TestPrep Automatic- Allow pin escape insertion problem

Roby,

I sort of didn't answer your initial question. It is hard to tell what exactly is going on..
It is running the old allegro no-via router router to insert the additional test sites.
Sometimes the old router would run very very slow when you had your routing grid set too fine so I did a little test board and found out that this is still the case.

My Test board ran for 10 minutes and was made up of the following:
- 1 inch sq PCB
- 10 nets
- 6 components
- Routing grid set to 1 mil

What is your Routing Grid set to ? This sounds like the reason why it is running so long.

Your question: "Manual ICT only adds ICT (SMT) on via or trace or pad but is it possible to add it near an existing via/ pad/trace"
I believe what you are looking for is to stub off of a existing via/pad/trace. What I have done in the past is setup my TestPrep Parameters and develop a small script to stub off a feature then add a test point which I alias to a function key. Here is a small example:

# Add test point stub script
# Enter add connect command and select trace
# to be tested prior to running this script

setwindow pcb
ipick 0 -100
next
testprep manual
ipick 0 0
done
add connect

# End of Add test point stub script

Of course you will need to tweak the script a little to work for you.

Your question: " first added a via manually then tried to replace it to ICT with no success"
You need to define a Thru Via under the Padstack Selection tab and also check the Replace Vias box at the bottom for it to work correctly.

Your question: "I want to add ict over a trace in the middle of the net" "better way to insert a TH via ICT on a trace running on internal layer"
As long as you define a SMT TestPad Padstack under the Padstack Selection tab you should be able to add a test point in the middle of a trace. Note: This only works for traces on the external layers because it uses a surface pad not a Thru hole test point.

Hope this helps,
Mike Catrambone
UTStarcom, Inc.

Roby,

I sort of didn't answer your initial question. It is hard to tell what exactly is going on..
It is running the old allegro no-via router router to insert the additional test sites.
Sometimes the old router would run very very slow when you had your routing grid set too fine so I did a little test board and found out that this is still the case.

My Test board ran for 10 minutes and was made up of the following:
- 1 inch sq PCB
- 10 nets
- 6 components
- Routing grid set to 1 mil

What is your Routing Grid set to ? This sounds like the reason why it is running so long.

Your question: "Manual ICT only adds ICT (SMT) on via or trace or pad but is it possible to add it near an existing via/ pad/trace"
I believe what you are looking for is to stub off of a existing via/pad/trace. What I have done in the past is setup my TestPrep Parameters and develop a small script to stub off a feature then add a test point which I alias to a function key. Here is a small example:

# Add test point stub script
# Enter add connect command and select trace
# to be tested prior to running this script

setwindow pcb
ipick 0 -100
next
testprep manual
ipick 0 0
done
add connect

# End of Add test point stub script

Of course you will need to tweak the script a little to work for you.

Your question: " first added a via manually then tried to replace it to ICT with no success"
You need to define a Thru Via under the Padstack Selection tab and also check the Replace Vias box at the bottom for it to work correctly.

Your question: "I want to add ict over a trace in the middle of the net" "better way to insert a TH via ICT on a trace running on internal layer"
As long as you define a SMT TestPad Padstack under the Padstack Selection tab you should be able to add a test point in the middle of a trace. Note: This only works for traces on the external layers because it uses a surface pad not a Thru hole test point.

Hope this helps,
Mike Catrambone
UTStarcom, Inc.