Selecting Classes and Subclasses in Dimension Environment

I realize that dimensioning has been enhanced in 16.5 but I thought your question was controlling which subclass the dimension is placed on by default which hasn’t changed in 16.5.  Sorry I misunderstood the question but the environment variable draft_retain_class_subclass still works the same way as it did in previous releases.

I see your point about subclasses where you could place dimensions but I haven't really noticed that the Class/Subclasses have been limited in 16.5 where it was all open in previous releases.   I didn't notice it because I would always create a new subclass under Board Geometry or Drawing Format to add any special dimensions (Panel Outline, Fab Drawing detailed, etc.) and use Board Geometry / Dimension for standard board outline dimensions.  It looks like, by default, Allegro only allows dimensions to be added to Board Geometry / Dimension and Assembly Notes Subclasses or any user defined Subclass under Board Geometry, Drawing Format and Manufacturing inside of the design (.brd) which makes it less noticeable to me.

In symbol databases (.dra) it is immediately noticeable to me, I would create a special Subclass under Package Geometry for reference part dimensions but in 16.5 you can no longer add dimensions to any Subclass under Package Geometry.  Actually, inside of the symbols you can only add dimensions to Board Geometry Subclasses only.  I will probably submit a support ticket to see if there is a way to add dimensions to user defined Subclasses under Package Geometry as it has been very useful to have the reference dimensions inside of the symbols.

Mike Catrambone
Plexus Engineering Solutions

I realize that dimensioning has been enhanced in 16.5 but I thought your question was controlling which subclass the dimension is placed on by default which hasn’t changed in 16.5.  Sorry I misunderstood the question but the environment variable draft_retain_class_subclass still works the same way as it did in previous releases.

I see your point about subclasses where you could place dimensions but I haven't really noticed that the Class/Subclasses have been limited in 16.5 where it was all open in previous releases.   I didn't notice it because I would always create a new subclass under Board Geometry or Drawing Format to add any special dimensions (Panel Outline, Fab Drawing detailed, etc.) and use Board Geometry / Dimension for standard board outline dimensions.  It looks like, by default, Allegro only allows dimensions to be added to Board Geometry / Dimension and Assembly Notes Subclasses or any user defined Subclass under Board Geometry, Drawing Format and Manufacturing inside of the design (.brd) which makes it less noticeable to me.

In symbol databases (.dra) it is immediately noticeable to me, I would create a special Subclass under Package Geometry for reference part dimensions but in 16.5 you can no longer add dimensions to any Subclass under Package Geometry.  Actually, inside of the symbols you can only add dimensions to Board Geometry Subclasses only.  I will probably submit a support ticket to see if there is a way to add dimensions to user defined Subclasses under Package Geometry as it has been very useful to have the reference dimensions inside of the symbols.

Mike Catrambone
Plexus Engineering Solutions