New in Altium Designer

Schematic Capture Improvement

Ability to Change Rectangle Border Line Style

You can now change the line style of the border of rectangles in a schematic or schematic symbol document. Use the Line Style drop-down in the Properties panel to select the desired style.

❯ ❮ Javascript ID: SCH_Rectangle_LineStyles_AD23_8

PCB Design Improvements

Custom Paste/Solder Masks

This feature allows you to create custom shapes on paste and solder mask layers of pads in PCB designs and PCB footprints.

As part of this improvement, the pad stack configuration UI in the Properties panel has been updated. From the updated grid in the Pad Stack region of the panel, you can configure the stack of the selected pads on different layers as required, including the shapes on the paste mask and solder mask layers.

The updated UI of the Pad Stack region of the Properties panel (when one or more pads are selected) with the Top Paste layer region expanded as an example.

A custom shape on the paste or solder mask layer can be defined by selecting Custom Shape from the Shape drop-down, then clicking the Edit button in the Properties panel, and then defining the shape of the region on this layer by either editing the existing or placing new primitives (tracks, arcs, fills, etc.). Copying and pasting primitives while defining the shape is also supported.

❯ ❮ Javascript

An example of defining a custom shape on the Top Solder Mask layer in the Properties panel. When the pad is selected, choose the Custom Shape option from the Shape drop-down for the required layer. When the layer region is expanded, click the Edit button to enter the editing mode of the shape on that layer. When the shape is defined as required, click the Complete button at the top of the Properties panel (or use the Shift+C shortcut when in the design space). The result of defining the custom shape on the Top Solder Mask layer.

Alternatively, create the desired custom shape on the paste/solder mask layer using a combination of track, arc, fill, and solid region primitives, then add those selected primitives to the pad (on that paste/solder mask layer) using the new Add Selected Custom Masks to Pad command (from the right-click Pad Actions sub-menu).

❯ ❮ Javascript

An example of defining a custom shape on the Top Paste Mask layer using placed primitives. A pad with the disabled top paste mask shape is shown. Place primitives on the solder and/or paste mask layers defining pad shapes on these layers as required. Four fills placed on the top paste mask layer are shown.  When the placed primitives are selected, right-click on the selection then choose the Pad Actions » Add Selected Custom Masks to Pad command from the right-click menu. Click the pad to which the primitives should be added. The primitives will be added to the current solder/paste shapes of the selected pad. The Custom Shape entry will be shown for the affected layers.

Other options for defining the paste/solder mask shape are also available in the Shape drop-down.

• Rule Expansion - the paste/solder mask expansion will be defined by an applicable Paste Mask Expansion / Solder Mask Expansion design rule.
• Manual Expansion - the expansion value will be defined as an attribute of the selected object or one of the predefined shapes.

The paste/solder mask shapes other than Custom are also available in the Shape drop-down.

Custom paste/solder mask shapes are supported in Draftsman documents and Gerber, Gerber X2, ODB++, and IPC-2581 outputs.

To support 'pin-in-paste' and 'thru-hole reflow' technologies, the ability to enable the paste mask for thru-hole pads has also been added. To enable paste mask on the top and/or bottom board sides for thru-hole pads, use the Use Top Paste and Use Bottom Paste options in the Paste Mask Expansion design rule or define the required expansion value for selected pads manually when the Manual Expansion option is chosen as the pad Shape in the Properties panel.

Define the required expansion value of the paste mask using the Paste Mask Expansion design rule or the Paste options in the Properties panel (with one or more pads selected).

An example of a board region that includes some thru-hole pads for which the paste mask is enabled and the Paste Mask layer for the same region (in 2D and 3D) is shown below.

❯ ❮ Javascript

The paste mask layer for thru-hole pads is supported in Draftsman documents and Gerber, Gerber X2, ODB++, IPC-2581, and PCB Print outputs.

Added New Special Strings

The following pre-defined, system-based special strings have been added and are available for use on a PCB document.

Added Ability to Keep Room Orientation

The ability to control whether or not the rotation of the chosen source room is copied to the desired destination room when using the Copy Room Formats feature has been added. Altium Designer detects the orientation of rooms (by the rotation angle of the component with the largest pin number or the largest area within the room) and uses that to rotate the destination room. The process is as follows:

1. Use the Design » Rooms » Copy Room Formats command from the main menus.
2. Use the mouse to move the crosshairs to the desired source room, then click to select it.
3. Move the crosshairs to the destination room, then click to select it.
4. Disable the Copy Room Orientation option in the Confirm Channel Format Copy dialog that opens to keep the original orientation of the destination room(s).
5. Configure other options in the dialog as required, then click OK. The format of the source room will be copied to the destination room(s).
6. Continue selecting destination rooms or right-click to finish.

Draftsman Improvement

Added Counterhole Support to Board Assembly View

In this release, support for counterholes has been implemented for Draftsman's Board Assembly View. If the source PCB has thru-hole pads with counterhole features applied, these pads will be properly shown in the Board Assembly View for the PCB in the Draftsman document.

Harness Design Improvement

Introduced Harness ERC

Electrical Rules Checking (ERC), with a variety of supported violation types, is now available for the Wiring Diagram and Layout Drawing of a Harness Design project. Similar to validation for a PCB design project, reporting levels are configured as part of the options for the Harness Design project (Project » Project Options).

After performing project validation (Project » Validate Harness Project), results are presented in the Messages panel, as well as graphically within the design space.

Platform Improvement

Updated License Management UI

In this release, the user interface of the License Management view has been redesigned with streamlined and intuitive controls applicable to Altium Designer users and administrators of an Altium account. The main features of the new user interface are:

• Streamlined representation of information about the connected Altium account and available licenses.
• Warning messages for licenses and their subscriptions that are expired or that will expire soon.
• Ability to contact Altium account administrators to notify them of licensing issues, for example, an expired license, an expired subscription, or a lack of license seats.

