PCB Libraries Forum : Preferred layer (Altium) bottom side courtyard? https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/ Mon, 20 Apr 2026 22:48:59 +0000 Fri, 07 Jun 2019 13:16:11 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 12.07 360 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=2494 <![CDATA[PCB Libraries Forum]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/forum_images/PCBLForumLogo.gif https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/ <![CDATA[Preferred layer (Altium) bottom side courtyard? : Those are used to store the Placement...]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/preferred-layer-altium-bottom-side-courtyard_topic2494_post10279.html#10279 Author: chrisa_pcb
Subject: 2494
Posted: 07 Jun 2019 at 1:16pm

Those are used to store the Placement Keepout mapping(both Top and Bottom). You should have them in the Translator Window layer mapping, below the Reference Designator layers. If you don't, you probably need to patch to the latest release.

Mapping both THREED_TOP and TERMINAL_TOP to the same layer should be fine.

Either way, the Format Preferences.xml file is simply the file we use to save and recover the Translator Window state. You should never have a reason to manually edit it.]]> Fri, 07 Jun 2019 13:16:11 +0000 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/preferred-layer-altium-bottom-side-courtyard_topic2494_post10279.html#10279 <![CDATA[Preferred layer (Altium) bottom side courtyard? : Thanks Tom... I&#039;m also...]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/preferred-layer-altium-bottom-side-courtyard_topic2494_post10278.html#10278 Author: ckhalleran
Subject: 2494
Posted: 07 Jun 2019 at 12:48pm

Thanks Tom... I'm also wondering what these two lines do:

PK_TOP=""

PK_BOTTOM=""

]]> Fri, 07 Jun 2019 12:48:10 +0000 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/preferred-layer-altium-bottom-side-courtyard_topic2494_post10278.html#10278 <![CDATA[Preferred layer (Altium) bottom side courtyard? : You control the layer assignment...]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/preferred-layer-altium-bottom-side-courtyard_topic2494_post10277.html#10277 Author: Tom H
Subject: 2494
Posted: 06 Jun 2019 at 8:35am

You control the layer assignment by editing the layer number. 

Do not touch the script text "eMechanical". Just change the number. 

]]> Thu, 06 Jun 2019 08:35:22 +0000 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/preferred-layer-altium-bottom-side-courtyard_topic2494_post10277.html#10277 <![CDATA[Preferred layer (Altium) bottom side courtyard? : I wonder how Library Expert...]]> https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/preferred-layer-altium-bottom-side-courtyard_topic2494_post10276.html#10276 Author: ckhalleran
Subject: 2494
Posted: 06 Jun 2019 at 7:14am

I wonder how Library Expert Pro determines what layer it should use for the Assembly Layer Designator (when I export for Altium, it's using Mechanical Layer 16). I see a file FPXFormatPreference.XML, and here's some layer info in it (all those layers are at bottom of this post)... is Library Expert Pro getting that from my Altium configuration?
 
Does that get updated automatically if I make some change to my default Altium layer mapping?
 
Is it a problem that I have "eMechical12" twice?
  THREED_TOP="eMechanical12"
  TERMINAL_TOP="eMechanical12"
 
Also, is there a preferred layer to use in Altium for the bottom side courtyard? Currently I have layer 15 top, 16 bottom (for courtyard)... but Library Expert pro uses layer 16 for the assembly designator... so I think I need to change Altium layer for bottom side courtyard. Currently when I flip a part to the bottom, the courtyard changes from 15 to 16, and the assy designator changes from 16 to 15 (not what I wanted).
 
Thanks,
Chris
 
  ELECTRICAL_TOP="eTopLayer"
  ELECTRICAL_BOTTOM="eBottomLayer"
  SOLDERMASK_TOP="eTopSolder"
  SOLDERMASK_BOTTOM="eBottomSolder"
  PASTEMASK_TOP="eTopPaste"
  PASTEMASK_BOTTOM="eBottomPaste"
  SILKSCREEN_TOP="eTopOverlay"
  SILKSCREEN_BOTTOM="eBottomOverlay"
  ASSEMBLY_TOP="eMechanical11"
  ASSEMBLY_BOTTOM="eMechanical14"
  COURTYARD_TOP="eMechanical15"
  THREED_TOP="eMechanical12"
  TERMINAL_TOP="eMechanical12"
  THREED_MODEL="eMechanical13"
  SSRD="eMechanical16"
  SSRD2=""
  PK_TOP=""
  PK_BOTTOM=""
]]> Thu, 06 Jun 2019 07:14:54 +0000 https://www.PCBLibraries.com/forum/preferred-layer-altium-bottom-side-courtyard_topic2494_post10276.html#10276