cross probing

[Leslie Gomez]

My engineer wants to know how to cross probe to check the layout from
schematic. I have pointed him at tools>Cross probe in the schematic
editor. It appears that this needs to be executed for every probe. Is
there a way to keep it in cross probe mode for both components and
wires going without having to keep selecting from the menu?

Thanks,
Leslie

[Owen DeMeyer]

Leslie,

Use the cross select mode, found right below cross probe.

Regards,

Owen de Meyer
PCB Designer
Cobham Tactical Communications and Surveillance
T: 760-496-0055 x107
F: 760-496-0057

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Thanks,
Leslie
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[Allen Priest]

Maybe I'm missing something, but... I can't tell the difference
between having "Cross Select Mode" active or inactive. What does it
do?

Allen Priest

[Owen DeMeyer]

Allen,

If you select a component in the schematic, it highlights on the board
and vice versa. I use it for placement, it works great.

[Allen Priest]

Owen,
I know what cross probing does. I use ig alot. What I don't get is...  The difference between the Cross Select Modes.   I don't see any difference when I try it.

Allen

(Sent from my Xoom Android Tablet)

[Owen DeMeyer]

Allen,

 

When cross select mode is active, it allows you to select groups of components, whereas cross probe can only be used on one entity at a time, but will also probe nets, where cross select only does components.

 

Somebody please correct me, If I have this wrong.

 

Owen

[Allen Priest]

Ok, I've figured it out. You are correct. With Cross Select Mode
active, simply selecting components in the schematic will highlight
and select those components in the corresponding PCB. However, I
think this only works for components, but not for wires/nets.

In 'Cross Probe'ing, you enter cross probe mode from 'Tools>Cross
Probe' and the cursor in the schematic turns to a cross-hair.
Selecting a component, pin, or wire in the schematic will highlight
that component, component pin, or net in the PCB. The cross-probe
functionality should remain active so that you can select other
components, pins or nets without reactivating the command.

If you ctrl-click in this mode, it will switch over to the PCB as the
active window so that you can make any necessary changes in the PCB.
The cross probe mode is deactivated and must be re-engaged. It's
pretty easy to re-engage, however, as you only need to hit the letters
T and C in the schematic editor to reactivate cross probe.
Alternatively, you could define a keyboard shortcut to activate
cross-probe and do it with a single key.

An interesting side note... if you cross probe a wire in the
schematic to a PCB in 3D mode, Altium will highlight all the copper
connected to that net, including plane layers, polys, and copper
regions. This makes it really easy to see exactly how much copper is
carrying signals and where it goes.

Allen Priest

[Leslie]

Thanks Allen,
I think that was the answer we were looking for.

Leslie