Altium Designer Documentation

PlacePredefinedHarnessConnector

Created: July 27, 2015 | Updated: April 11, 2017
Now reading version 17.1. For the latest, read: PlacePredefinedHarnessConnector for version 21
Applies to Altium Designer versions: 15.1, 16.0, 16.1, 17.0 and 17.1

Parent page: Schematic Commands

The following pre-packaged resources, derived from this base command, are available:


Applied Parameters: None

Summary

This command is used to place a Predefined Harness Connector object onto the current document. A Harness Connector object is an electrical drawing primitive. It is essentially a container to group various signals together to form a Signal Harness including buses and wires. A harness connector is defined by the Harness Type. A predefined harness connector is simply a harness type that has been declared, along with its required harness entries, within a harness definition file (*.Harness).

For detailed information about this object type, see Harness Connector.

Access

This command can be accessed from the Schematic Editor by:

  • Choosing the Place » Harness » Predefined Harness Connector command, from the main menus.
  • Right-clicking in the design workspace and choosing the Place » Harness » Predefined Harness Connector command, from the context menu.

Use

After launching the command, the Place Predefined Harness Connector dialog will appear. Use the dialog to choose which harness connector to place.

The dialog lists all harness types (from defined harness definition files) across all open projects, and also in any Device Sheet folders, specified on the Data Management - Device Sheets page of the Preferences dialog. By default, the dialog is opened with your current project expanded.

The dialog also provides additional options that allow you to add a port and/or signal harness - pre-connected to the harness connector - saving valuable design time.

Once you have chosen the required connector, and configured any other required options, click OK. The dialog will close and the harness connector (and port and/or signal harness if applicable) will appear floating on the cursor. Simply position the connector at the required location in the design workspace and click, or press Enter, to effect placement.

Additional actions that can be performed during placement – while the connector is still floating on the cursor – are:

  • Press the Tab key to access the Paste To Position dialog, from where you can specify XY coordinates in the workspace, at which to paste the connector.
The cursor will jump to this location, you will still need to click, or press Enter, to effect placement.
  • Press the Alt key to constrain the direction of movement to the horizontal or vertical axis, depending on the initial direction of movement.
  • Press the Spacebar to rotate the connector anti-clockwise or Shift+Spacebar for clockwise rotation. Rotation is in steps of 90°.
  • Press the X or Y keys to mirror the connector along the X-axis or Y-axis respectively.

Tips

  1. The Harness Type option in the Harness Connector dialog defines the type of the Harness Connector. When a Harness Type is used within your project, the corresponding Harness Definition for this Harness Type is referenced.
  2. Harness Definitions are automatically generated when a Harness Connector (not predefined) is graphically constructed with Harness Entries. When the Harness Connector is modified, the corresponding Harness Definition is updated to reflect the modifications.


Applied Parameters: ContextSensitive=True|ObjectKind=Port

Summary

This command is used to place a Predefined Harness Connector object onto the current document, whose Harness Type is that defined for the port object currently under the cusor. A Harness Connector object is an electrical drawing primitive. It is essentially a container to group various signals together to form a Signal Harness including buses and wires. A harness connector is defined by the Harness Type. A predefined harness connector is simply a harness type that has been declared, along with its required harness entries, within a harness definition file (*.Harness).

For detailed information about this object type, see Harness Connector.

Access

This command is accessed from the Schematic Editor by right-clicking over the required port object, and choosing the Port Actions » Place Harness Connector of Type <PortHarnessType> command, from the context menu.

The command will only become available when the port's Harness Type property has been defined. This requires a valid harness type to be selected - one that has been defined within the project's harness definition files.

Use

First, ensure that the cursor is positioned over the required port object in the main design workspace.

After launching the command, the harness connector will appear floating on the cursor. Simply position the connector at the required location and click, or press Enter, to effect placement.

Additional actions that can be performed during placement – while the connector is still floating on the cursor – are:

  • Press the Tab key to access the Harness Connector dialog, from where you can change properties for the connector on-the-fly.
  • Press the Alt key to constrain the direction of movement to the horizontal or vertical axis, depending on the initial direction of movement.
  • Press the Spacebar to rotate the connector anti-clockwise or Shift+Spacebar for clockwise rotation. Rotation is in steps of 90°.
  • Press the X or Y keys to mirror the connector along the X-axis or Y-axis respectively.

Tips

  1. The Harness Type option in the Harness Connector dialog defines the type of the Harness Connector. When a Harness Type is used within your project, the corresponding Harness Definition for this Harness Type is referenced.
  2. Harness Definitions are automatically generated when a Harness Connector (not predefined) is graphically constructed with Harness Entries. When the Harness Connector is modified, the corresponding Harness Definition is updated to reflect the modifications.


Applied Parameters: ContextSensitive=True|ObjectKind=SignalHarness

Summary

This command is used to place a Predefined Harness Connector object onto the current document, whose Harness Type is that defined for a port or sheet entry connected to the signal harness object currently under the cusor. A Harness Connector object is an electrical drawing primitive. It is essentially a container to group various signals together to form a Signal Harness including buses and wires. A harness connector is defined by the Harness Type. A predefined harness connector is simply a harness type that has been declared, along with its required harness entries, within a harness definition file (*.Harness).

For detailed information about this object type, see Harness Connector.

Access

This command is accessed from the Schematic Editor by right-clicking over the required signal harness object, and choosing the Signal Harness Actions » Place Harness Connector of Type <ConnectedPortorSheetEntryHarnessType> command, from the context menu.

The command will only become available when the Harness Type property, for the port or sheet entry connected to the signal harness, has been defined. This requires a valid harness type to be selected - one that has been defined within the project's harness definition files.

Use

First, ensure that the cursor is positioned over the required signal harness object in the main design workspace (a signal harness that connects to a port or sheet entry).

After launching the command, the harness connector will appear floating on the cursor. Simply position the connector at the required location and click, or press Enter, to effect placement.

Additional actions that can be performed during placement – while the connector is still floating on the cursor – are:

  • Press the Tab key to access the Harness Connector dialog, from where you can change properties for the connector on-the-fly.
  • Press the Alt key to constrain the direction of movement to the horizontal or vertical axis, depending on the initial direction of movement.
  • Press the Spacebar to rotate the connector anti-clockwise or Shift+Spacebar for clockwise rotation. Rotation is in steps of 90°.
  • Press the X or Y keys to mirror the connector along the X-axis or Y-axis respectively.

Tips

  1. The Harness Type option in the Harness Connector dialog defines the type of the Harness Connector. When a Harness Type is used within your project, the corresponding Harness Definition for this Harness Type is referenced.
  2. Harness Definitions are automatically generated when a Harness Connector (not predefined) is graphically constructed with Harness Entries. When the Harness Connector is modified, the corresponding Harness Definition is updated to reflect the modifications.

 

Found an issue with this document? Highlight the area, then use Ctrl+Enter to report it.

Contact Us

Contact our corporate or local offices directly.

We're sorry to hear the article wasn't helpful to you.
Could you take a moment to tell us why?
200 characters remaining
You are reporting an issue with the following selected text
and/or image within the active document: