[PCB_FORUM] Re: Swapping layers?


If you gave a hammer to a carpenter and one to a non carpenter,
who do you think would build the better house? The hammer
is just a tool just like Allegro is.

Allegro like all CAD tools has it's quirks and deficiencies.
The good designer finds a way to over come these issues.

Jerry


-----Original Message-----
From: icu-pcb-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:icu-pcb-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of David Mattice
Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2008 3:06 PM
To: icu-pcb-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [PCB_FORUM] Re: Swapping layers?


How Cool. I have never opened a clip file with a text editor, But it
WORKS!
I always have created an additional layer X and shuffled traces from
layer to layer.
This is so much easier.
Any other exciting ""old school" tricks?

dm

-----Original Message-----
From: icu-pcb-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:icu-pcb-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Baumstark
Michael-EMB043
Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2008 8:38 AM
To: icu-pcb-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [PCB_FORUM] Re: Swapping layers?

Austin,

This technique is old school but it simply works again and again.  But
it sure will be Cool when we can accomplish this with a more formal copy
& mapping solution.  You can also accomplish this by doing just one clip
file copy if you so desire.  Say you wanted to remap traces from 4
layers at once: in a clip file with multiple layers at once using text
editor  Start off by "search and replace" (a simple sample) Layer_2
features goes to Layer_x as a starting bogus/place_holder name, then
proceed to remap your other layers Layer_3 gets replaced to Layer_2,
Layer_4 gets replaced to Layer_3 .... and finally your Layer_x gets
renamed to last valid layer, Layer_4, for example (that would otherwise
get stepped upon by your first search and replace command.

There is also a readily available piece a skill code that allows you to
copy lines across classes. You can accomplish the same thing with this
feature too, but directly within the Allegro layout without having to
text edit your clip file(s).  But it is still really cool just to be
able to copy lines from one Class to another.

Lastly, and I have not dabbled with it sufficiently to provide an expert
comment, but so that you are at least aware of a potential solution. You
can perform a DXF export where you have the ability to map a layer to
another, typically your layer name in AutoCAD space. On the DXF import
you  may experience success by remapping on the Importation back into
layout. It may be worth a try if you have to perform this task
repeatedly.  

Again for the record, it would sure be nice if Cadence would one day
support an intuitive and robust solution: to replicate circuits, to
re-map features like you describe here, to rotate groups and to flip
circuit groups consisting of micro-vias (balanced constructions) to the
other side of the PCB.

Yes, we have some existing functionality to accommodate this today (in
the core tool) but it is just not quite there yet as for ease of use;
unless there is some existing Skill code that we have just not taken
advantage of yet. 

I can't wait to see what Cadence showcases at CDN Live for their 16.2
tool release. It never fails that a few more items get checked off the
wish list, especially when there is a new dot release, ie. 16.1x -->
16.2x.  

Happy CAD blasting.


Sincerely yours, 

Michael Baumstark 

Sr. Staff Electrical Engineer / PCB Design, CID+ 
Motorola - Advanced Product Technology Center 
8000 West Sunrise Blvd.  Mail Stop: 8E8 
Plantation, FL USA 33322-9947 
Intra: http://rprc.mot.com  ; http://pcbadvisor.mot.com 
web: http://www.motorola.com 
--------------^------------------^-----------------^------------------^-
------------- 
  >---^-.---                 >---^-.---                    >---^-.--- 
Motorola Internal Use                      [      ] 
Motorola Confidential Proprietary    [      ] 



-----Original Message-----
From: icu-pcb-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:icu-pcb-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Shanmugam,
Nagaraj
Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2008 7:54 AM
To: icu-pcb-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [PCB_FORUM] Re: Swapping layers?

Austin,

Subdrawing can help you in swapping layers.

Export subdrawing of layers individually Open the subdrawing in text
editor - change the layer subclass and save the file.
Delete the traces/shapes on layers
Import subdrawing into design.

This way works for me faster.

Thanks,
Nagaraj.

-----Original Message-----
From: icu-pcb-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:icu-pcb-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Austin Franklin
Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2008 5:12 PM
To: icu-pcb-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [PCB_FORUM] Swapping layers?

Hi,

Is there an easy way to swap two layers?  15.7

Thanks,

Austin

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