Pin Connectivity Window

The Pin Connectivity window is used to connect (or disconnect) components, ECAD and MCAD subdesigns, and symbolic footprints. The Pin Connectivity window is often useful after placing a subdesign with the Place Design window.

Connectables (port instances, pins, and pin groups) are connected between the two selected objects; the first selected object is displayed on the left and the second on the right. When a connection is formed, the left side of the connection's net is updated to the net of the right side of the connection. The net connections are shown as lines drawn on the Rats layer. Connections can be automatically formed by proximity and/or by name. The Place Design window can be used to place a subdesign so that many connections can automatically be formed by proximity.

Basic Usage

1. Open the Pin Connectivity window using one of the following methods:

• Make two selections (e.g., a subdesign and a component), then select Connect Pins on the Layout menu or the shortcut menu
• Select a subdesign that has already been placed onto a component. The Connect Pins window automatically opens if a component is sufficiently close.

2. Manually connect using the right and left arrow buttons:

• After making a left and right selection, click the right arrow to connect them.
• Select a grid row and click the left arrow to disconnect.
• Multiple rows can be selected in the grid to connect/disconnect multiple at once.

Controls

Previewers — Multiple preview panes graphically show the selections being connected:

• The left previewer is for the first selection and the right previewer is for the second selection.

• Clicking a port instance, pin, or pin group highlights the corresponding item in the list box or grid (and vice versa).

• Mouse operations are supported in a manner similar to the main layout window:

• Shift +drag to move
• Ctrl +Shift +drag to zoom in/out
• Ctrl +drag to rotate dynamically linked HFSS 3D subdesigns
• Ctrl +click to rotate to predefined angles for dynamically linked HFSS 3D subdesigns
• Ctrl +click to select multiple pins in the component
• shortcut menu to Zoom In, Zoom Out, or Fit All

• In general, visibility/display settings from layout transfer to the previewer, except:

• HFSS 3D subdesign symbols layer is always displayed.
• 2.5D subdesigns and components are always drawn in solid mode.

List at Left — Shows the left-preview connectables:

• Connectables that are used in one or more connections are displayed in gray.

Connection grid at right — Shows the left-right connections:

• Any connectables in the <Power/Ground> net classification are displayed in red.

Connect by Proximity — automatically connects overlapping connectables:

• Connectables overlapping tolerance depends on the zoom level and the snapping pixel setting. They must also be close in z/layer positions.
• If only a subset of the connections is chosen, it may be useful to first click Connect by Proximity, then multi-select those rows not chosen to be connected and click the left arrow to disconnect them.

Connect by Name — forms connections between left and right connectables that have a matching name or suffix.

Configuration, shortcuts, and additional notes

• Automatic pop-up

• If automatic pop-ups are enabled:

• When dragging a subdesign onto a component, the Pin Connectivity window automatically appears (if a component is sufficiently close)
• Place a subdesign in the Place Design window to open the Pin Connectivity window.
• Whether or not a component is considered "sufficiently close" depends on whether pins/ports overlap.

• By default, the Pin Connectivity window never appears.
• For new designs, the setting is specified via Tools > Options > General Options > Layout Editor > Other > Show Pinconnectivity window on drag to matching component.
• For the active design, the setting is specified in Layout > Setting > Layout Editor > Other > Show Pin connectivity window on drag to matching component.
• If the Pin Connectivity window automatically pops up, the "Connect by Proximity" feature is automatically triggered.
• Double-clicking a port instance row connects it to the selected connection grid pin.
• Double-clicking a connection grid row highlights any connected port instance.
• [Net]: the net shows in brackets.
• To disconnect all:

• From the Pin Connectivity window, select all the rows in the grid (select the first row then hold the shift key while selecting the bottom row). With all grid rows selected, click the left arrow.
• In layout (outside of the Pin Connectivity window), select a subdesign then click Draw > Disconnect from Net.