Preferred layer (Altium) bottom side courtyard?

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic

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=""

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic
ckhalleran Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Active User Joined: 22 Nov 2017 Status: Offline Points: 26	Post Options Post Reply Quote ckhalleran Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Preferred layer (Altium) bottom side courtyard? 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=""



Tom H Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 05 Jan 2012 Location: San Diego, CA Status: Offline Points: 5716	Post Options Post Reply Quote Tom H Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply 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.
	Stay connected - follow us! X - LinkedIn

ckhalleran Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Active User Joined: 22 Nov 2017 Status: Offline Points: 26	Post Options Post Reply Quote ckhalleran Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07 Jun 2019 at 12:48pm
	Thanks Tom... I'm also wondering what these two lines do: PK_TOP="" PK_BOTTOM=""

chrisa_pcb Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 29 Jul 2012 Location: San Diego Status: Offline Points: 772	Post Options Post Reply Quote chrisa_pcb Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply 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.