New in Altium Designer

Applies to Altium Designer version: 24
 

This page details the improvements included in the initial release of Altium Designer 24, as well as those added in subsequent updates. Along with delivering a range of improvements that develop and mature the existing technologies, each update also incorporates a large number of fixes and enhancements across the software based on feedback raised by customers through the AltiumLive Community's BugCrunch system, helping you continue to create cutting-edge electronics technology.

You can choose to continue with your current version, update your current version, or install Altium Designer 24 alongside your current version to access the latest features. Your current version can be updated from within the software in the Extensions and Updates view. If you prefer to install Altium Designer 24 alongside your current version, visit the Altium Downloads page to download the installer, then choose New Installation on the Installation Mode page of the installer.

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Altium Designer 24.3

Released: 19 March 2024 – Version 24.3.1 (build 35)

Release Notes for Altium Designer 24.3.1

PCB Design Improvements

Pad Corner Radius/Chamfer as an Absolute Value (Open Beta)

In this release, the ability to define pad corner radius/chamfer as an absolute value (in mil or mm) has been added.

When a pad of the Rounded Rectangle or Chamfered Rectangle shape (on a copper, paste or solder layer) is selected in the PCB or PCB Footprint editor, enter a value to the Corner Radius field to define the radius/chamfer as an absolute value (with the default measurement units). Note that the absolute value of the pad corner radius/chamfer must be less than or equal to half of the shortest pad side. The calculated percentage value will be shown at the right of the field.

Enter a value to the Corner Radius field to define it as an absolute value.
Enter a value to the Corner Radius field to define it as an absolute value.

Enter a value followed by the % symbol to define the radius/chamfer as the percentage of half of the pad's shortest side (as in previous versions).  

The absolute value of the pad corner radius chamfer is also supported by the PCB List and PCBLIB List panels, the Find Similar Objects dialog, and the Pad/Via Template editor. Also, the following query keywords can now be used in expressions:

Keyword Summary

Pad_CornerRadius_Value_AllLayers

Pad_CornerRadius_Value_TopLayer

Pad_CornerRadius_Value_BottomLayer

Pad_CornerRadius_Value_MidLayer<n>
(where n = 1..30)

Return pad objects whose Pad Corner Radius Size property for the corresponding layer complies with the query.

For example, the AsMM(Pad_CornerRadius_Value_TopLayer) > '0.1' query returns pad objects whose Pad Corner Radius Size (Top Layer) property is greater than 0.1mm.

Pad_CornerRadius_UsesPercent_AllLayers

Pad_CornerRadius_UsesPercent_TopLayer

Pad_CornerRadius_UsesPercent_BottomLayer

Pad_CornerRadius_UsesPercent_MidLayer<n>
(where n = 1..30)

Return pad objects whose Pad Corner Radius Uses Percent property for the corresponding layer complies with the query.

For example, the Pad_CornerRadius_UsesPercent_MidLayer2 = 'False' query returns pad objects whose Pad Corner Radius Uses Percent (Mid Layer 2) property is disabled (i.e. an absolute value is used to define the pad radius on this layer).

Note that the existing Pad_CornerRadius_AllLayersPad_CornerRadius_TopLayerPad_CornerRadius_BottomLayer and Pad_CornerRadius_MidLayer<n> (where n = 1..30) are still used to scope pad objects whose Pad Corner Radius (%) property for the corresponding layer complies with the query.

Support for pad corner radius/chamfer defined as an absolute value has also been added to the Import Wizard when importing an Xpedition design.

This feature is in Open Beta and available when the PCB.Pad.CustomShape.CornerRadiusAbsolute option is enabled in the Advanced Settings dialog.
For more information, refer to the Working with Pads & Vias page.

PCB Replication Improvements

Enhanced Error Notifications

If a missing pin connection in the selected Source Block is detected when running the Layout Replication tool, the warning dialog will notify you about the missing connection.

Click the link in the dialog to cross-probe to the offending object.

Added 'Busy' State for PCB Replication

To provide a more responsive UI for the PCB replication process, the indicators of the feature 'busy' state were added in this release.

