PCB Layout Parameters Query Functions in Altium Designer

Summary

Returns the string value of a PCB component parameter, which can be tested to return PCB components that comply with the query.

Syntax

CompParameterValue(ParameterName : String) : String

Example Usage

CompParameterValue('Mounting Technology') Like 'SM*'
Returns all components that incorporate the Mounting Technology parameter that has a value string beginning with SM, such as SMT, SMD, etc. The associated child objects of a complying component object, such as tracks, arcs, pads, text etc., are also returned.

CompParameterValue('Mounting Technology') Like '*SM*'
Returns all components and their associated child objects where the Mounting Technology parameter has a value string that includes *SM*.

StrToNumber(CompParameterValue('VoltageRating'),V) > 50
Returns all components and their associated child objects where the VoltageRating parameter value is greater than 50 volts. The string value returned by CompParameterValue is converted to a number for the comparison by the unit-aware StrToNumber function.

Summary

Returns the string value of a PCB Footprint parameter, which can be tested to return PCB components that comply with the query.

Syntax

FootprintParameterValue(ParameterName : String) : String

Example Usage

FootprintParameterValue('Mounting Type') Like 'SMD'
Returns all components and their associated child objects where the Mounting Type Footprint parameter has a value string that includes SMD.

Summary

Returns PCB components incorporating the specified parameter name.

Syntax

HasCompParameter(ParameterName : String) : Boolean

Example Usage

HasCompParameter('Mounting Technology')
HasCompParameter('Mounting Technology') = True
Returns all component parent objects that have the Mounting Technology parameter name. The associated child objects of a complying component object, such as tracks, arcs, pads, text etc., are also returned.

Not HasCompParameter('Mounting Technology')
HasCompParameter('Mounting Technology') = False
Returns all components and their associated child objects, except for those component parent objects that have the Mounting Technology parameter.

Summary

Returns PCB components that incorporate the specified parameter name that has a value that complies with the query.

Syntax

HasCompParameterValue(ParameterName : String , ParameterValue : String) : Boolean

Example Usage

HasCompParameterValue('Mounting Technology','SMT')
HasCompParameterValue('Mounting Technology','SMT') = True
Returns all component parent objects that have the Mounting Technology parameter name with a matching value property of SMT. The associated child objects of a complying component object, such as tracks, arcs, pads, text, etc., are also returned.

Not HasCompParameterValue('Design Item Status','RoHS-Compliant')
HasCompParameterValue('Design Item Status','RoHS-Compliant') = False
Returns all components and their associated child objects that do not have a Design Item Status parameter with a value of RoHS-Compliant.

Summary

Returns PCB components incorporating the specified Footprint parameter name.

Syntax

HasFootprintParameter(ParameterName : String) : Boolean

Example Usage

HasFootprintParameter('IPC Density')
HasFootprintParameter('IPC Density') = True
Returns all component parent objects that have the IPC Density Footprint parameter name. The associated child objects of a complying component object, such as tracks, arcs, pads, text, etc., are also returned.

Not HasFootprintParameter('IPC Density')
HasFootprintParameter('IPC Density') = False
Returns all components and their associated child objects, except for those component parent objects that have the IPC Density Footprint parameter.

Summary

Returns PCB components that incorporate the specified Footprint parameter name that has a value that complies with the query.

Syntax

HasFootprintParameterValue(ParameterName : String , ParameterValue : String) : Boolean

Example Usage

HasFootprintParameterValue('Mounting Method','Press Fit')
HasFootprintParameterValue('Mounting Method','Press Fit') = True
Returns all  component parent objects that have the Mounting Method Footprint parameter name with a matching value property of Press Fit. The associated child objects of a complying component object, such as tracks, arcs, pads, text, etc., are also returned.

Not HasFootprintParameterValue('Mounting Method','Press Fit')
HasFootprintParameterValue('Mounting Method','Press Fit') = False
Returns all components and their associated child objects that do not have a Mounting Method Footprint parameter with a value of Press Fit.

Summary

Returns PCB objects incorporating the specified parameter name.

Syntax

HasParameter(ParameterName : String) : Boolean

Example Usage

HasParameter('Mounting Technology')
HasParameter('Mounting Technology') = True
Returns all objects that have the Mounting Technology parameter name.

Not HasParameter('Mounting Technology')
HasParameter('Mounting Technology') = False
Returns all objects except those that have the Mounting Technology parameter.

Summary

Returns PCB objects incorporating the specified parameter name that has a value that complies with the query.

