Configuring PCB Design View Object Properties in Altium Designer

Parent page: Design View

PCB Editor object properties are definable options that specify the visual style, content and behavior of the placed object. The property settings for each type of object are defined in two different ways:

• Pre-placement settings – most Design View object properties, or those that can logically be pre-defined, are available as editable default settings on the PCB Editor - Defaults page of the Preferences dialog (accessed by using the  button at the top-right of the workspace). Select the object in the Primitive List to reveal its options on the right.

• Post-placement settings – all Design View object properties are available for editing in the Properties panel when a placed Design View is selected in the workspace.

      The Design View default settings in the Preferences dialog and the Design View mode of the Properties panel

Location (Properties panel only)

The  icon to the right of this region must be displayed as  (unlocked) in order to access the below fields. Toggle the lock/unlock icon to change its lock status. 

• (X/Y) - the current X and Y locations of the Design View reference point. 

Properties

• This document - select to specify the properties for the currently active document. 
• Specify document - select to specify the properties for a different document. When selected, click the  button in the Document field then browse for the desired document.
• Document - click the  button to search for and select the desired document when Specify document is selected.
• Mirrored - click to enable a flipped (mirrored) image of the board area in the Design View.
• Scale - click to define the object size as a multiplying factor.
• Title - enter the title of the Design View.
• Text Height - enter the the Design View's title text height.
• Font - use the drop-down to select the desired font for the title.  Use the color box to open a color chooser for the title text. Note that the color must contrast the workspace background color for visibility.
• Define - click to return to the workspace with a cross-hair cursor then use click-drag to define the rectangular region of the view.

Layers (Properties panel only)

This region provides a list of all board layers that can be configured to show specific layers in the Design View.

• Name - the name of the layer. Use the  or  icon to show or hide (respectively) the listed layer in the Design View.
• Type - the layer type.