Expand

Right click the cloud in the Projects panel and select “Create Project…”
In the pop up, select “NER Standard Project” under the PCB category
Enter a title and description
Open the Advanced drop down. Select the three dots at the right end of the “Folder” field
In the pop up, select where the project should go in the vault (somewhere in Projects!), and hit OK
Click “Create”!
1. Local Storage and Parameters can be left alone
Your project will now be in the Projects panel. Make sure to “Save to Server” to allow others to see it.

Make sure to save to server to allow others to see the project!

Basic Components and Wires

Fundamentally, all schematics consist of component symbols and wires connecting them. The following is an intro to working with these.

Placing Components

Components should be found via the component panel. It has the best organization structure and allows you to easily filter by parameter! More depth is available at https://nerdocs.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/NER/pages/119111681/Vault+Organization#Components-Panel, but the process is summarized below:

Open the panel via the panels button
Image Removed
1. If you see this just hit the blue “Use Existing Components”
  Image Removed
Select component type via the dropdown menu at the top of the panel
Image Removed
Filter results (opened via the button in the top left of the panel)
Image Removed
Just Click + Drag the component in or Right-click and select “Place”
Image RemovedImage Removed
Adjust component position as needed (click and drag)!

When dragging a component you can:

Spacebar to rotate
X to mirror over X-axis
Y to mirror over Y-axis
Tab to pause movement and open properties

Info
Ultimately, there are not a lot of hard requirements for schematics, but we recommend reading the rest of this page, as well as the Vault Guidelines, for best practices.

Placing Wires

Wires are quite intuitive to work with. A wire is started by hitting Ctrl + W (or hitting the button in the toolbar) and then clicking your start point. The wire will then follow your mouse as you click in between points, eventually reaching your end point.

When placing a (or dragging an existing) wire you can:

Spacebar to toggle path
- Basically if doing an across then up it will instead do an up then across
Shift + Spacebar to toggle route mode
- Will cycle through right angles, 45 degrees, and freeform angles
Tab to pause movement and open properties

Info
Wires form what are called “Nets.” This term comes up quite a bit in Altium and effectively just means any set of things that are supposed to be connected directly with copper.

When dragging components with connected wires, the wires will attempt to stay connected. How they behave is partially dependent on selection method. It is best to learn by playing with it, but basically inclusive selection will treat wires as stiff objects, whereas exclusive selection will only keep the selected segments rigid and the rest adaptive.

Designators (Annotation)

To manage the link between schematics, layout, and BOMs all components require unique designators. These are letter-number pairs that indicate the type of part and which instance it is within a project. Fortunately, Altium can take care of designators automatically.

Updating Designators (Annotation)

When a schematic is completely done, but doesn’t have designators you will see error lines on the components due to lack of unique designators. Adding designators in schematics is called “annotation.”

...

Open the annotation tool via the “Tools” menu
Image Removed
Toggle settings as needed in the annotation window
Image Removed
1. In most cases you will not need to change any of these!
2. To highlight some useful bits
  1. Bottom left can be used to disable a few sheets
  2. The right half summarizes changes that will be made
  3. The “Matching Options” section is a more advanced feature used to resolve mismatches when updating designators that have already been annotated once
Click “Update Changes List”
Image Removed
A pop-up will appear with how many changes were made. This is just a sanity check, click “OK” if it looks ok
If the list on the right looks ok, click “Accept Changes (Create ECO)”
Image Removed
In the ECO, click “Execute Changes”, and then “Close”
Image Removed
Done!
Image Removed

Designating Hierarchical Documents

Read the below section to learn more about hierarchical projects. Your project is probably hierarchical if it has the green sheet symbols shown in the below schematic.

...

Note how in the above schematic, there are multiple .SchDoc files that are being used more than once. When this occurs components will be given a primary designator using the normal annotation process. In parenthesis will be the unique designator assigned to each component, as shown in the below screenshot.