  • When running the Layout Replication tool, an indication that replication data is loading, with the possibility to cancel out of the process, appears before opening the PCB Layout Replication dialog.

  • After clicking the Replicate button in the PCB Layout Replication dialog, the cursor indicates 'in progress' () before the first block is placed (or ready for placement in interactive mode).
For more information, refer to the PCB Layout Replication page.

Constraint Manager Improvements

Added Support for Importing Design Directives (Open Beta)

You can now import constraints from design directives, placed and defined on your schematic source documents, into the Constraint Manager. This is performed from the Physical or Electrical view (when accessing the Constraint Manager from a schematic) using the new Import from Directives command (from the right-click context menu) and supports rule, net class, diff pair, and diff pair class directives.

Note that any existing constraints already defined for nets/net classes/diff pairs/diff pair classes through the Constraint Manager will take precedence and are, therefore, kept when an import is processed.
Javascript ID: CM_ImportDirectives_AD24_3

On a schematic, some Parameter Set and Differential Pair directives are placed. These directives define a diff pair, a net class and Width rules.

Use the Import from Directives command from the right-click menu in the Constraint Manager.

The data from the directives will be imported into the Constraint Manager.

This feature is in Open Beta and available when the ConstraintManager.ImportFromDirectives option is enabled in the Advanced Settings dialog.
For more information, refer to the Defining Design Requirements Using the Constraint Manager page.

New 'Diff Pairs' Tab

A new Diff Pairs tab is now available from the Electrical constraints view for explicitly defining and managing differential pairs. A hierarchical list of the differential pairs in the design is shown on this tab. Select a cell for a differential pair or differential pair class to present constraints for it in the bottom region of the Constraint Manager.

For more information, refer to the Defining Design Requirements Using the Constraint Manager page.

Support for Creepage in the Clearance Matrix

A Creepage rule can now be specified when defining electrical clearances between classes of nets and/or differential pairs using the matrix in the Clearances view.

For more information, refer to the Defining Design Requirements Using the Constraint Manager page.

Support for Multi-editing in the Clearance Matrix

Added support to the clearance matrix (the Clearance view) for multi-editing within a selected row/column. In the detailed clearance settings of the Constraint Manager, select a row or column, type the required value, and press Enter or click to apply this value to all cells of the row/column.

For more information, refer to the Defining Design Requirements Using the Constraint Manager page.

Draftsman Improvement

Ability to Change the Resolution of a Board Realistic View

The resolution for a placed Board Realistic View can now be configured in the Resolution(DPI) field in the Properties region of the Properties panel by entering the desired resolution in the field. Previously, the view was a static rendered image with no way to change the resolution. The minimum setting is 75 DPI, and the default setting is 300 DPI.

For more information, refer to the Working with Additional Views page.

Harness Design Improvements

Cavity Enhancements

Specifying Cavity Types

You can now specify the type of cavity for each pin of a harness component in the Wiring Diagram (*.WirDoc). On the Cavities tab of the Properties panel, select the desired pin, then click Add. Choose the cavity type from the drop-down. In the Select Connector dialog that opens, select the specific desired connector for the pin.

Only one cavity of a particular type can be added to a pin. Once a cavity of a particular type has been added, the entry is unavailable (grayed out) in the drop-down, as shown in the image below for Pin 3.

For more information, refer to the Defining the Harness Wiring Diagram page.

Added New Cavity Types to Wiring List and Connection Table

Seals, plugs and other cavity parts can be displayed in a wiring list and connection table in a manufacturing drawing. Enable the visibility of the desired columns in the Columns tab of the Properties panel when the placed table is selected in the design space.

For more information, refer to the Creating a Manufacturing Drawing page.

Added Cavity BOM Line Numbers to Callouts on the Manufacturing Drawing

When a callout set to display the BOM Item is added to the physical view of a component on a layout drawing view, it will include BOM line numbers for all assigned cavities.

For more information, refer to the Creating a Manufacturing Drawing page.

Visibility and Lock Options for Harness Bundle Length Parameter

The Length parameter of a harness bundle in a Layout Drawing (*.LdrDoc) now includes visibility and lock options.