The redesigned user interface of the License Management view

Also, warning messages will be displayed when connecting to a Workspace if your current Altium Designer Subscription level is higher or lower than that of the organization to whose Workspace you are connecting.

Data Management Improvement

Draftsman Documentation Output Job Enhancement

OutJob labels have been modified when adding Draftsman documentation outputs to an OutJob file (*.OutJob). A single entry titled 'Draftsman' is available with the data source that is applicable to the parent project type listed in the sub-menu.

Displaying a PCB project Draftsman documentation output data source. Hover over the image to see a Harness project Draftsman documentation output data source.

Importer/Exporter Improvements

OrCAD Import Improvements

Added Ability to Force Pin Conversion

During the import of OrCAD designs, you can now force all I/O and bi-directional pins to be converted to passive pins. During the import process using the Import Wizard (File » Import Wizard), the Force convert all I/O and Bi-directional pins to passive pins option has been added to the Schematics Parameter and New Connectivity Options page (when Orcad Designs and Libraries Files is selected as the file type to import) and on the Schematics Sheet Options page (when Orcad and PADS Designs and Libraries Files is selected as the file type to import).

Added Custom Off Sheet Connector Support

When an OrCAD design is imported through the use of the Import Wizard, customized bi-directional off-sheet connectors are now supported on the generated schematic document. 

Simulation Improvement

Support for Transient Modeling

The simulator has been enhanced in this release to support models of ISO 7637-2 and the simulation of repeated bursts of transients through the extension of the EXP function in independent sources. The extended syntax for the EXP function:

EXP(V1 V2 Td1 Tau1 Td2 Tau2 Tpulse Npulse Tburst),

where:

• Tpulse – pulse period
• Npulse – the number of pulses per burst
• Tburst – the repeat burst period

The image below shows an example of an oscillogram of a source using the EXP function with these parameters.

Harness Design Improvement

Added Support for 'No Connect' Objects Within a Cable

Previously, a No Connect object within a Harness Cable had to be added to a Connection Point in the Layout Drawing. No Connect objects in a Harness Cable are now supported without the need to add them to a Connection Point.

❯ ❮ Javascript

A cable in the Wiring Diagram document contains unconnected wires (W_NC1 and W_NC2). While the No Connect objects are not assigned to the connection points in the Layout Drawing document... The bundle correctly recognizes all objects of the cable (including wires W_NC1 and W_NC2).

Multi-board Improvements

Ability to Add and Edit Comments in Multi-board Schematics

In Multi-board schematic documents, you can now add and manage comments using the same approach as in the other editors that support comments, such as the schematic and PCB editors.

Cross-probe to Linked Harness Project

With this release, you can cross-probe from a multi-board schematic document (*.MbsDoc) to a linked harness project (*.PrjHar). Use the Design » Crossprobe to Harness command from the main menus or from the right-click menu of a multi-board schematic when the required harness connection is selected. The wiring diagram document of the associated harness project will open.

Data Management Improvement

Excluding Part Choices from BOM

You now have the capability to exclude a Part Choice defined for a component from the project in the ActiveBOM document. This is useful when a component has many different part choices; you can exclude any that you do not want in your project. To exclude specific part choices, in the BOM document (*.BomDoc), select Not Used in the drop-down associated with PRIMARY or SECONDARY. The drop-down will now display NOT USED. Please note that if you exclude the primary part choice, the secondary part choice becomes primary.

An excluded part choice will not appear in the generated BOM, and it will not be used in price calculations or as part of BOM checks.

If your requirements change, you can change Not Used to Use using the drop-down.

Circuit Simulation Improvements

Added Inductance Current Support

Added support for using currents through inductances in a functional source value expression.

Added Support for the Initial Condition Directive in Subcircuits

The initial condition directive (.IC) defined within a subcircuit is now supported and can be processed/applied.

Ability to Select Multiple Waveforms

When viewing simulation results, it is now possible to select multiple waveforms in a plot using Shift+Click. This might be useful to compare some waveforms in a waveform-dense plot. Multiple selected waveforms (selected in the same or different plots) can be moved to another plot using drag-n-drop.

PCB Design Improvements

Additional Clipping Options for Silkscreen Preparation

Options have been added to the Silkscreen Preparation dialog (Tools » Silkscreen Preparation) that allow you to clip objects to exposed copper (Clip to Exposed Copper) and clip objects to solder mask openings (Clip to Solder Mask Openings). The new options are only available when the Use Design Rules option is disabled, as shown in the image below. Some options of the dialog have also been rearranged or renamed to optimize usage.

❯ ❮ Javascript

A region of a board before silkscreen preparation processing A region of a board after silkscreen preparation processing with the Clip to Exposed Copper option enabled A region of a board after silkscreen preparation processing with the Clip to Solder Mask Openings option enabled

Footprint Parameters in the PCB Library

User-defined parameters for footprints are now supported in Altium Designer. Previously, a footprint could have a set of parameters; however, only the Description field was available without any capability to add more information.

To streamline the process of configuring footprint properties, a Footprint tab has been added to the Library Options mode of the Properties panel. The Library Options mode is accessed from a PCB library document (*.PcbLib) when no objects are selected in the design space. The Footprint tab displays the Properties and Parameters of the active footprint. 

You can also see defined footprint parameters at the PCB component level in the Properties panel in the Component mode on the Parameters tab as shown below.

 
The parameters defined at the footprint level can be seen in the Properties panel in its Component mode when the component is placed on a PCB.

