Dynamic Display of Clearance Boundaries during Routing

This document is no longer available beyond version 16.0. Information can now be found here: Dynamic Display of Clearance Boundaries during Routing for version 24

Now why won't this route fit through that gap!? - is this a question you've asked yourself during interactive routing?

Delivered as part of a set of improvements aimed at helping interpret and understand the impact of design rules, the new dynamic display of clearance boundaries feature will help you see just how much space is available during interactive routing.

The clearance around existing workspace objects is displayed dynamically, as you route. Use the Ctrl+W shortcut to enable/disable during routing.
The clearance around existing workspace objects is displayed dynamically, as you route. Use the Ctrl+W shortcut to enable/disable during routing.

Press Ctrl+W to toggle the Display Clearance Boundaries feature on or off during routing.

Enabling the Dynamic Display of Clearance Boundaries

Enable the Display Clearance Boundaries feature on the PCB Editor - Interactive Routing page of the Preferences dialog.

Enable the option in the Interactive Routing page of the Preferences dialog.
Enable the option in the Interactive Routing page of the Preferences dialog.

Now as you interactively route, the no-go clearance area defined by the existing objects + the applicable clearance rule is displayed as shaded polygons, within a local viewing circle, as shown in the animation above.

Clearance boundaries can also be displayed during Interactive Differential Pair Routing and Interactive Multi-Routing.

The display of clearance boundaries is available in all routing modes except Ignore Obstacles.

 

Note

The features available depend on your level of Altium Designer Software Subscription.