...

This will work, however to meet Vault Guidelines, the unique designators should be swapped to use letters. This allows for significantly easier reading and placement of designator's once pulled into layout.

Step-by-step below:

Expand

Within the same menus as the above tool, select the “Board Level Annotate…” tool (Tools > Annotation > Board Level Annotate…)
Image Removed
Click “Annotate Options”
Image Removed
In the pop-up, set the new designator naming scheme
1. This can be set by clicking the dropdown menu, or typing your own variables from scratch
2. See {link} for what we recommend to select
Click OK
Click Annotate
Click Accept Changes
Click Execute
Close everything out!

{further directions for using the tools needed in hierarchy}

Improving Readability

As with all design work, schematics are used express solutions to open ended problems. With no restrictions on how solutions are approached, it is very important to document your work in a way that everyone can understand! With our team size and various experience levels there is a very wide audience that must be able to comprehend your work.

Note
Even the best engineers will forget how they did something when they come back to it months or years later, so documentation isn’t just for others!

Altium has many features targeted to improve readability of schematics as well as add further information that isn’t conveyed by electrical circuits alone. The below sections will outline a few important tools for enhancing schematics.

Additionally, check out the Vault Guidelines when working on schematics. We have a handful of club-wide recommendations and requirements to setup some baseline consistency across the team.

Net Labels

Net labels serve two functions: connecting and naming. Given any existing wire in a schematic, a net label can be placed to provide a more descriptive name.

{image of a net label on a continuous wire}

These names can be very helpful for correlating schematics to the layout, as the net names will transfer into the PCB layout. It’s recommended to keep the name short but informative.

Info
By default, Altium will name nets based on the component designators and pad numbers the net connects to. For example, NetC5_2, NetU14_6, etc.

Net labels additionally can be used to actually define nets and make new connections. Duplicate net labels can be placed and Altium will consider all wires labeled the same a single net.

{image of net labels connecting things}

Net labels are frequently used for both purposes. Connections without wires are often helpful for complex schematics as well as any connections that have to otherwise traverse large portions of your page.

Check out some of NERs more complex schematics to see how we historically use net labels (anything with a microcontroller pretty much)

The Vault Guidelines highlight a few suggestions regarding how to use net labels in NER projects. {need to actually add a section and then update this link to that section}

How to Add Net Labels

Expand

There are a few different places to access the net label tool.

{explain and images of accessing from schematic toolbar}

{explain and images of accessing from right click menu}

{explain and images of accessing from main toolbar}

Notes

As the name implies, notes are for adding notes to your schematic. These can cover anything from clarifying how a circuit works, including calculations proving functionality, or notation on how to place the components once in layout.

{directions to add notes and screenshots}

Check out the Vault Guidelines for more about how we do notes including color coding, numerical annotations, and more. {need to actual update guidelines and update link to that header}

Hierarchical Pages

Altium allows for hierarchical designs, which primarily impact schematic design, but can also be used to improve speed of layouts for large or repetitive boards.

In summary, hierarchical design is when schematic pages are embedded inside other schematic pages. This creates a tree structure that enables benefits such as reusing pages for repetitive circuits and creating organized sections of your circuitry.

{image of stacked hierarchy in shepherd}

The above screenshot shows how hierarchical design was used in Shepherd BMS 17D and the below is a example from Altium of how higher sheets connect to the lower ones via “ports.”

...

Setting up for Hierarchy

Altium has 5 options for “Net Identifier Scope,” which essentially defines how your hierarchy will be created. This setting is found in the project options which is found by right clicking in your schematic and selecting “Project Options,” or by opening via the task bar ({X > X > X})

{screenshots of two methods}

These options are:

Automatic
Flat
Hierarchical
Strict Hierarchical
Global

We typically use Strict Hierarchy, which ensures that all connections between sheets must be explicitly defined with ports. You can read more about the other options here: https://www.altium.com/documentation/altium-designer/accessing-defining-managing-project-options#options

Implementing Hierarchy

Actually creating a hierarchical design is as simple as adding a sheet symbol into any schematic. From there Altium will treat your design as hierarchical according to the setting you chose above.

X
X
X
X
X

{show how to add sheet symbols and ports (steps and images)}

Tips on Hierarchy

Expand

Hiding Rooms

Check out Altium Reference, Tips, Troubleshooting for how to hide rooms when you’re in layout. {need to add to page and link to section}

Room Creation

By default, hierarchical sheets will each create a “component room” when pulled into PCB layout. These rooms can be moved, copied, and manipulated with all the components and copper put within them. Additionally, rules (and any other queries) can be applied on the room level.

These are generated any time changes from schematics are pushed from schematics to layout. This behavior can be turned off or modified as needed.

Hierarchical Annotations

See above ({ link }) for how to annotate hierarchical projects.

Easy Copying

As shown in the Shepherd screenshot at the start of this section, hierarchy can be used for repetitive circuits. This saves time not only in schematic, but also in layout thanks to rooms.

X {need to figure out steps to get repeater to work}
X
X
X

Classes and Other Parameters

Beyond the basics of wires and components, there are many parameters that can be added to indicate special properties of nets and components. All of these parameters come with extra Altium features to ultimately assist in implementation of the feature in layout.

Some of the most common uses are differential pairs, high voltage isolation, routing restrictions, and impedance matching.

Official documentation: https://www.altium.com/documentation/altium-designer/specifying-design-requirements-during-design-capture

Placing Parameter Sets and Blankets

A parameter set in Altium can be placed from a few different menus, including the schematic toolbar, right clicking in schematic, or the window toolbar

{images of different methods of accessing}

Once selected, the parameter set can be placed on any wire, pin, or net label. It can then be assigned properties to actually apply to the net that it is touching (double clicking will open properties).

{image of some properties added}

The following section explains a few of the options. Additionally, you can enter a display name for the parameter set and choose what properties to show on schematic.

Pairing with parameter sets are also blankets. These allow for coverage of multiple nets at once with only one parameter directive. The tool is located next to the parameter set tool.

{image showing how to get blankets}

Any net or component touching the blanket will have the attributes applied to it.

{image showing blanket used with a param set}

Types of Parameters

The following are the different parameters that can be applied within a parameter set:

Net Class - Used to group nets of similar type. We often use this for HV/LV distinction.
Component Class - Used to group components of a similar type.
Rules - Used to directly apply a layout rule to the net. Any normal rule can be applied. Most often used for length or width restrictions imposed by component datasheets.
Parameters - Used to assign any arbitrary parameter.

Net Classes

Creating a net class is very similar to net labels. Simply enter a name and use the same name on other objects to add them to the group.

As mentioned above, net classes are typically utilized to group nets of similar type together. Historically at NER we have used this for indicating similar potentials of nets to enable easier clearance and creepage rule development for mixed TS/GLV boards.

Another purpose is to designate nets as signal versus power, to enable stricter isolation of analog measurements or critical communications from noisy power or switching nodes.

More information about using net classes for rules is covered in https://nerdocs.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/NER/pages/156205064/PCB+Layout+Matt+Edition#Design-Rules

Differential Pairs

Differential pairs are a feature in Altium that allows the user to tell Altium if a pair of signals should be routed differentially. If this is the case, it will apply restrictions to keep the traces impedance matched to a value of the designers choice.

Expand

The differential pair marker can be found in a few different menus, including the schematic toolbar and just right clicking anywhere in schematic.

{images of these two methods}

A marker must be placed on each of the two nets that make up the differential pair. Additionally, each net must have a net label of the same name, one ending in “_N” and the other in “_P”, indicating “negative” and “positive”.

