Differential Pair Rule Wizard

Now reading version 18.0. For the latest, read: Differential Pair Rule Wizard for version 21
Applies to Altium Designer versions: 18.0 and 18.1

The opening page of the Differential Pair Rule Wizard
The opening page of the Differential Pair Rule Wizard

Summary

The Differential Pair Rule Wizard is designed to walk you through the process of setting the required design rules. The scope used for the created rules will depend on what was selected in the PCB panel when the Rule Wizard button was clicked; if one pair was selected then the rules will target the nets in that pair, but if a differential pair class was selected, then the rules will target the nets and all pairs in that class.

Access

From the Differential Pairs Editor mode of the PCB panel, click the Rule Wizard button below the Nets region.

Options/Controls

Choose Rule Names

This page of the wizard is used to set names for the rules to be created. In each respective field, enter the Prefix, Matched Lengths Rule Name, and Differential Pair Routing Rule Name.

Choose Length Constraint Properties

On this page of the wizard, you can enter the properties for the matched length rule to be applied to the selected differential pairs. Under Rule Properties, enter the desired Hole Tolerance in the text field and enable any of the following desired rule checks:

  • Group Matched Lengths
  • Within Differential Pair Lengths

Use the Rule Priority region to organize rules in order of preference using the Increase Priority and Decrease Priority buttons. Note that these are only available when at least two rules are present.

Choose Routing Constraint Properties

This page allows you to view and edit the properties for the differential pair routing rule to be applied to the selected differential pairs. Properties shown in blue can be edited by clicking on them to open a text field. Click on a property within the Rule Properties section table to edit that property.

Use the Rule Priority region to organize rules in order of preference using the Increase Priority and Decrease Priority buttons. Note that these are only available when at least two rules are present.

Rule Creation Completed

The final page summarizes the differential pair rules created. If any changes are needed, use the Back button to navigate back through the Wizard to make any desired changes. Otherwise, click Finish to save the created rules and exit the Wizard. Upon exiting, you will be returned to the Differential Pairs Editor mode of the PCB panel.

Note

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