In support of footprint parameters, various keywords have been added to the Query Language (FootprintParameterValue, HasFootprintParameter and HasFootprintParameterValue). These keywords can be used to filter the required components in the design space or scope design rules.

Footprint parameters are supported by Altium Designer’s Comparison engine. When updating footprints from file-based and database libraries, the Update From PCB Libraries dialog will include a new Parameters tab listing parameter differences. When applying changes directly from the PCB footprint editor, the Component(s) Update Options dialog will include a new Footprint Parameters option.

Footprint parameters of components placed on a PCB will be propagated to footprints in libraries generated by the Make PCB Library or Make Integrated Library command of the PCB editor's main menu.

Footprint parameters are also supported for generated Pick and Place and ODB++ output.

An example of generated Pick and Place output that includes footprint parameters selected in the Pick and Place Setup dialog

An example of generated ODB++ output (the components file) that includes footprint parameters

Harness Design Improvements

Added Support for Templates

The ability to save harness documents as templates has been added. Saving the Wiring Diagram, Layout Drawing and Draftsman Layout as templates is useful when creating new Harness Design projects by removing the need to reconfigure them each time. To save harness documents as templates, right-click on the document in the Projects panel, then select Save As. In the File Explorer window that opens, select the template type (*.<xxx>Dot) in the Save as type drop-down.

A Harness project can also now be copied to the Templates folder for use as a local template. For a default installation, the Templates folder path is \Users\Public\Documents\Altium\AD<Version>\Templates. When a new Harness Design project is created, you can use your locally-saved template for the new project. In the Document Options mode of the Properties panel (accessed when no objects are selected in the design space), select Template in the Formatting and Size region, then select the desired template from the Template drop-down. 

Added 'Isometric' View for Physical Models

Starting with this release, physical models can be displayed as an 'isometric view,' which can help to more clearly represent the 3D object in your Layout Drawing. In the Physical View drop-down of the Harness Component mode of the Properties panel (accessed when a harness component is selected in the design space), select the desired view in the Side drop-down. Scroll through the below images to view some of the settings with the corresponding results in the design space.

❯ ❮ Javascript

Enhanced Harness Covering Properties

For a Harness Covering object, you can now define its size relative to the size (Line Style) of the bundle it is covering using the Size drop-down in the Harness Covering mode of the Properties panel. Scroll through the images below to see examples of different sized Harness Coverings with various Harness Bundle Line Styles.

❯ ❮ Javascript

Another enhancement for harness coverings is that they can now be patterned. In the Fill Style region of the Properties panel, select Pattern, then use the Pattern drop-down to choose the desired weave color (black, yellow or red). 

❯ ❮ Javascript

Connections Between Multi-Board Projects Using Harness Connectors

It is now possible to use harness connectors to make connections between multiple multi-board projects that are in a nested configuration.

❯ ❮ Javascript

A child Multi-board project has a harness connector whose entry has the System Entry option enabled.   When changes are imported to the parent Multi-board project, this harness connector will be added as a module entry of the child project's module.

Circuit Simulation Improvement

Added FSTIM PSpice Digital Model Primitive

Support for the file stimulus (FSTIM) PSpice digital model primitive has been added.

Features Made Fully Public in Altium Designer 23.6

The following features have been taken out of Open Beta and have transitioned to Public in this release:

• Silkscreen Preparation - available from 23.0

PCB Design Improvements

Added New PCB Section View

To provide better insight into the layout and structure of a complex PCB, the Section View functionality has been implemented for the PCB editor. Using the Section View is helpful when it is required to reveal details within a PCB that might typically not be visible, for example, when smaller SMD components are placed under larger components or mechanical parts, which could make operations such as component movement and distance measuring difficult.

The Section View functionality is available in the PCB editor's 3D layout mode (View » 3D Layout Mode, shortcut 3). Select the View » Toggle Section View command, click the  button on the Active Bar, or use the buttons of the Section View option on the Section View tab of the View Configuration panel to toggle the display between Edit, On and Off.

❯ ❮

Javascript

Modes of the Section View applied to a PCB: Edit, On, and Off

In Edit mode, the section planes are displayed in the design space. The location of each section plane can be changed by clicking and dragging on the appropriate colored arrow of the section view gizmo. You can enable the display of section planes and configure their direction and color in the View Configuration panel.

The default is to hide everything that is in the current Section View's negative space, i.e. display only objects that appear in the Section View's positive space. This behavior is flipped if the Invert Cutout option is enabled in the View Configuration panel. Then the objects within the negative space are displayed, and the objects within the positive space are hidden.

Custom Thermal Reliefs for Pads

This release brings you greater control over the way in which pads connect to a polygon pour.

Thermal reliefs can be applied in one of two modes, either rules-driven (using the Polygon Connect Style design rule) or custom (at the individual pad level, configured using the Edit Polygon Connect Style dialog). In both modes, an Auto option has been added, which automatically adds a relief connection from the center of each pad edge. You can use the Min Distance setting to control the spacing between each spike.

You now have the ability to manually define thermal relief for pads (both regular and custom shaped) by precisely specifying the connection points where the spikes need to connect. Manually-defined thermal relief connections are supported across all pad stack types (Simple, Top-Middle-Bottom, and Full Stack), with the ability to craft connection points as needed for different layers in Full Stack mode. The points themselves can be edited and defined graphically directly within the PCB design space.

To manually define thermal relief connection points, enable the Thermal Relief option in the pad properties, then use the commands in the Pad Actions right-click menu or click the Edit Points button in the Properties panel. After clicking the Edit Points button, you can use Ctrl+Click to graphically add a spoke at any point along the pad shape without invoking the command from the right-click menu. When adding, editing or removing connection points, they are presented as white crosshairs on the pad edge.

An example of a simple pad with custom thermal relief defined

When thermal relief is manually defined for a pad, it will be denoted by the Manual option in the Properties panel and the Edit Polygon Connect Style dialog that is now accessed by clicking the link in the Thermal Relief field in the Properties panel. If required, you can also choose the minimal distance between the conductors by enabling the Min Distance checkbox and entering an appropriate value.

The Xpedition Importer supports importing custom thermal reliefs defined in an Xpedition™ board design. In addition, where a predefined ‘8-leg’ (8-spoke) thermal relief is defined in Xpedition, this will also be imported as a custom thermal relief. Note that Xpedition’s support for the custom rotation of spikes is not supported when imported into Altium Designer.

Preserve Route Path During Retrace

Added a Preserve route path option to the Gloss And Retrace panel that enables you to preserve the exact trace geometry during Retrace.

When this option is enabled, the Retrace algorithms will not modify the centerline of the trace. Tracks may change width and be split into segments of different widths, but the trajectory will not be changed.

Harness Design Improvements

Added New Harness Covering Object

A new Harness Covering object has been added that can be placed over a Harness Bundle on a Layout Drawing document (*.LdrDoc) and can be used to cover in-line components, etc. The length of a harness covering can be graphically modified in the design space during or after placement to specify the start/end gap to the connector. Harness Coverings are available for placement from the Place menu and the Active Bar.

Use one of the placement methods to begin the placement of a Harness Covering. When the cursor is over a valid Harness Bundle object, an orange dot will appear in the design space, which signifies that the Harness Covering can be placed. (A gray dot signifies that a harness covering cannot be placed at that specific place.) Click the orange dot where you want the cover to begin, then move the cursor along the bundle to the point you want the cover to end, then click again. An orange dot appears at the endpoint and the Harness Covering is placed. Harness Coverings can overlap one another, as demonstrated in the video below. Use the Harness Covering mode of the Properties panel to configure the properties of the harness covering.

Layout Label Enhancements

Multi-line text for a Layout Label is now supported. When defining the label's text in the Text field of the Properties panel in its Layout Label mode, use Ctrl+Enter or Shift+Enter to add a new line of text. Enable Show only first line to display only the first line of the Text field in the design space. The Layout Label text can also now be aligned according to your needs using the Alignment controls. Scroll through the below images to see the new features at work.

❯ ❮ Javascript

The background color of the label can now be defined in order to distinguish the label from other primitives. Click the color box associated with Label Color, then select the desired color from the pop-up options.

Parameters Added to Connection Points and Layout Labels

Parameters and their values can now be added to Connection Points and Layout Labels that are placed on a Layout Drawing (*.LdrDoc). This allows you to specify, for example, a length parameter for a heat shrink. Click Parameter from the Add drop-down to add a parameter, then configure the name, value, visibility, etc.

Parameters can now be added to Connection Points and Layout Labels. An example of a parameter added to a Connection Point is shown here. Hover the cursor over the image to see parameters added to a Layout Label.

Data Management Improvements

Tag Labels Added to Comments and Tasks

Commit tags and release revision IDs are now displayed when viewing the applicable comments/tasks in both the Comments and Tasks panel and the commenting dialog in Altium Designer.

• Comments created in the Web Viewer when reviewing the design snapshot of a tagged commit will include the associated tag name. Click the tag name link to open the related commit snapshot in the Web Viewer.
• Comments created in the Web Viewer when reviewing a specific release will include the release revision ID. Click the release revision ID link to open the Manufacturing Portal for this release.

Ability to Attach Images to General Tasks

It is now possible to add a comment with an image to a General Task. Click the entry for a General Task in the Comments and Tasks panel to access its commenting dialog. When adding a comment to the task, paste a copied image as you would for a regular comment/task (using the Ctrl+V shortcut or the right-click menu's Paste command).

Circuit Simulation Improvements

Interactive Probes

To assist in exploring simulation results, the concept of interactive probes has been implemented in this release. When the Interactive Mode option is enabled in the Preparation region of the Simulation Dashboard panel, any changes to probes in the design (adding and removing probes, enabling and disabling probes, moving a probe to a different net, changing probe color) will be immediately reflected in the .sdf document.

Demonstration of the interactive probes feature

Note that after enabling the Interactive Mode option, the simulation should be re-run for the feature to work.

Added PSpice Primitives

The following support has been added:

• Random access read-write memory (RAM) PSpice digital primitive and its URAM timing model.
• Multi-bit D/A converter PSpice digital primitive and its UDAC timing model.
• Bidirectional transfer gate PSpice digital primitives: N-channel bidirectional transfer gate (NBTG) and P-channel bidirectional transfer gate (PBTG).

Harness Design Improvements

Added Fixed Aspect Ratio for Cable/Shield/Twist Objects

To remove the possibility of graphical misrepresentation, harness cables, twists, and shields now have fixed aspect ratios automatically when placing or editing those objects on a Harness Wiring Diagram (*.WirDoc). Also, to avoid transforming these objects into a dot, their minimum size is now determined by the document's current snap grid value.

Live Trace for Wires

When placing a wire in the Wiring Diagram, the netlines now track/refresh 'live,' showing you where to wire in real-time. Previously, the netlines were refreshed only after wire placement was completed. The new live tracing gives a better view of where the wiring is going.

Demonstration of the live trace feature.

Display 3D Model for Connection Point's Associated Part

With this release, a 3D model can be displayed for an associated part of a connection point. In the Connection Point mode of the Properties panel, select Physical Model in the Properties region, then use the Associated Part drop-down in the Views region to select the required associated part. The model will be generated and displayed in the Layout Drawing. Use the options in the Views region to configure the display of the model.