This is usually an arbitrary distinction, but depends on your circuit

{image showing implemented differential pair}

Once created in schematic, the exact impedance requirement is set using design rules. This can be set by using the design rules label mentioned in the above section.

Note
This requires having already setup impedance profiles in layout. Our project template will have a couple, but check out {link to section in advanced layout} for more. {update project template with basic profiles}

{example image of setting the DR for impedance selection in schematic}

“Advanced” Schematic Features

...

Schematic Page Setup

Schematic Templates

All schematics in Altium will use a base template. Our vault has been configured such that all projects will default to the NER template, but if needed, the template can be selected from properties.

...

When a schematic sheet is open, the properties panel will default to “Document Options” if nothing is selected. Within properties, the “Page Options” section allows for selection of templates.

Currently, NER has a letter and tabloid size template. We recommend starting with tabloid, and shrinking to letter if space allows once the schematic is done.

Title Block Parameters

By default, the title block will be entirely default. Title block text is updated via parameters in two locations, the documents and the project. Project parameters apply to all sheets and include the Project Name, Revision, and WBS. Document parameters are local to each sheet, allowing each sheet to have unique Sheet Name, Drawer, and Approver.

Similar to the above screenshot, document parameters are found by opening “Document Options” and switching to the “Parameters” tab.

...

There are a lot of “system required” parameters that we unfortunately can’t delete from the template. The parameters you should edit are called “DrawnBy”, “ApprovedBy”, and “Title”

Project parameters can be found by opening Project Options and navigating to the “Parameters” tab. This can be found at the bottom of the “Project” menu, or by right clicking in blank space of a schematic sheet.

...

In both menus, simply update the “Value” of the appropriate parameters and the title block will update automatically!

Basic Components and Wires

Fundamentally, all schematics consist of component symbols and wires connecting them. The following is an intro to working with these.

Placing Components

Components should be found via the component panel. It has the best organization structure and allows you to easily filter by parameter! More depth is available at https://nerdocs.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/NER/pages/119111681/Vault+Organization#Components-Panel, but the process is summarized below:

Open the panel via the panels button (or the components shortcut in the schematics toolbar!)
Image AddedImage Added
1. If you see this just hit the blue “Use Existing Components”
  Image Added
Select component type via the dropdown menu at the top of the panel
Image Added
Filter results (opened via the button in the top left of the panel)
Image Added
Just Click + Drag the component in or Right-click and select “Place”
Image AddedImage Added
Adjust component position as needed (click and drag)!

When dragging a component you can:

Spacebar to rotate
X to mirror over X-axis
Y to mirror over Y-axis
Tab to pause movement and open properties

Info
Ultimately, there are not a lot of hard requirements for schematics, but we recommend reading the rest of this page, as well as the Vault Guidelines, for best practices.

Placing Wires

Wires are quite intuitive to work with. A wire is started by hitting Ctrl + W (or hitting the button in the toolbar) and then clicking your start point. The wire will then follow your mouse as you click in between points, eventually reaching your end point.

When placing a (or dragging an existing) wire you can:

Spacebar to toggle path
- Basically if doing an across then up it will instead do an up then across
Shift + Spacebar to toggle route mode
- Will cycle through right angles, 45 degrees, and freeform angles
Tab to pause movement and open properties

Info
Wires form what are called “Nets.” This term comes up quite a bit in Altium and effectively just means any set of things that are supposed to be connected directly with copper.

When dragging components with connected wires, the wires will attempt to stay connected. How they behave is partially dependent on selection method. It is best to learn by playing with it, but basically inclusive selection will treat wires as stiff objects, whereas exclusive selection will only keep the selected segments rigid and the rest adaptive.

Designators (Annotation)

To manage the link between schematics, layout, and BOMs all components require unique designators. These are letter-number pairs that indicate the type of part and which instance it is within a project. Fortunately, Altium can take care of designators automatically.

