Altium Designer 16.1.12 Update (18 August 2016)

Altium Designer 16.1 is now available for download. You can install version 16.1.12 (build 290) from the Download section of the site and update system in Altium Designer (DXP > Extensions and Updates).

Please note that Clean installation is required if your current version of Altium Designer is 16.0 or below.

Release Notes

#12431    Draftsman - Fixed bug where access violation happens in particular cases when placing a layer Stack legend for Rigid-Flex PCB.    
#13365    Draftsman - Fixed bug where access violation has occurred when trying to create Draftsman document from the Default Fabrication Drawing template with Rigid-Flex on PCB.    
#12409    Draftsman - Fixed bug where new document's "Modified Status" remains unchanged after placing any objects (BC:6781).    
#12325    Draftsman - Fixed bug where only the pad that is inside the custom pad generates Solder Mask/Paste Mask.    
#12583    Draftsman - Fixed bug where PCB was not shown in board assembly front view.    
#12320    Draftsman - Fixed bug where solder mask expansion is absent for Vias on Fab view (BC:6697).    
#12303    Draftsman - Fixed crash on complex 3D designs while placing assembly view.    
#12118    Draftsman - Fixed massive memory leak during switching between Draftsman and PC (BC:6633).    
#10295    Fixed - All Suppliers now connect correctly when there is a proxy server in use.    
#13364    Fixed - bug where board fabrication view goes black after Update from PCB.    
#12888    Fixed - bug where special string in quotes are not interpreted in output for a particular designs.    
#13326    Fixed - regression bug where some tracks disappeared after routing (BC:6843).    
#12760    Importers - Fixed bug in Allegro Importer where pads of rotated components have pad-shaped regions added.    
#12959    Importers - Fixed bug in Allegro Importer where board shapes are defined incorrectly.    
#13181    Importers - Fixed bug in xDx Designer Importer where pins are missing after the library import.    
#12703    Importers - Fixed bug where pads of bottom components appear on top layer after the import from Eagle file in 16.1.8.    
#13024    Restored - column Average Length for Differential pairs in PCB panel.

Altium Designer 16.1.11 (20 July 2016)

Altium Designer 16.1 is now available for download. You can install version 16.1.11 (build 255) from the Download section of the site and update system in Altium Designer (DXP >> Extensions and Updates).

This update dedicated to an unpleasant  bug with arc duplication during routing. Besides that, it includes support for the latest version of the SOLIDWORKS format that might help with the performance of the big BGA STEP models.

Please note than Clean installation is required if your current version of Altium Designer is 16.0 or below.

Release Notes

#11409    Added support for the SOLIDWORKS 2016 parasolid file format.
#12701    Fixed a critical issue in the PCB Editor where arcs were being multiplied during interactive routing, or track modification (BC:6843).
#12625    Fixed an issue in the PCB Editor where the 3D Lock option was not being taken into account properly for rigid flex designs.
#12708    Fixed an issue of duplicated leasing of on-demand licenses, which was otherwise possible when the software startup time took more than 20 seconds.
#12525    Fixed an issue where 3D Body Height Rule checking was not considering the real height of a STEP model.
#12628    Fixed an issue where pads of components - with Alternate Parts in a defined Variant - were being incorrectly displayed in Draft mode on the generated assembly drawing.
#12522    Fixed an issue where special strings in footprints were not being correctly displayed as converted, after generating a footprint comparison report.
#11988    Fixed an issue where special symbols - in the User Name or PC Name - were causing a constant exception during PCB Collaboration (after connecting to an Altium Vault and opening a PCB file).
#12513    Fixed an issue with the incorrect rotation of the QFN and PQFN STEP models in the IPC Wizard (BC:6692).

 

Draftsman 1.0.0.114 Update (23 May 2016)

We would like to announce the maintenance update of Draftsman. You can get  new version of Draftsman 1.0.0.114 via the Altium Designer update system (DXP > Extensions and Updates).​

Release Notes

#12120    Draftsman - Fixed issue where Altium Designer crashed if font missing from the computer (BC:6636).
#12053    Draftsman - Placing parameters into text boxes will apply after choice parameter from the list.
#12119    Draftsman - Fixed issue where typing caps insert the new line (BC:6634).
#12107    Draftsman - Was added an option for replacement header to Top/Bottom for BOM table.
#12143    Draftsman - Fixed bug with the wrong order of component display in Section View.
#12149    Draftsman - Fixed issue where dimension line overlapped dimension text.
#12186    Draftsman - Fixed issue where panning with RMB clear selection.
#12188    Draftsman - Added display of document statuses (like Unsaved) in document tabs and Project panel.

Version 16.1.8

Version 16.1.8

Build: 203 Date: 16 May 2016 

11935	Fixed a bug in which polygon pours with the same-net clearances had violations with the via.
12049	Draftsman - Added support letter for Drill Symbols representation was added.
11938	Draftsman - Added support Mechanical Layers as geometry source in Assembly Drawings.
11945	Fixed crash while generation IDF output via PCB Release (caused by the new file added to the project).
11968	Fixed error while loading pcb files, that contain more than 64kb per section (in rare cases caused by big number of xSignals).
11918	Fixed issue when both alternative parts was presented in Assembly Drawing. Now Assembly Drawing contains only one part from current variant if component has alternatives for different variants.
11980	Fixed issue when was not possible to drag track ends on Mechanical layers (BC:6531).
12048	Fixed issue when was not possible to place Assembly view if PCB has components with empty Designator (Draftsman).
11981	Fixed issue with random crashes of Altium Designer during updating (Extension Manager crash).
11942	Fixed regression​ issue with parameter list performance, when defining "Visibility on Add" property for the Vault folder.
11951	Restored the order of print for layers and not-fitted graphics as in Altium Designer 16.0.6.

