:43 GMT

No, its not the way to open 16.6 dehdl schematic to 25.1 Syscap.

RE: Opening project done in Cadence 16.6 with Free version 25.1

Zhifeng Jin — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 14:09:00 GMT

Regarding the 16.6 project with the .cpm extension you mentioned, I believe it is a schematic project file created via Concept-HDL. Concept-HDL is no longer supported in the latest SPB25.1 release; Cadence has replaced it with System Capture instead.

You may follow these steps for migration: launch System Capture, navigate to File > New > Project from Existing Design. In the pop-up dialog box, set the Source Project path to the directory of your .cpm project, then click Create upon completion. System Capture will automatically import your original .cpm project into the new environment.

RE: Opening project done in Cadence 16.6 with Free version 25.1

JCTEYSSIER0 — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 07:26:11 GMT

Look like 16.6 project use concepthdl schematic. I am pretty sure it is not supported anymore by 25.1, Cadence "push" a new schematic tool instead (a mix of capture and concept).

I guess you have to convert it. SInce i do not heve yet switch to 25.1 i can not help you further; maybe someone here...

RE: Opening project done in Cadence 16.6 with Free version 25.1

Elecguy — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 23:45:57 GMT

When you say you downloaded a free trial of 25.1, does it include a tool called "dbdoctor"? if it does, you just need to open it (Windows Start > Search for dbdoctor) and give your 16.6 file as an input. The output will be able to open in 25.1

If it doesn't, because maybe you have the Free Viewer (and this doesn't come with dbdoctor), then you'll have to ask someone else for help or contact Cadence Support. They should really include dbdoctor in the Free Viewer.

Seamlessly Transfer User-Defined Properties from System Capture to Allegro PCB Editor

Akshay khosla — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 12:59:11 GMT

Here's a quick tip!

Allegro X System Capture provides the flexibility to transfer custom user-defined properties directly to Allegro PCB Editor, enabling seamless design data continuity between schematic and layout. Simply define the property using the appropriate comp_inst_prop directive and export with the "Transfer User Defined Properties" option enabled.

[emoticon:599cc6d89e2145289084ee73d7cb364b] Add the desired custom property to the component in System Capture and close the system capture.

For example: Added TEST_PROP property

[emoticon:599cc6d89e2145289084ee73d7cb364b] Define it using the comp_inst_prop directive in the project (.cpm) or site.cpm file.

[emoticon:599cc6d89e2145289084ee73d7cb364b] Reopen the project and use File → Export → Export to Layout with Transfer User Defined Properties enabled.

Once exported, your custom property will be available in Allegro PCB Editor

When creating a new blank project in SysCap, the default parameter settings for the electrical grid and display electrical grid within the software's grid options are unreasonable.

Zhifeng Jin — Sun, 28 Jun 2026 18:09:51 GMT

For a long time, all mainstream schematic design software on the market follow a unified industry specification: the default pin-to-pin spacing for component symbols is set to 0.1 inch. I fully appreciate that SysCap complies with this standard, as it maintains consistent visual styling for schematics drawn by different engineers.

However, I fail to understand the reasoning behind SysCap’s default grid settings of 0.05 for Electrical Grid and 5 for Display Electrical Grid. With this configuration, the visible display electrical grid (5) on the canvas does not align with the standard 0.1-inch pin pitch of components. Furthermore, the overly fine 0.05-inch electrical snap grid frequently causes pin misalignment, resulting in disorganized and unkempt schematics. This default setup delivers a very poor experience for engineers who prioritize clean, standardized drawings. When multiple schematics created with these default grid settings are merged into a single project, engineers have to spend substantial extra working hours manually realigning all components and wires to the standard grid.

Given the above issues, I recommend Cadence adjust SysCap’s default grid environment configuration to a pin-to-pin spacing of 0.1 inch, an Electrical Grid of 0.1 inch, and a Display Electrical Grid of 1. Drawing with this set of parameters will drastically simplify component and wire alignment while producing schematics with a clean, orderly visual appearance. I sincerely ask your team to evaluate this optimization proposal. Thank you!

In addition, SysCap has been released for nearly seven years, yet it has long lacked an option to switch schematic sheet sizes between imperial and metric units. For instance, it is quite cumbersome if I need to change the schematic sheet size to A3 or A2. You might mention that this can be achieved by modifying environment variables, but I would argue that this approach is outdated. Would not an intuitive dedicated setting greatly improve user experience? Therefore, I sincerely request the addition of a built-in toggle to switch schematic sheet sizes between metric and imperial units in future software releases.

RE: When creating a new blank project in SysCap, the default parameter settings for the electrical grid and display electrical grid within the software's grid options are unreasonable.

Zhifeng Jin — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 16:36:01 GMT

Hi rg13,

your reply addresses the site-level global configurations deployed in large enterprises. The usage scenario I am reporting here involves no site-level configurations enabled, with only user-level configurations in effect. In this case, all grid parameters are fully controlled via the grid settings within the software UI. This is why I argue that the original default values for Electrical Grid and Display Grid are poorly configured.