System Preferences

The System category provides access to preferences relating to the Altium Designer system.

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General

The System – General page of the Preferences dialog provides controls relating to the general settings of the software.

The System – General page of the Preferences dialog

Some of this dialog's options/controls are straightforward and require no further explanation. Those that do are described below.

Startup
Reopen Last Project Group	Enable to open the last saved project group when the application is started. Disable to start a new project group session when the software is started up.
Open Home page on start	Enable to display the Home page when the application is started. Disable to not display the Home page.
Show startup screen	Enable if you want to see the startup screen when the software is being loaded into computer memory. This provides visual confirmation that the software is loading. The startup process can take a while, depending on whether previous project groups with projects are being opened or not. Disable this option to not see the startup screen.

General
Monitor clipboard content within this application only	Enable to monitor the clipboard when copying and pasting data within the software. With this option enabled, non-compliant data that is copied to the clipboard will not be pasted within the software. Disable this option to not monitor the clipboard data.
Use Left/Right Selection	Enable to use right side (inside area) and left side (touching rectangle) selections in all editors. This option is enabled by default.

Localization

Use localized resources

Localized resources are the installed local languages used for the software. The software platform supports simplified and traditional language installations. Click to enable localized resources for the software. Items will be translated according to the language that is installed on the machine on which the software is installed. A restart of the software is necessary if this option is selected. This option is disabled by default. Standard English is the setting for all dialogs, menus, and hints. The following options are available only if Use localized resources option is enabled:  Display localized dialogs - choose to translate dialogs only.  Display localized hints only - choose to translate hints only.  Localized menus - enable to translate menus.

Additional Control
Advanced	Click to open the Advanced Settings dialog to enable and disable internal optimization options.

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View

The System – View page of the Preferences dialog provides controls for the overall look and feel of the general design space, including the behavior of panels and documents.

The System – View page of the Preferences dialog

Desktop
Autosave desktop	Enable to automatically save the position and size of document windows settings at shut down. The desktop includes the position and visibility of panels and toolbars.
Restore open documents	Enable to open documents in the design space when the software is started according to their state in the previous session. Disable this option to start a blank design space when the software is started.
Layouts	Load – click to open a file browser to select a saved Desktop Layout (*.TLT) file. Save – click to save the current layout as a Desktop Layout (*.TLT) file. Saved layouts can be loaded for reuse. Reset – click to return to the default desktop layout configuration.

Popup Panels
Popup delay	Move the slider to the right to maximize the time it takes for a panel to appear when in 'pop-out' mode. Move the slider to the left to minimize the time it takes for the panel to open.
Hide delay	Move the slider to the right to maximize the time it takes for a panel to be hidden when in 'pop-out' mode. Move the slider to the left to minimize the time it takes for the panel to close. Use animation – enable if you want panels to be animated while they are being opened or closed in 'pop-out' mode. Disable this option if you want panels to appear or disappear without any delay.
Popup delay	Move the slider to the right to maximize the time it takes for a panel to appear when in 'pop-out' mode. Move the slider to the left to minimize the time it takes for the panel to open.
Animation speed	With the Use animation option enabled, move this slider to the left for slower animation or to the right for faster animation of panels in 'pop-out' mode.

General
Hide floating panels on focus change	Enable to hide floating panels in the software when you switch focus to a different software application. Disable this option to leave floating panels as they are when switching focus to another application.
Remember window for each document kind	Enable to open documents in the same window or in individual windows in the specified locations according to the last placed document of the same kind. For example, when using two monitors, with this option enabled, you can open one schematic, drag it into a new window on the second monitor, and from then on all schematics opened will go to the second monitor. Disable this option to open documents of any kind in the same design space.
Auto show symbol and model previews	Enable to automatically display schematic symbol and PCB footprint graphics where they exist on the Components panel.
Open internet links in external Web browser	Enable to have Internet-based content open as externally loaded content in your default Web browser.

Documents Bar
Group documents if need	Enable to group documents together on tabs on the document bar. Grouped documents are indexed numerically in ascending order. Disable this option for all open documents to have their own visible tab on the documents bar. Two methods of grouping are available: By document kind – enable to group documents of the same type on the same tab with documents sorted alphabetically in a grouped tab. By project – enable to group documents from the same project on the same tab with documents sorted alphabetically within each document kind sub-group in a grouped tab.
Use equal-width buttons	Enable to size all open document tabs equally, regardless of the length of the document filenames. Disabling this option will resize each document tab according to the length of the document filename.
Multiline documents bar	Enable if there are more separate document type tabs than can fit on a single document bar (i.e. *.SchDoc, *.PcbDoc, *.BomDoc, *.Ldr.Doc, *.Cam, *.MbsDoc, etc. (). Disabling this option means that only one document bar can host document tabs.
Ctrl+Tab switches to the last active document	Enable to toggle between the currently active document and the previously active document using Ctrl+Tab. Disabling this option will toggle through all open documents sequentially when using Ctrl+Tab.
Close switches to the last active document	Enable to make the last active document active again when the currently active document is closed.
Middle click closes document tab	Enable to close documents by using the mouse middle button (typically the Scrolling Wheel). You can then middle-click over a document tab to close that document.

UI Theme
Current	Use the drop-down to select the desired user interface theme.
Preview	Displays an example of the chosen theme in the above option.

Account Management

The System – Account Management page of the Preferences dialog provides controls to configure your Altium account. Altium Designer includes various on-demand style features, made available to you upon signing into your Altium account through the secure Altium portal. Such features include on-demand licensing, access to an Altium 365 Workspace, automatic software updates, retrieval of updated exchange rates for use with live links to suppliers, and streamlined activation of Standalone licensing. These features are all offered in accordance with a singular underlying vision – to enhance your productivity by delivering the information you need, when and where you need it.

The System – Account Management page of the Preferences dialog

Altium Connection

Altium Designer includes features to enhance your productivity by bringing you information on demand. Whenever a connection to any of these services is made, information about you and your PC may be gathered to identify you and deliver the right services. Information collected by Altium will not be shared with any third parties.

Refer to Altium's Privacy Policy page to learn more.

Information Gathered

When you use a feature that connects Altium Designer to the on-demand services, Altium may collect the following information:

• MAC Addresses: Altium uses a computer's MAC address to identify a PC. If you sign in on multiple computers, each sign-in request will be recorded uniquely.

• HDD serial numbers: Along with the MAC addresses, this information provides a robust way to identify a PC for licensing purposes.

• Altium Designer version: Altium uses the software version to differentiate between products so that the correct services can be delivered for each product.

Altium does not, and shall not, read or gather any information about the designs or files you use within Altium Designer.

All connections to the Altium portal through Altium Designer are secure. Along with the information that is gathered, information that you enter will also be communicated in requests to Altium's portal. When data is recorded with Altium's portal, the data will include a time stamp showing when the data was recorded.

Would you like to connect with Altium?

• Yes, I would like to allow connections to Altium's on-demand services - by enabling this option, you allow Altium Designer to connect with Altium over its secure portal whenever you want to access one of Altium's on-demand services. Enabling this option does not mean you are instantly and constantly connected to Altium, nor does it mean we are constantly gathering your information. Connection is only made at the time you actually use one of the on-demand-style features that require connection to Altium (through the portal). For example, to sign in to your account from within Altium Designer and manage extensions and updates, you use a feature that requires a connection with Altium – which is only possible if you have enabled this option to allow such a connection. Data may be gathered at the time of using an on-demand service to ensure that you are provided with the right service for you.

• No, I wish to remain disconnected from Altium - by enabling this option, your installation of Altium Designer will stay completely disconnected from Altium. While disconnected, you will not be able to access or use any of the on-demand services that require a connection with Altium. In essence, this option is a 'full off' switch, with the trade-off of not being able to use any of Altium's on-demand services.

Account Sign in

When you sign in to your account, you do so through an Altium portal. On the Altium side, a portal is simply a secure connection to a specific Altium Account Management Server.

• Location – enter the required portal. The default portal is portal365.altium.com.

• Sign me in when I start Altium Designer – enable this option to automatically be signed in to your Altium Account when you start the software.

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Transparency

The System – Transparency page of the Preferences dialog allows you to control the transparency of floating windows and toolbars.

The System – Transparency page of the Preferences dialog

Transparency
Transparent floating windows	Enable to automatically make all floating toolbars and windows over the design space transparent when an interactive process is invoked. If this option is enabled, the Files panel is made transparent.
Dynamic transparency	Enable to dynamically set the transparency of floating toolbars and windows. The system uses the distance of each window from the cursor to calculate its transparency. If this option is enabled, whenever the cursor is moved toward a dialog, the dialog becomes transparent. Use the Distance factor slider to determine the distance at which the transparency 'kicks in'. Highest transparency - move the slider to the right for maximum transparency whenever a cursor approaches the floating window. Lowest transparency - move the slider to the right for minimum transparency whenever a cursor is moved away from the floating window. Use the Highest transparency and Lowest transparency bars in conjunction with each other to control how transparent the windows and panels appear. For example, both bars to the far right mean a floating window becomes completely transparent when an interactive process is in the way; both bars to the far left mean the floating window is not transparent.  Distance factor - use the slider to determine the distance between the cursor and the floating window (dialog or panel) at which the transparency 'kicks in.' Move the slider to the left to set a smaller distance and to the right for a larger distance.

Navigation

The System – Navigation page of the Preferences dialog provides controls relating to navigating actions in the Navigator panel.

The System – Navigation page of the Preferences dialog

Highlight Methods	Select the desired methods of highlighting graphical objects during navigation, cross-probing, and when exploring differences between documents or compiler messages. Selecting - enable to select your item of interest. Connective Graph - enable to show how your item is connected. Include Power Parts - enable to show the connectivity through to the power parts as well in the connectivity graph. This option is only available if Connective Graph is enabled. Zooming - enable to zoom in to display your item of interest. Far/Close - use the slider to control how closely the system will zoom into highlighted objects. The farther to the right (Close) you move the slider, the larger the magnification and vice versa. Dimming - enable to dim the display of all other objects except your item of interest. None/Invisible - use the slider to control the dimming. The farther to the right (Invisible) you move the slider, the more objects will be dimmed
Objects To Display	Enable the objects you want displayed in the Navigator panel.
Cross Select Mode	Use the following options to cross-select objects between the schematic and PCB. Cross Selection - use to toggle cross selection on and off. When this is checked, each selected object in one editor will be selected in the open documents of the other editor. Dimming - enable to dim the display of all other objects except the selected item(s). Zooming - enable to zoom in to display your selected item(s). Reposition selected component in PCB - enables you to select a component in the schematic and reposition it in the PCB. Focus document containing selection if visible - enable to transfer focus to the schematic or PCB document that is visible when objects in them are cross-selected. Objects for cross selection - enable the required options you want to cross select. Any number of the options can be selected.

Design Insight

The System – Design Insight page of the Preferences dialog allows you to control various aspects of design viewing, such as previews of documents, supply chain information, and hyperlinks.

The System – Design Insight page of the Preferences dialog

Design Insight
Enable Document Insight	Enable the display of a preview of a document when you hover over the document icon in the Projects panel or document bar.
Enable Project Insight	Enable the display of a table of document preview when you hover over the project icon in the Projects panel. Schematic, PCB and OpenBus documents are displayed. You can navigate to the document by clicking on it in the preview.
Enable Connectivity Insight	Enable the display of the connectivity of net objects when you hover over a net object. Enabling this option will show previews of the child sheets for sheet symbols, net connectivity across the entire project for electrical objects, and sub-parts for components. The selected net is highlighted in the preview with all other objects masked. The previews will be displayed with respect to the project hierarchy. Use Alt+Double Click on any net object to show Connectivity Insight on demand.
Enable Hyperlink Insight	Enable the display of a link over hyperlink objects, and annotations and parameters that have a URL or website as their text string. ​
Mouse Hover Delay	Use the slider to control the delay for the Connectivity Insight information to appear, starting with 0s (seconds) on the left to a maximum of 4s on the right.

Connectivity Insight Options Use the table to further customize Connectivity Insight.
Insight Content to Show	This is a list of content areas within Connectivity Insight
Launch Style	Check any of the options desired for launching Connectivity Insight information. Mouse Hover - check the box for each content area you want Connectivity Insight information to launch with mouse hovering. Alt+Double Click - check the box for each content area you want Connectivity Insight information to launch by using Alt+Double Click. Disabling the Launch Style for the Document Tree will also disable the Document Preview.

Projects Panel

The System – Projects Panel page of the Preferences dialog provides controls relating to the behavior of the Projects panel.

The System – Projects Panel page of the Preferences dialog

General
Show VCS status	Enable to show the status of the document with respect to the version control system (checked out or checked in).
Show document position in project	Enable to show the document position relative to the project, indexed by a number in parentheses.
Show full path information in hint	Enable to include full path information in the hint when the cursor hovers over a document name on the Projects panel.
Show Automatic Sheet Numbering	Enable the display of the automatic sheet numbering of documents in the Projects panel.
Show Components and Nets folders	Enable the display of the Components and Nets folders, which list a PCB design project's components and nets upon validation of the project.

