The new features we included in the current release of Altium Designer are summarized below...
Additional Mechanical Layers
Altium makes it easier to document your design with the addition of 16 more mechanical layers in the PCB editor. More space for notes, dimensions, and tables, and support for copy and paste direct to PCB.
C++ Support
Altium Designer continues to expand its support for FPGA-based embedded systems development with support for C++ coding. Altium brings you high level systems design for the next generation of electronics products.
Blankets in Schematic
Simply draw a rectangle to create spatial constraints, apply rules, and create net classes around objects in a given area. Classes are tied to an area, so you can add and delete objects without affecting other nodes or objects.
Supplier Data Improvements
Altium expands its support for live linking to component supplier information with support for Newark, and Farnell. Instantly get a view of pricing and parts availability, shop for the best deals for your components.
Designators / Board Level Annotation
You can now edit PCB designators directly from the physical tabs of your compiled schematic, greatly simplifying the management of physical component designators in your board design.
Assembly Variants
View and edit assembly variants directly from your schematic. Simply toggle the parts you want fitted or omitted. Changes are instantly reflected on the schematic in a range of possible styles.
Testpoints / Testpoint Manager
Testpoints / Testpoint Manager Testpoint generation just got simpler, with a range of new rules to ensure proper testing of both the bare board, and assembled PCB. And a new tespoint manager gives you visibility and total testpoint control.
3D Single Layer Mode
3D PCB editing has been expanded with support for Single Layer Mode in 3D. Inspect internal layer copper, view plane connections, and find out just what's going on under your BGA - get views of your design never before possible.
PCB Design Rules Visualization
Get instant visibility on your DRC violations. Individual indicators now not only show a violation has occurred, but also what constraint has been violated. And new overlays make locating violations easier than ever before.
Altium Labs
Altium opens the door to our developer's laboratory with the addition of Altium Labs. You get a sneak peak of things in development and the opportunity to try out new stuff prior to official release. Lab features can be disabled at any time.
Customization of Net Colors
Get even greater control over the display of PCB objects with enhanced net highlighting in PCB. Apply color overrides and change net colors on a net-by-net basis. Even apply colors to groups of nets, right from the PCB panel.
Memory Instrument
The new Memory Instrument for use in your FPGA designs creates an area of configurable memory whose contents can be viewed, and modified from the instrument’s panel as it executes on the FPGA in system, and in real-time.