For more information, refer to the Creating the Harness Layout Drawing page.

Highlight Bundles with Wires from Split Cables

All harness bundles that include wires from a split harness cable are now highlighted on the Layout Drawing when the cable is selected in the Bundle Objects region of the Properties panel. For a split cable, the length of the longest wire is shown in BOM.

Javascript ID: HD_SplitCable_AD24_3

Cable C1 is split between different connectors.

When clicking the cable entry in the Bundle Objects region of the Properties panel for the selected bundle, all bundles that include wires from C1 are now highlighted.

In BOM, the length of the longest wire (a wire that passes through bundles B1 and B3 in this example) is shown for C1.

Added Twist Object Designator to the Wiring List

The designator of a twist object is now displayed in the wiring list as shown in the image below. 

For more information, refer to the Creating a Manufacturing Drawing page.

Board Detail View Renamed Harness Detail View

The Board Detail View in a Harness Draftsman document (*.HarDwf) has been renamed Harness Detail View.

For more information, refer to the Creating a Manufacturing Drawing page.

Display Individual Wire Lengths in Wiring List and Connection Table

The Length column in a wiring list and connection table now displays the individual wire lengths for each wire in a cable.

Javascript ID: HD_IndividualWireLength_AD24_3

Wires W1, W2 and W3 are part of a cable.

Individual lengths of these wires are now shown in a wiring list and connection table.

For more information, refer to the Creating a Manufacturing Drawing page.

Display Total Length of Wires and Cables in BOM

For harness wiring components, the Length column in the ActiveBOM document and BOM Table in a manufacturing drawing now presents the total length for wires/cables of the same BOM item rather than their individual lengths.

For more information, refer to the Creating a Manufacturing Drawing page.

Data Management Improvements

Support for Custom Pricing

When you have a configured connection to a specific supplier account through the browser interface of your Altium 365 Workspace (learn more), you can now see custom pricing where applicable in the ActiveBOM and all places where part choices are accessed. Also, suppliers that provide custom prices are labeled as such in the Project Part Providers Preferences dialog, which can be accessed by clicking the Edit button in the Favorite Suppliers List field in the Properties panel for the ActiveBOM document.

Added BOM Checks for SiliconExpert Parameters

Support for a range of checks based on SiliconExpert parameters was added to ActiveBOM. You can enable or disable these checks in the Violations Associated with Part Choices category in the BOM Checks dialog. Open the dialog by clicking the  button in the BOM Checks region of the Properties panel.

For more information, refer to the Pulling Part Data from SiliconExpert and Finalizing Your BOM pages.

Added Comment Resolved Status to Exported PDF

When exporting comments to PDF, the status for resolved simple comments (i.e., those not assigned as 'tasks') is now included in the export.

For more information, refer to the Document Commenting page.

Added Compiled IntLib to Downloaded Manufacturer Part Zip

When downloading a component from the Manufacturer Part Search panel as a file library, the compiled Integrated library (*.IntLib) is now included as part of the Zip file.

For more information, refer to the Searching for & Placing Components page.

Import/Export Improvement

Xpedition Library Import Enhancements

This release adds the following improvements when importing an Xpedition library into Altium Designer.

  • Added support for 'Round Donut' pad shapes defined in footprints within an Xpedition library. Note that this first step enables such footprint pads to be imported (as custom pad shapes). There is no dedicated ‘Round Donut’ pad shape in PCB/PCB Footprint editors.
  • Defined pad hole tolerances are now included when importing an Xpedition library.
  • Added support for replicated text strings in footprints (i.e., mounting hole 'A's) when importing an Xpedition library. The original string, its replicates, and associated parameters are imported.
  • Added support for zero-width lines defined for a footprint on the Placement Outline layer when importing an Xpedition library.
For more information, refer to the Importing a Design from Xpedition page.

