National Instruments Graphical User Interface Ultiboard - Manual (Page 36)

Chapter 1 User Interface
NI Ultiboard User Manual 1-20 ni.com
Setting PCB Properties
Many characteristics of your PCB design are controlled through the PCB
Properties dialog box including the number of layers, design rules and grid
settings. These settings are saved with the design and will be in effect when
the design is reopened.
Do one of the following to display the PCB Properties dialog box for the
board:
• With nothing selected on the board, right-click on an empty portion of
the board and choose Properties from the context menu that appears.
• Click on an empty portion of the board and choose Edit»Properties.
• Double-click on an empty portion of the board.
Attributes Tab
All properties dialog boxes for all design elements have an Attributes tab,
although a design’s PCB typically does not have any attributes. Refer to the
Attributes section of Chapter 4, Working with Parts , for information about
adding attributes.
Grid & Units Tab
Use the Grid & Units tab of the PCB Properties dialog box to control
Ultiboard grids and set the unit of measurement for your design.
Complete the following steps to set up the grid properties:
1. Choose the default units of measure from the Design Units list.
2. In the Grid area, set the following elements as desired:
• Grid Type—Select Standard Grid for a rectangular grid, or
Polar Grid, for a circular grid.
• Visible grid style—This is where you set the style for the Visible
Grid. (The Visible Grid provides a visual reference for you to
visually align parts and traces).
• Visible grid—This is the distance between the grid’s elements
(dots, lines or crosses) that you set up in the Visible grid style
field.
• Grid Step Name—Use this field to change the distance between
a grid’s elements. Select the desired grid: Part Grid; Copper
Grid; Via Grid; SMD Grid, and then enter the desired increment
in the Grid Step Value field.