File View
Show Project Structure	Enable to show the structure of intra-projects (consisting of sheets and sheet symbols) and inter-projects (connections between projects and the components that link them) if the File View option is selected on the Projects panel.
Show Document Structure	Enable to show the structure of opened projects and sub-projects if the File View option is selected on the Projects panel.

Documents Grouping
Do not group	Select if you do not want the project documents within a project listed as groups.
By class	Select to list project documents in document classes: source documents, library documents and generated documents.
By document type	Select to group project documents according to their document type. For example, output documents will be listed under the Output Job Files folder.

Components Grouping
Do not group	Select if you do not want the components within a project listed as groups.
By designator's first character	Select to group components by the component designator's first character.
By comment	Select to group components by their comments. Any object that is identified numerically will have its numerical identifier incremented by this value, if the value is edited during placement. Examples include parts, net labels, ports, off sheet connectors, sheet entries and component pins.
By owner sheet	Select to group components by their owner sheets.

Sorting
Project order	Select if you want project documents sorted according to the order they were added to the project.
Alphabetically	Select if you want the project documents sorted alphabetically.
Open/modified status	Select if you want the project documents sorted according to their status, i.e. opened documents, edited documents, and unopened documents.
VCS Status	Select if you want the project documents sorted according to whether they are logged as checked out, checked in, or as standalone documents from a version control system.
Ascending	Enable if you want the project documents to appear in ascending order.

Single Click
Does nothing	Select to cause a single click on the Projects panel to do nothing.
Activates open documents / objects	Select if you want a single click on a document in the Projects panel to bring to the front a currently open design document.
Opens and shows documents / object	Select if you want a single click on a document in the Projects panel to open this document in the design space.

Default Expansion Any changes made to the Default Expansion settings require a system reboot for the changes to take effect.
Fully contracted	Select to show only project titles.
Expanded one level	Select to show only projects and their top-level documents.
Source files expanded	Select to show only source documents (i.e. schematic documents) of a project. Other document types, such as output job files and database link file folders, will remain contracted.
Fully expanded	Select to show all files of open projects.

Default Locations

The System – Default Locations page of the Preferences dialog allows you to specify default locations for your documents, libraries, and output job files.

The System – Default Locations page of the Preferences dialog

Default Locations
Document Path	Use  to open a dialog to search for and choose the desired default document path.
Library Path	Use  to open a dialog to search for and choose the desired default library path.
OutputJob Path	This is the location for default Output Job files that can be added to a project when using the Project Releaser if the project currently has no Output Job file(s) associated with it. By default, two files are provided with the installation (Fabrication.OutJob and Assembly.OutJob). You can use these default files as they are, edit them to suit your needs, and add additional Output Job files. Define the Outjobs as required within the default folder or specify your own custom folder location by using  to open a dialog to search for and choose an alternative folder location. All Output Job files found in the specified location will be added to the project.

File Types

The System – File Types page of the Preferences dialog allows you to define the file types associated with the software.

The System – File Types page of the Preferences dialog

Many of this dialog's options/controls are straightforward and require no further explanation. Those that do are described below.

Associated File Types
Supported Extensions	This region lists all the file types supported by the software.  Register - associate the file type by checking the box. Extension - the extension of the file. Description - a description of the listed file.

New Document Defaults

The System – New Document Defaults page of the Preferences dialog leads to the Data Management - Templates page of the Preferences dialog, where you can manage templates from one place.

The System – New Document Defaults page of the Preferences dialog

File Templates

Go to Templates - click this button to access the Data Management - Templates page of the Preferences dialog.

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Printer Settings

The System – Printer Settings page of the Preferences dialog allows you to customize page sizes for exported PDF documents.

The System – Printer Settings page of the Preferences dialog

Custom page sizes for exporting to PDF
Grid	​Title - the name of the page size. Width - the width of the page. Height- the height of the page.
Add	Click to add a size then choose from the available list. Choose Custom to add a new page title and size.
Edit Page	Click to open the Edit Page dialog in which you can customize the title and size of the selected page size.
Remove	Click to remove the selected page size from the list.

Mouse Wheel Configuration

The System - Mouse Wheel Configuration page of the Preferences dialog is used to configure how the mouse wheel functions. You can configure the mouse wheel functioning for all editors or specifically for PCB and/or schematic documents.