Syntax

HasParameterValue(ParameterName : String , ParameterValue : String) : Boolean

Example Usage

HasParameterValue('Mounting Technology','SMT')
HasParameterValue('Mounting Technology','SMT') = True
Returns all objects that have the Mounting Technology parameter name and a matching value property of SMT.

Not HasParameterValue('Design Item Status','RoHS-Compliant')
HasParameterValue('Design Item Status','RoHS-Compliant') = False
Returns all objects that do not have a Design Item Status parameter with a value of RoHS-Compliant.

Summary

Returns the string value of a PCB object parameter, which can be tested to return PCB objects that comply to the query.

Syntax

ParameterValue(ParameterName : String) : String

Example Usage

ParameterValue('Mounting Technology') Like 'SM*'
Returns all objects with the Mounting Technology parameter that has a value string beginning with SM, such as SMT, SMD, etc.

ParameterValue('Mounting Technology') Like '*SM*'
Returns all objects with the Mounting Technology parameter that has a value string that includes SM.

StrToNumber(ParameterValue('VoltageRating'),V)  >  50
Returns all objects that have a VoltageRating parameter value greater than 50 volts. The string value returned by ParameterValue is converted to a number for the comparison by the unit-aware StrToNumber function.

Summary

Converts the nominated parameter value string to a number using the stipulated unit type.

Syntax

StrToNumber(Value : String , Unit : String) : Number

Example Usage

StrToNumber(ParameterValue('VoltageRating'),V)  >  50
Converts the value string returned by the VoltageRating parameter to a number, using volts (V) as the unit, then returns all objects with a value greater than 50V.

StrToNumber(ParameterValue('Resistance'),Ohms) Between 1000 And 10000
Converts the value string returned by the Resistance parameter to a number, using ohms as the unit, then returns all objects with a value between 1kΩ and 10kΩ.

StrToNumber(ParameterValue('CapacitanceValue'),F) < 2e-9
Converts the value string returned by the CapacitanceValue parameter to a number, using Capacitance (F) as the unit, then returns all objects with a value less than 2nF (2e-9 in scientific notation).

Notes

A scripting error will be thrown if the value string cannot be converted to a number. To allow for this situation, use the StrToNumber function, which returns a nominated default number if the conversion fails.

The unit-aware string-to-number converter function accepts a large range of Unit type definitions, including:

• V – Voltage
• A – Current
• Ohm – Resistance
• Z – Impedance
• F – Capacitance
• H – Inductance
• G – Conductance
• W – Power
• Hz – Frequency
• Q – Charge
• C – Temperature
• dB – Decibels
• % – Percent
• m – Length
• Kg – Mass
• s – Time

The converter accepts standard value scaling factors (micro, kilo, mega, etc.,) and, therefore, parameter strings containing prefix abbreviations such as mV, uA, kHz, etc.

Several value constructs are also supported. For example, the same resistance value can be represented as:

• 2k2
• 2.2k
• 2200
• 2,200

Summary

Converts the nominated parameter value string to a number, or a default number, using the stipulated unit type.

Syntax

StrToNumber(Value : String , Unit : String , Default : Number) : Number

Example Usage

StrToNumberDef(ParameterValue('VoltageRating'),V,10)  >  50
Converts the value string returned by the VoltageRating parameter to a number, using voltage (V) as the unit, then returns all objects with a value greater than 50V. If the parameter string or unit is unrecognized (cannot be converted), a default value of 10 is returned.

StrToNumberDef(ParameterValue('VoltageRating'),'V',6) Between 10 And 50
Converts the value string returned by the VoltageRating parameter to a number, using voltage (V) as the unit, then returns all objects with a value rating between 10V and 50V. If the value cannot be read, a voltage of 6V (the defined default value) is assumed.

Notes

The unit-aware string-to-number converter function accepts a large range of Unit type definitions, including:

• V – Voltage
• A – Current
• Ohm – Resistance
• Z – Impedance
• F – Capacitance
• H – Inductance
• G – Conductance
• W – Power
• Hz – Frequency
• Q – Charge
• C – Temperature
• dB – Decibels
• % – Percent
• m – Length
• Kg – Mass
• s – Time

The converter accepts standard value scaling factors (micro, kilo, mega, etc.,) and, therefore, parameter strings containing prefix abbreviations such as mV, uA, kHz, etc.

Several value constructs are also supported. For example, the same resistance value can be represented as:

• 2k2
• 2.2k
• 2200
• 2,200