❯ ❮ Javascript

Improved Connection Point Selection

When clicking on a Connection Point in a Layout Drawing linked with a bundle, now only the Connection Point is selected rather than the bundle.

Display Wireframe View for 3D Models

To more precisely display 3D models, a new Style control has been added to the Harness Component mode of the Properties panel. You can now choose to display a model as a wireframe view (Wireframe) or display it shaded with no lines (Solid). The Style control is in the Model region of the panel under Views.

Roll the mouse over the image to see the model using the Solid display Style.

Callouts for Connectors and Connection Points

In a Harness Manufacturing Drawing, a callout associated with a connector or a connection point now displays all BOM item position numbers for its associated parts.

An example of showing BOM item position numbers for associated parts of a connector is shown below.

❯ ❮

Javascript

Circuit Simulation Improvements

Added Support for Output Values in AC Analysis for Controlled Sources and Variable Passives

Output voltage, power and current are now supported in AC Analysis for the following components:

Also, these output values are now supported for variable passives.

Added PSpice Primitives

The following support has been added:

• Added support for the read-only memory (ROM) PSpice digital primitive and its UROM timing model.
• Added support for the multi-bit A/D converter (ADC) PSpice digital primitive and its UADC timing model.

Features Made Fully Public in Altium Designer 23.4

The following features have been taken out of Open Beta and have transitioned to Public in this release:

• Generate Modified PCB Components as Separate Entries - available from 22.11

Schematic Capture Improvements

Automatic Refresh of an ActiveBOM Document

When editing and saving to the connected Workspace components that are used in a project, the ActiveBOM document of the project now refreshes automatically. The Revision Status column will show the Out of date status for changed components, which allows you to immediately see which components should be updated to their latest revisions.

Harness Design Improvements

New Functions on the Crimps Tab of the Properties Panel

To create a more time-saving user interface, copy and paste functions have been added to the Crimps tab of the Properties panel. Select a pin, then use the standard Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V shortcut keys to copy and paste the data to another pin. Multi-selection is also allowed by selecting more than one pin and then using the aforementioned copy and paste shortcut keys.

Ctrl+A (select all) and Ctrl+X (cut) functions have also been added to the Crimps tab.

The Delete key on the keyboard can now be used to delete selected crimps using either single or multiple selection.

Free Move of Additional Physical Views

When additional physical views are added for a component on a layout drawing, they can be moved independently using the drag-and-drop action.

Drag and drop additional physical views of a component to set the view arrangement as required.

'Any Angle' as Default Harness Bundle Placement Mode

Since it is the preferred style for most users, the default placement mode is now 'Any Angle' in the Layout Drawing document when placing a Harness Bundle. During the current session, if a different placement mode is chosen using Shift+Spacebar, the last style used will be the default placement mode.

Warning When Assigning an Already Used Object

When an object is assigned to a connection point on a layout drawing, a warning text and icon will display in the Add Assigned Objects dialog (the dialog was previously named Add Connectors). To assist in choosing required objects, the Add Assigned Objects dialog now includes the Current Assignment column that lists the connection points to which an object is currently assigned and the Show only unassigned objects option that allows you to filter out the objects that are already assigned to other connection points.

Merging of Bundles When Connection Point is Deleted

When a connection point that splits a bundle on a layout drawing in two is removed, the two bundles are now automatically merged into a single bundle object. 

Displaying Graph of Connected Components

In order to assist in understanding the connectivity of components in the layout drawing document, the connectivity graph feature has been implemented for harness designs in this release. When the Connective Graph option is enabled on the System – Navigation page of the Preferences dialog, press the Alt+Click shortcut keys on a component to display the connectivity graph in the design space.

Use the connectivity graph to better understand the component connectivity in a harness layout drawing.

Use the Shift+C shortcut or the Clear Filter command from the right-click menu to clear the graph.

Added Scale Property for the Wiring Diagram View and Layout Drawing View

When a Wiring Diagram View or a Layout Drawing View placed in a harness manufacturing drawing is selected, the Properties panel now includes the Scale region where you can choose a standard scale value or set a custom value.

 
The Scale region of the Properties panel in the Wiring Diagram View or Layout Drawing View mode

Data Management Improvements

Added Workspace-side Project Parameter Support to Draftsman and ActiveBOM

Workspace-side project parameters (those that appear on the Parameters tab of the Project Options dialog with a blue icon: ) are now supported in Draftsman documents and BOM reports.

• In a Draftsman document, use a special string referencing a Workspace-side project parameter in a Text, Note, or Table object to show the value of that parameter.
• In a BOM report template, use a Field statement referencing a Workspace-side project parameter to get the value of that parameter when generating the report using the BOM template. Learn more about Mapping Design Data into the BOM.

❯ ❮

Javascript

Part Choice Revision Control Improvements

When the Part Choices Revision Control is enabled for your connected Altium 365 Workspace, you will see the following changes in the user interface and user experience:

• The Create/Edit Part Choices command (previously named Create/Edit PCL) from the Components panel's right-click Operations sub-menu is available now when multiple components are selected in the list. In this case, the Component Editor in the Batch Component Editing mode will open.

  

• When comparing component revisions (from the Detailed Item View or the Explorer panel), the comparison of part choices has been enhanced. Comparison is now performed based on the <Manufacturer Name> + <Manufacturer Part Number> combination and the sorting of Part Choices in the Compare component revisions dialog is in descending order by Key: <Rank>_<Manufacturer Name>_<Manufacturer Part Number>.

  

Removed Default File-based Libraries

Beginning with this release, Altera, Lattice, Xilinx, and Simulation folders and Miscellaneous IntLibs (Miscellaneous Connectors.IntLib and Miscellaneous Devices.IntLib) are no longer part of a default installation. Updating to this version of Altium Designer will remove them from the \Library folder.

Circuit Simulation Improvements

Added PSpice Primitives

Added support for the following Programmable Logic Array PSpice digital model primitives:

• PLAND
• PLANDC
• PLNAND
• PLNANDC
• PLNOR
• PLNORC
• PLNXOR
• PLNXORC
• PLOR
• PLORC
• PLXOR
• PLXORC

Added Support for Global Nodes $D_HI, $D_LO, $D_X

Support for digital models that use global nodes $D_HI, $D_LO, and $D_X has been added. These act as if there are digital signal sources connected to them with values 1, 0, and X, respectively.

Added Support for Variable Passives

Support for variable resistors, capacitors, and inductors has been added. The value of a passive component can be set as a variable. Use an expression in curly braces as the value of the Value parameter to define resistance for a resistor, the capacitance for a capacitor, or inductance for an inductor. Use the 'q =' or 'flux =' string followed by an expression in curly braces as the value of the Value parameter to define the charge of a capacitor or flux of an inductor.

An example of using variables for capacitors whose capacitance (C1) and charge (C2) depends on the voltage across them is shown below. (The expressions for the capacitance and the charge leads to the same current through the devices, so both resulting waveforms are equal.)

Schematic Capture Improvements

Updating Component Parameters in the Variant Manager

The ability to update the parameters of a component that is used as an alternate part has been added to the Variant Manager. Select the Update Values from Library command from the right-click menu of the Parameter region at the bottom of the Variant Manager or in the Component Parameters region of the Properties panel when the required alternate component is selected in the main grid area to bring any parameter changes made to a library component. Browse to and locate the component in the source library via the Replace dialog and click OK to open the Update Project Variants From Library dialog. Select/deselect the Parameters from Library Component and Variants to Update, then click OK to complete the update process. Note that this updates the parameters only and not the component itself.

❯ ❮

Javascript

Select the Update Values From Library command from the Parameter region or the Properties panel in the Variant Manager and use the subsequent dialogs to update an alternate part's parameters.

Room Generation Disabled by Default

Starting from this release, the Generate Rooms checkboxes on the Class Generation tab of the Project Options dialog are disabled by default for schematic sheets in new PCB design projects. As such, rooms associated with component classes will not be generated on the PCB by default when transferring design data to the PCB.

PCB Design Improvements

Gerber Setup Layer Class Support

The Gerber Setup dialog now includes a Layer Classes section in its Layers to plot list. Using the checkbox for layer classes, you can quickly enable plotting for all the layers that belong to a specific layer class. Default layer classes (Component Layers, Signal Layers, Electrical Layers, and All Layers) and any user-defined layer classes (those defined in the Object Class Explorer dialog) will be listed here.

Use the Layer Classes region of the Gerber Setup dialog to quickly enable the plotting of a specific layer class.

Data Management Improvements

Support for Image-Only Comments

It is now possible to post a comment even when it includes only a pasted image without any text.

Editing of Item Naming Schemes for Project Templates

It is now possible to access and edit Item Naming schemes for project release target data items when editing a project template saved to the connected Workspace. To do this, open a saved project template from the Workspace, right-click the template's entry in the Projects panel, then select the Project Release Options command. You can configure item naming schemes on the Item Naming tab of the Project Release Options dialog that opens.

Harness Design Improvements

Repeat Crimp Type

A crimp added to a pin of the selected harness component can now be quickly added to all pins of this component. Select the entry of the required crimp then click the Repeat To All button. The selected crimp will be added to all other pins of the component.

Auto-generate Splice on Wire Junctions

When two wires are connected in a T-type fashion, a splice is now placed automatically at the location of the T-junction.

A splice is automatically placed where a T-junction occurs.

Updated Wiring Diagram Icons

Several icons for placing primitives on a wiring diagram have been updated to represent the primitives better. Icons have been updated on the Place menu and right-click menu, and the Active Bar.

Remove Splice from a Connection Point after Assigning to Another

To avoid assigning a splice to more than one connection point, a splice is now removed automatically from a connection point if it is assigned to another connection point.

Demonstration of splice assignment auto-removal.

Added Ability to Find Similar Objects

The Find Similar Objects command has been added to the right-click menu of a primitive in harness documents (wiring diagrams and layout drawings). The command functions the same as in schematic documents.

Resetting Component Designators on Paste

When pasting cut/copied harness components on a Wiring Diagram or Layout Drawing document, designators of pasted components now respect the Reset Parts Designators On Paste option from the Schematic - Graphical Editing page of the Preferences dialog. When components are pasted, the numerical part of their designators will reset to "?" when the option is enabled.

Importer/Exporter Improvements

Exported AutoCAD Layer Names

Layer names that are defined in the Layer Stack Manager are now the names that are used in AutoCAD exports. 

Circuit Simulation Improvements

Added PSpice Primitives

Added support for the following PSpice digital model primitives:

• PINDLY
• CONSTRAINT

Added DIGERRDEFAULT Option

Simulation option DIGERRDEFAULT has been added to control the amount of reported constraint violations in digital primitives. The new option can be found on the Advanced tab of the Advanced Analysis Settings dialog (click Settings in the Analysis Setup & Run drop-down of the Simulation Dashboard panel).

Features Made Fully Public in Altium Designer 23.2

The following feature has been taken out of Open Beta and has transitioned to Public in this release:

• Net Priorities When Pasting Objects - available from 22.8

Schematic Capture Improvements

Compiled Names of Power Ports

The Net Labels option in the Compiled Names Expansion region of the Schematic - Compiler page of the Preferences dialog now determines the name for a Power Port object on the compiled (physical) tab of a schematic document.