 

PDN Analyzer powered by CST® version 1.0.0.43 now available

PDN Analyzer powered by CST® version 1.0.0.43 Release Notes

 

(Previously released version 1.0.0.42)
Jeff Loyer
5/13/16
 
Altium has updated the PDN Analyzer extension to resolve an existing issue with designs which have spaces in their component names.  In previous versions of PDN Analyzer, component names with spaces would cause the simulation to fail with the following (or similar) error messages:
[Error]    Flex_6946.PcbDoc    PDN Analyzer    solver stopped due to exception:
[Error]    Flex_6946.PcbDoc    PDN Analyzer    Traceback (most recent call last):
[Error]    Flex_6946.PcbDoc    PDN Analyzer      File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
[Error]    Flex_6946.PcbDoc    PDN Analyzer      File "altium_plugin\pidc.py", line 507, in create_plb_file
[Error]    Flex_6946.PcbDoc    PDN Analyzer      File "altium_plugin\pidc.py", line 494, in create_ICs
[Error]    Flex_6946.PcbDoc    PDN Analyzer      File "altium_plugin\pidc.py", line 360, in __init__
[Error]    Flex_6946.PcbDoc    PDN Analyzer    AttributeError: 'NoneType' object has no attribute 'n_pins'

The current version (1.0.0.43) resolves the problem, simulations will complete successfully if net names have spaces in them.

PDN Analyzer powered by CST® version 1.0.0.42 available

PDN Analyzer powered by CST® version 1.0.0.42 Release Notes
(Previously released version 1.0.0.37)
Jeff Loyer
5/11/16
 
Altium has updated the PDN Analyzer extension to resolve existing issues and preclude analysis with invalid setup parameters.   Altium's PDN Analyzer is working to eliminate the possibility of initiating a simulation only to find it was invalid due to an erroneous setup parameter. Below is a list of the issues addressed and changes made to the current release of the extension.
 

1. Check that load has non-zero amperage: entering 0A as a current sink isn't allowed.
2. Ensure valid stackup before enabling simulation: checks stackup parameters and disables simulation if any are not valid:

• Invalid dielectric constant (<1)
• 0 thickness for dielectric or conductor

1. Ensure a maximum of 2 nets in the path between the source and load power nets.  If there are more than 2 nets between the source and load power nets, the user will be asked "Many nets between source and loads, proceed with simulation?" (Yes, No).  This warns the user that they may have built an erroneous path (see Source to Load path section in the PDN Analyzer Guide).
2. Collect data on errors: if the user has agreed to participate in the Altium Product Improvement Program, collect the following data:

• If simulation run was successful or not
• Error codes and messages
• Net count in the path, load count, source count, ODB file size, ODB++ generation time, and simulation run server time.

1. Need to print cause of any red !'s, tell user what failed. If a red exclamation mark is shown, we will print the failure in the messages dialogue:

• "Error: Source <U#> exceeded max allowed PWR supply DC current magnitude. Allowed: x.xxxA, Actual: x.xxxA"
• "Error: Source <U#> exceeded max allowed PWR pin current magnitude. Allowed: x.xxxA, Actual: x.xxxA"
• "Error: Source <U#> exceeded max allowed GND pin current magnitude. Allowed: x.xxxA, Actual: x.xxxA"
• "Error: Load <U#> did not meet minimum required DC Voltage magnitude. Minimum: x.xxxV, Actual: x.xxxV"

1. Difference in current densities reported as maximum (from auto-scale) and when probed.  Auto-scaling showed maximum current density as 1.2GA/m^2, but when probing the largest current density observed was 0.2GA/m^2.  Reading the .json file verified that there were current 1.2GA/m^2 densities.  Software has been fixed – now probing agrees w/ that reported by auto-scaling.
2. PDN Analyzer was not interpreting strings correctly: converting the string "0Rab", if a is zero, the zero is discarded.  This was fixed.

Older pcbdoc's don't have SimulationDummy.PcbDoc.htm file, so simulation fails. This was fixed.

Altium Designer 16.1 version 16.1.7 (build 188)

Altium Designer 16.1 version 16.1.7 (build 188). This release is all about putting the power of productivity back into your design workflow. Here’s what’s inside:

Draftsman™

Your complete documentation workflow is now available exclusively in Altium Designer. Easily communicate design intent right the first time without ever leaving your design workspace. View more details about Draftsman™ here.

Precise 3D Measurements

Precisely measure your board layout in Native 3D and clearly communicate design intent to manufacturing right the first time. View more details about 3D measurement here.

Design Environment Enhancements

Stay at your most efficient in your design process with a variety of UI optimizations and stability enhancements including over 70 bug fixes.

You can read about all of the new features and enhancements for this release in the Altium Designer 16.1 Release Notes.