Nets Containing Floating Input Pins

This compiler hint appears when an input pin for a placed part within the design has been detected to be floating - not electrically connected to any other part of the circuit. The message is displayed in the Messages panel in the following format:

Net NetName contains floating input pins (PinList),

where

NetName is the name of the offending net

PinList is the comma-separated list of pins in that net which are floating.

Default Report Mode

Error

Recommendation

This violation can arise in a number of situations. Consider the following when resolving a violation of this type:

• If the pin is not to be used within the design, either tie it to the appropriate power line (e.g. GND), or place a No ERC directive on it.
• Ensure that the wiring to the pin is making electrical contact - i.e. the wire or bus connects to the pin's electrical hot spot.
• Use the Navigator panel to trace the connectivity of the parent net to which the offending pin is associated. Sometimes, a pin can be caused to 'float' when there is a break somewhere else in the net. For example, a pin might receive its signal from an input port on the sheet, which in turn is fed a signal from a linked sheet entry higher up in the design hierarchy. The input to this sheet entry may be disconnected. Fixing the connection to the sheet entry will resolve the floating input pin violation.
• Look for additional violation messages in the Messages panel that relate to the same parent net, especially those that mention unconnected objects - this can give an indication where the break in connectivity lies.