❯ ❮

Javascript

An example of strict hierarchical multi-channel design schematics that includes net labels and power ports. Note that when viewing compiled tabs of the schematic sheet, the power ports display the physical name in the same way as the net label does.

The Net Labels option in the Print dialog (when accessed from an Outjob file for a schematic print output with the [Project Physical Documents] option selected as the output's data source) and on the Structure Settings page of the Smart PDF Wizard also defines how the power ports will be shown in the schematic outputs.

PCB Design Improvements

Load a Stored View Configuration File

Added the ability to load a stored view configuration file from the View Options tab of the View Configuration panel. Use the Load View Configuration option from the Configuration drop-down to browse to and select the required view configuration file.

Rename the Gerber Board Outline File

You can now rename the Gerber Board Outline type file in the Gerber Setup and Gerber X2 Setup dialogs.

Platform Improvements

Improved Callstack Crash Report Content

This feature uses an enhanced method to collect callstack crash reports.

Data Management Improvements

Ability to Attach Images to Comments

This update adds the ability to attach images to your comments. As is said, a picture is worth a thousand words so attaching images will help explain your ideas to coworkers or highlight the location of an issue. You can add an image to a comment by first copying the image from an Explorer window or a web browser page by right-clicking on the image, which copies the image to the clipboard. To attach the image, use right-click Paste (or the Ctrl+V shortcut) in the comment itself (in the field that states "Add others with @ or paste images"). 

Each image can be a maximum of 2MB. After it is pasted into the comment, click the image to display the full image, as shown in the image on the right.

Export Project History from Reports Menu

Added the ability to export the Project History from the Reports menu to a PDF. After choosing Reports » Project History from the main menus, the Project History Report Configuration dialog opens in which you can set the Period for which the report should be exported: either the entire project history or from/to a specific (or the latest) project release. Click Export then enter a name for the exported PDF in the Explorer window that opens then click Save. The PDF report opens in a web browser.

Harness Design Improvements

Crimps in Wiring Diagram

Crimps can now be used on the Wiring Diagram (*.WirDoc) as was previously available in the Layout Drawing. The Crimps tab of the Harness Component mode of the Properties panel can be used to add and edit crimps using the  icon. A crimp is denoted by a  in the design space as shown below.

Twist and Shield Parameters

Parameters have been added to Twist and Shield objects in a Wiring Diagram document (*.WirDoc). During or after placement of a twist or shield, click Parameter in the Add drop-down of the Properties panel, then update the desired visibility, parameter name and value. An example of a twist object is shown in the below image.

Quickly Add Connection Point Objects

The ability to add connection point objects to the Layout Drawing (*.LdrDoc) has been added. This allows you to add multiple objects to a connection point with one action. In the Connection Point mode of the Properties panel, click Add in the Connectors region to open the Add Connectors dialog. In the dialog, enable the connectors for the connection point. To enable all in the list, enable the checkbox next to Connector.

Additional Physical Views

With this release, you can add multiple 3D physical model views for a connector in a Harness Layout Drawing (*.LdrDoc) document. In the Physical Model region of the Harness Component mode of the Properties panel, select Physical Model then click Add View. A physical view will be added. You can see and update the view's parameters by clicking the corresponding  icon.

Added Download Sources to Project History

You can now download and open a specific revision of a project (in the Projects panel) using the Download Sources command. In a Project History file (<ProjectName> History), click  then select Download Sources. The downloaded revision opens in the Projects panel. Note that this revision is read-only, i.e. you can view but not edit it in any way.

Ability to Save as ASCII

You can now save Harness Design Wiring Diagram (*.WirDoc) and Layout Drawing (*.LdrDoc) documents in ASCII format, which can be beneficial when sharing. Use the File » Save As command and select Harness Wiring ascii (*.WirDoc) or Harness Layout ascii (*.LdrDoc) from the Save as type drop-down in the Save As dialog that opens.

When saving an ASCII Wiring Diagram or Layout Drawing document using the File » Save command, the File Format dialog will open alerting you that the ASCII format is used. Choose the ASCII Version (highlighted in the below image) in the dialog to keep using this format.

Added Autosize and Justification

Added Auto Size and Justification properties to the Properties panel for the Wiring Diagram View and Layout Drawing View objects in a Harness Project Draftsman document (*.HarDwf).

When Auto Size is enabled, the Wiring Diagram View automatically adjusts its size to remove empty space at the borders. Select the Justification by clicking on an arrow that corresponds with the desired justification or the circle to center. The chosen option for Justification defines the point relative to which the position of the view is changed if its size is updated.

Example of a Wiring Diagram View with the Auto Size option enabled and Justification set to bottom-left. Hover the cursor over the image to see the view with the Auto Size option disabled - note that the location of the view is changed relative to its bottom-left corner.

Multi-board Improvements

Allow Pin Connection to More Than One Pin

When configuring a connection of the Harness type on a Multi-board schematic document (*.MbsDoc), you can now connect a pin from one PCB connector to more than one pin on the same target PCB connector.

An example of the connection configuration of a harness connection in a Multi-board schematic. Note that the same pin of the source connector (H_1-Entry_1[1]) is connected to multiple pins of the same target connector.

Circuit Simulation Enhancements

Inertial Delay

Implemented inertial delay processing for all PSpice digital gates (except DLYLINE).

Added PSpice Primitives

Added support for the following PSpice digital model primitives:

• DLTCH
• SRFF

Altimade Enhancements

Relaxed Constraints for the Min Trace Width and Min Hole Size

Constraints for the Min Trace Width and Min Hole Size have been relaxed to allow for 3mil and 4mil respectively.

