RunManualPinSwapper

Created: July 27, 2015 | Updated: September 28, 2017 | Applies to versions: 15.1, 16.0, 16.1, 17.0, 17.1, 18.0, 18.1, 19.0, 19.1, 20.0, 20.1 and 20.2

Parent page: PinSwapper Commands

The following pre-packaged resource, derived from this base command, is available:

Interactive Pin/Net Swapping

Applied Parameters: None

Summary

This command is used to interactively perform pin-swapping within the design workspace. A component pin is swappable with another pin in that component when both pins have the same Pin Group. The swapping feature supports more than just pins, it also supports swapping a partially routed net. This is ideal if you are working on a dense board and escape routing from the components at both ends of a connection. When you perform a pin swap any connected routing is also swapped to the target net.

For a high-level overview of swapping functionality in Altium Designer, see Pin, Pair and Part Swapping.

Access

This command is accessed from the PCB Editor by choosing the Tools » Pin/Part Swapping » Interactive Pin/Net Swapping command from the main menus.

Use

After launching the command, everything in the PCB workspace is masked (faded), except those pins that are swappable. Keep an eye on the Status Bar, it will prompt you for the next action, to choose a sub-net to move. After clicking on a swappable pin, you will be prompted to choose a target net for the sub-net to swap with. All possible target pins that can be swapped with will be highlighted. Click on the target pin to complete the swap action. You will then the ready to perform another pin swap, if required.

Tips

The pin group is an attribute of each pin in the component and its value can be any alphanumeric string. The pin groups for the entire component are set up in the Configure Pin Swapping dialog.
Pin swap information will also appear in the Messages panel.
Design changes that are a result of you performing a pin swap in the PCB editor are propagated back to the schematic using the standard Design Update process (run the Design » Update Schematics command from the PCB Editor).