Layout editor settings and tricks

Table of Contents

1. Basic Layout editor settings
2. DRD settings

1. Basic Layout editor settings

To prevent DRC errors and simplify layout, check the following setting in Layout Editor (hotkey E):

1. Pin Names - to display pin names on layout;
2. Net Expressions - to display net expressions on nets;
3. Grid controls - check that spacings are the same as recommended by the manufacturer - that would prevent "Off-grid" errors which are extremely hard and time-taking to fix!
4. Enable Dimming - to highlight the object when selecting it.

Basic layout editor settings

2. DRD settings

Next, let's focus on a very important palette - DRD (Design-Rule-Driven). This setting will stop you from violating the spacing-related DRC rules and will significantly reduce the amount of DRC violations. This palette has 3 main options:

• DRD off;
• DRD Warning On
• DRD Stop On.

Basic layout editor settings

If the DRD option is off, it will allow you to violate all spacing-related DRC rules:

DRD off

If the DRD option is set to Warning On, then it will still allow the designer to violate spacing-related DRC rules, but you will see a halo with the description of the violated rule:

DRD warning on

If the DRD option is set to Stop On, then it will not allow to violate spacing-related DRC rules:

DRD stop on