The System – Mouse Wheel Configuration page of the Preferences dialog

Mouse Wheel Configuration
Action	This is a list of actions for which the mouse wheel can be configured. These configurations are for a mouse with a wheel between two mouse buttons. As noted in the grid, Launch Board Insight and Change Layer are configurations that affect the mouse wheel only in the PCB Editor; Change Channel affects the mouse wheel only in the Schematic Editor. Action items that do not specify an editor configure mouse wheel operations in all editors, with the exception of the CAMtastic Editor.
Button Configuration	Use the options to configure any keyboard button combination (Ctrl and/or Shift and/or Alt) that is required to be used along with the mouse wheel function (as listed in the grid) to perform the action.

Installation

The System – Installation page of the Preferences dialog provides controls relating to updating the installation of the software.

The System – Installation page of the Preferences dialog

Automatic Checking
Check frequency	Use the drop-down to select how often you want the system to automatically check for updates.
Global installation service	Select if you use global installation services.
Local installation service	Select if you use local installation services.
Offline installation	Click  to open a dialog to search for the desired folder for offline installations.

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Product Improvement

The System - Product Improvement page of the Preferences dialog allows you to opt in or out of Altium's Product Improvement Program. This program helps Altium to improve Altium Designer by better understanding user behavior and environments. You can start or stop participation at any time. No personal data or design/IP information will be collected by participating in this program. Participation in this program is strictly voluntary and anonymous, and you are free to stop participating in the program at any time. For the rules that govern the program, click the Read Altium's Privacy Policy link to see the Altium Designer Improvement Program page on the Altium site.

The System – Product Improvement page of the Preferences dialog

Why Should I Participate?

Similar programs are now standard in the software development industry by companies such as Microsoft®, Google®, Apple®, etc. It is likely you already share your user experience with any number of companies. Your participation in this program will give Altium the ability to fine-tune our products for your specific environment, identify issues you face during your everyday work, and improve Altium Designer to fit your needs.

What Type of Data is Collected?

Some examples of statistical information we collect include but are not limited to:

• Number of outjob files in projects
• Number of pins in a typical board
• Types of installed libraries
• Most frequently used commands
• Duration of full project compilation
• Load times for files.

A few examples of hardware information we collect include, but are not limited to:

• Number of CPUs and monitors
• Screen resolution
• OS platform and version

How is Information Collected?

Information about your computer hardware and how you use Altium Designer will be sent periodically to Altium's servers for analysis.

The data collection process will not affect your computer or designs in any way. A highly optimized approach to data collection is employed, which has no detrimental effect on your computer's performance.

How will the Information be Used?

The following are just some of the ways in which information obtained and assessed through user participation in the program will be used:

• Identify the most popular features so that focus can be given to their improvement.
• Optimize UI for more commonly used hardware.
• Locate performance obstacles in the software.
• Ensure productivity features are being used.
• Retire unused features.

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Network Activity

The System - Network Activity page of the Preferences dialog gives you full control over network connectivity. Altium Designer uses the Internet and third-party servers to connect to Altium Cloud and suppliers, search for updates, etc. In some situations or environments, it may be desired or necessary to work offline. You can disable specific network activity or disable all network activity by selecting/deselecting the listed functions on this page.

The System – Network Activity page of the Preferences dialog

Allowed Network Activities	Click to check/uncheck each activity in the list from which you wish to connect/disconnect. You can also fully disable all network connectivity by clicking this option to uncheck all boxes. To reconnect to all listed options, click again to recheck all boxes. Altium Designer must be restarted for any of the new settings to take effect.
Altium Portal	Check to connect to the Altium Portal. When you uncheck this box, Altium Cloud and Global Update Service will also automatically uncheck.
Altium Cloud	Check to have access to Altium Cloud. Unchecking this option can be particularly useful when working in classified or public WiFi environments.
Data Management Server	Check if access to a connected Workspace is required. If disabled, you will also be disconnected from the Infrastructure server for licensing.
Built-In Browser	Check if access to online Help/Search functions is required.
License Server	Check to allow all License Server related traffic.
Parts Providers	Check if you desire access to Parts Providers' servers.
NanoBoard Firmware	Check if you want to receive updates to the NanoBoard 3000 Firmware that is pre-installed with Altium Designer.
Global Update Service	Check to allow automatic checking, downloading and installation of updates from the global server.
Sending Crash Reports	Check if you want to have crash reports sent to Altium.
Publishing	Check to access the Publishing Destinations (for output jobs) that you specified on the Data Management - Publishing Destinations Preferences page.
Product Improvement	Check if you want to connect to Altium servers for participation in the Product Improvement Program.