Circuit Simulation Improvements

Simulation S-Parameters Analysis (Open Beta)

This release adds the ability to run an analysis of S-parameters (scattering parameters). Such parameters facilitate an approach for describing networks based on the ratio of incident and reflected microwaves (for a device under test, how much power passes from one port to another, and how much power is reflected back). These ratios can be subsequently used to calculate the properties of a circuit, including input impedance, frequency response and isolation. While this type of analysis is primarily for RF circuits and components, it is equally useful for any circuit with at least two sources (ports).

This new analysis is done by enabling the S-Parameters Analysis option in the AC Sweep region of the Simulation Dashboard panel. Define the ports (sources) involved and set an impedance for each (default is 50 ohms). If a device has more than two ports, these can be added and defined accordingly, which will result in more S-parameters involved in the resulting ‘S-matrix.’ Once the AC sweep analysis is run, the S-parameters data will be available on the S-parameters Analysis chart in the SDF document.

The simulation engine also calculates Y-parameters (admittance) and Z-parameters (impedance), which can be added to plots in the chart as desired.

This feature is in Open Beta and available when the Simulation.SParametersAnalysis option is enabled in the Advanced Settings dialog.
For more information, refer to the Configuring & Running a Simulation page.

Added Ability to Present SPICE Models in the Components Panel

In this release, a new Show in Components Panel option has been added to the Simulation – General page of the Preferences dialog. When this option is enabled, the SPICE Libraries category is available in the Components panel, and the libraries contained in the Model Path folder specified on the Simulation – General page of the Preferences dialog are listed in this category. The category structure reflects the structure of the specified folder.

As part of this, a folder of Analog Devices' SPICE models has been added to the Mixed Simulation extension's default installation Library folder (\ProgramData\Altium\Altium Designer <GUID>\Extensions\Mixed Simulation\Library\SPICE Models\Analog Devices).

For more information, refer to the Simulation Preferences page.

Added Enable Simulation Generic Components Library Option

A new Enable Simulation Generic Components Library option has been added to the Simulation – General page of the Preferences dialog, allowing you to control the library’s visibility within the Components panel.

In addition, the library has been removed from the Installed tab of the Libraries Preferences dialog.

For more information, refer to the Simulation Preferences page.

Added Support for the 'TEMP' Keyword in Constant Parameters

For temperature analysis, the keyword TEMP can now be used in constant parameters.

The keyword TEMP can be used in constant parameters. The image shows the TEMP keyword being used to calculate the IS parameter of transistor Q11.
The keyword TEMP can be used in constant parameters. The image shows the TEMP keyword being used to calculate the IS parameter of transistor Q11.

The TEMP value (the actual operating temperature of the circuit in °C) is set on the Advanced tab of the Advanced Analysis Settings dialog accessed by clicking Settings in the Analysis Setup & Run region of the Simulation Dashboard panel.

Note that if the TEMP keyword is used in a constant parameter, the simulator will not be able to perform a DC Sweep analysis when the Temp parameter is selected as a parameter to be stepped for this analysis.
For more information, refer to the Configuring & Running a Simulation page.

Added Support for the LTspice 'AKO' Model Keyword

When creating a model based on another model, you can now use the AKO model keyword.

In the example shown below, model QP has all the same parameters as model QP350, except that BF is changed and VA is set.

.MODEL QP350 PNP(IS=1.4E-15 BF=70 CJE=.012P CJC=.06P RE=20 RB=350 RC=200)

.MODEL QP AKO:QP350 PNP(BF=150 VA=100)

Error detection is applied when using the AKO syntax, in cases where the model definition involves:

For more information, refer to the Creating a Simulation Model page.

Features Made Fully Public in Altium Designer 24.3

The following features are now officially Public with this release:

Altium Designer 24.2

Released: 15 February 2024 – Version 24.2.2 (build 26)

Release Notes for Altium Designer 24.2.2

Altium Designer 24.1

Released: 16 January 2024 – Version 24.1.2 (build 44)

Release Notes for Altium Designer 24.1.2 

Altium Designer 24.0

Released: 13 December 2023 – Version 24.0.1 (build 36) 

Release Notes for Altium Designer 24.0.1

Note

The features available depend on your level of Altium Designer Software Subscription.

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