Getting Started
Altium Designer includes a variety of introductory documents and tutorials to help users get started with the software.
All these documents can be accessed through Altium Designer’s Knowledge Center (accessed by pressing F1 in the software) and are also in the Help folder, which can be found in the Altium Designer installation directory. These documents are also available on the web.
Moving from a previous version of software
Moving from Altium Designer 2004
There are no major architectural changes between Altium Designer 2004 and Altium Designer 6.0.
Your Altium Designer 2004 preference settings can be exported and imported into Altium Designer 6.0.
To see a list of new preference settings, please refer to the section Important Changes To Altium Designer 6.
Moving from Protel or nVisage DXP
- Design files created in a DXP version can be opened directly in Altium Designer 6.0
- DXP version libraries can be used directly in Altium Designer 6.0
Moving from Protel 99 SE
Protel 99 SE has a different file structure to Altium Designer 6.0. Designs from Protel 99 SE will have to be imported into Altium Designer 6.0. Use the Import Wizard (File » Import Wizard) to import Protel 99 SE designs.
Refer to the document AR0115 Moving to Altium Designer from Protel 99 SE for more information.
Moving from another design tool
To make the import process as smooth and efficient as possible, Altium Designer 6.0 provides a unified means of importing designs from a variety of different design tools – the Import Wizard (File » Import Wizard). This wizard walks you through the import process, handling both the schematic and PCB parts of the project, as well as managing the relationship between them.
The Import Wizard can be used to import designs from the following products:
- Protel 99 SE
- CircuitMaker 2000
- P-CAD
- OrCAD®
- PADS®
Refer to the following documents for further information:
Activating Altium Designer 6.0
Before Altium Designer can be used, the software requires activation. The first time the software is launched the License Management page will appear.
In the Available Licenses region of the page, click on either <i>Activate license using the web or Activate license via email</i>. Activation via the web is the quickest method. In this case, the Activation Wizard will start. All you have to do is follow the instructions in the Wizard.
Activation requires your Customer Number and an 8-character activation code. The Customer Number appears at the top of the invoice. The activation code is supplied separately either by mail or email.
Upon successful activation you will receive an email containing your license file and instructions that, when added, will enable Altium Designer.
Licensing options can be accessed in the software through the menus either through Help » About or DXP » Licensing. In both cases, the License Management page will appear, allowing you to change the type of license (Stand Alone or Network) and license usage.
The Activation Wizard presents web pages directly within Altium Designer. If you have internet protection programs that block page-from-page loading you may not see all the wizard pages correctly. If this occurs, use the email activation option.
Setting up Network licenses
If you have a Network license, you will have to setup a Network license server. The setup program for the license server is found on the CD in the Network License Setup\Setup folder.
Please refer to GU0103 License Service Setup Guide for more information.
Setting up the NanoBoard-NB1
Please refer to the Technical Reference Manual included with the NanoBoard for information about setting up the NanoBoard-NB1.
Alternatively, refer to the document TR0102 NanoBoard Technical Reference Manual.