PCB Design Improvements

Silkscreen Preparation

To assist in resolving common Design for Manufacture (DFM) issues faced by having silkscreen overlapping exposed copper, holes and board shape, a dedicated feature for preparing the silkscreen for your boards has been implemented in this release. These issues can now be effectively addressed by:

• automated clipping of silkscreen lines and arcs
• automated clipping or movement of fills and regions
• automated movement of silkscreen text and component designators.

The feature is available in both the PCB footprint editor (for the active footprint) and PCB editor (across all or selected objects on one or both overlay layers) using the Silkscreen Preparation dialog, which is accessed by using the Tools » Silkscreen Preparation command from the main menus.

Enhanced Net Information UI

The Net Information region of the Properties panel now displays all nets, differential pairs, and xSignals for the selected primitive. You can expand the sections to view all listed information. 

Data Management Improvements

Manage Missing Files

Previously, missing files were removed with a corresponding notification in the Messages panel and the project was marked as modified in the Projects panel. This release includes an enhanced approach to managing files defined within the project file but not found within the project folder. Rather than simply removing references to such files and marking the project as modified, these files are now marked as ‘missing’. They remain defined in the project file and still appear listed in the project’s structure in the Projects panel, but they are now grayed out and have a distinguishing icon.

Associated commands are available that give you full control over handling missing documents. Using the right-click menu of a missing file in the Projects panel to remove the selected or all missing files from the project or to update the path to the file (i.e. to replace the missing file with a selected one). For a project that is under version control, you can also revert local modifications to restore a missing file from the project's VCS repository.

When adding an existing file to the project using the Add Existing to Project command from the project entry's right-click menu and the name and the path of the file being added are the same as the name and the path of a missing file (which is possible when, for example, the missing file was added to the project folder after opening the project in Altium Designer), a confirmation dialog will open asking if you would like to replace the missing file with the selected one.

Creating a Project History Report

A Project History PDF report can now be created for a Workspace project. In the OutputJob file (*.OutJob), right-click on the [Add New Report Output] associated with the Report Outputs entry then choose Project History.

The newly-created Project History output report can then be connected to a PDF output container.

Right-click the created output then select Configure to access the Project History Report Configuration dialog in which you can set the Period for which the report should be exported: either the entire project history or from/to a specific (or the latest) project release.

When the report is added, linked to the required PDF output container, and configured as needed, click Generate content or generate output as part of the project release process to export the project history.

An example of a project history report

Layer-specific Comments

Support has been added for layer-specific comments on the PCB in 2D. Focusing a comment will auto-switch to the same view the reviewer had (visible layers, active layer, top/bottom view).

Example of view configuration switch when focusing a comment. Shown here is the view configuration before focusing on a comment: all layers are enabled, Top is the active layer, and the board is shown from the bottom side. Hover the cursor over the image to see the board after focusing on a comment (the same view is applied as it was when the comment was added): Bottom is the only signal layer enabled, Bottom is the active layer, and the board is shown from the top side.

Ability to Delete Workspace Repository

A Workspace repository that appears in the Data Management - Design Repositories page of the Preferences dialog after migrating a project managed by an external VCS to the Altium 365 Workspace VCS can now be deleted if the repository has no reference to a Workspace project.

After successful migration of a project from an external VCS to the Workspace VCS, the repository will be removed from the Workspace automatically.

Harness Designs

This release sees the first implementation of the Harness Design capability. This new tool allows new engineers of various types (involved in the Product Design process) to work in Altium Designer. It brings comprehensive harness design support into the same environment as PCB and system design, removing the previous heavy reliance on third-party software.

The Harness Design tool allows you to create a full wiring harness design, from individual pin-to-pin connections to manufacturing documentation. A harness design can be created as a standalone project, or as part of a Multi-board project. In the latter case, the logical connections between PCBs in the Multi-board project are used to define the connectivity within the harness.

This release includes a sample harness design project (Harness_Demo_Prj.PrjHar), which is associated with a new multi-board demo project (Harness_Demo_MB.PrjMbd), so you can take harnesses for a test drive straight out of the box.

ActiveBOM Enhancements

This release includes several enhancements when working with alternative components in ActiveBOM.

Retaining Filters and Values in the Add Alternative Item Dialog

The Add Alternative Item dialog, which is accessed by right-clicking a Workspace component and selecting the Operations » Add Alternative Item command in the context menu now remembers the used filters and values when accessing the dialog for different components of the same type.

Preventing Replacement of an Alternative Component with an Already Used One

When trying to replace an alternate component with one already used as an alternative, a warning dialog appears to alert you.

Confirmation for Removal of an Alternative Group with Alternate Components

When trying to remove a group of alternatives and the components in this group have an alternate component assigned, a warning dialog appears to alert you and asks for confirmation to delete the group.

Circuit Simulation Improvements

High-impedance State

Added the ability to view the high-impedance state for digital waveforms in the SimData editor.

PSpice Enhancements

Support for the following PSpice primitives has been added in this release:

• LOGICEXP
• Digital delay line
• Digital Pullup and Pulldown
• DFF
• JKFF
• DFFDE
• JKFFDE

Also, components for the following PSpice primitives were added to the Simulation Generic Components library:

• Standard gates
• Tristate gates
• Digital stimulus

Features Made Fully Public in Altium Designer 23.0

The following features have been taken out of Open Beta and have transitioned to Public in this release:

• Automatic Update of Designators in Design Rules - available from 22.0
• Added 'New Library' Dialog - available from 22.5
• Custom Pad Shapes - available from 22.8
• Ability to Add and Edit Comments in BOM Documents - available from 22.9
• Customized Round Rectangles and New Chamfered Rectangle Pad Shape - available from 22.11