Updating Designators (Annotation)

When a schematic is completely done, but doesn’t have designators you will see error lines on the components due to lack of unique designators. Adding designators in schematics is called “annotation.”

...

Open the annotation tool via the “Tools” menu
Image Added
Toggle settings as needed in the annotation window
Image Added
1. In most cases you will not need to change any of these!
2. To highlight some useful bits
  1. Bottom left can be used to disable a few sheets
  2. The right half summarizes changes that will be made
  3. The “Matching Options” section is a more advanced feature used to resolve mismatches when updating designators that have already been annotated once
Click “Update Changes List”
Image Added
A pop-up will appear with how many changes were made. This is just a sanity check, click “OK” if it looks ok
If the list on the right looks ok, click “Accept Changes (Create ECO)”
Image Added
In the ECO, click “Execute Changes”, and then “Close”
Image Added
Done!
Image Added

Designating Hierarchical Documents

Read the below section to learn more about hierarchical projects. Your project is probably hierarchical if it has the green sheet symbols shown in the below schematic.

...

Note how in the above schematic, there are multiple .SchDoc files that are being used more than once. When this occurs components will be given a primary designator using the normal annotation process. In parenthesis will be the unique designator assigned to each component, as shown in the below screenshot.

...

This will work, however to meet Vault Guidelines, the unique designators should be swapped to use letters. This allows for significantly easier reading and placement of designator's once pulled into layout.

Step-by-step below:

Expand

Within the same menus as the above tool, select the “Board Level Annotate…” tool (Tools > Annotation > Board Level Annotate…)
Image Added
Click “Annotate Options”
Image Added
In the pop-up, set the new designator naming scheme
Image Added
1. This can be set by clicking the dropdown menu, or typing your own variables from scratch
2. See https://nerdocs.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/NER/pages/118718470/Vault+Guidelines#Annotations for what we recommend to select
Click “OK”
Click “Annotate” and then whichever dropdown button makes sense for you (undesignated for new parts only, or all for all components in the project)
Image Added
1. You should see the right column update per your settings
Click “Accept Changes (Create ECO)” in the bottom right
Click “Execute Changes” in the bottom left of the ECO window
Close everything out!

Improving Readability

As with all design work, schematics are used express solutions to open ended problems. With no restrictions on how solutions are approached, it is very important to document your work in a way that everyone can understand! With our team size and various experience levels there is a very wide audience that must be able to comprehend your work.

Note
Even the best engineers will forget how they did something when they come back to it months or years later, so documentation isn’t just for others!

Altium has many features targeted to improve readability of schematics as well as add further information that isn’t conveyed by electrical circuits alone. The below sections will outline a few important tools for enhancing schematics.

Additionally, check out the https://nerdocs.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/NER/pages/118718470/Vault+Guidelines#Schematics when working on schematics. We have a handful of club-wide recommendations and requirements to setup some baseline consistency across the team.

Net Labels

Net labels serve two functions: connecting and naming. Given any existing wire in a schematic, a net label can be placed to provide a more descriptive name.

...

These names can be very helpful for correlating schematics to the layout, as the net names will transfer into the PCB layout. It’s recommended to keep the name short but informative.

Info
By default, Altium will name nets without labels based on the component designators and pad numbers the net connects to. For example, NetC5_2, NetU14_6, etc.

Net labels additionally can be used to actually define nets and make new connections. Duplicate net labels can be placed and Altium will consider all wires labeled the same a single net. The above screenshot uses many labels for connections from the component on the left (IB, IA, GPIO, etc) as well as for power (VREG and GND)

Info
Note how VREG and GND in this example have special shapes. This is a special type of label called a power port!

Net labels are frequently used for both purposes. Connections without wires are often helpful for complex schematics as well as any connections that have to otherwise traverse large portions of your page.

Check out some of NERs more complex schematics to see how we historically use net labels (anything with a microcontroller pretty much)

The https://nerdocs.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/NER/pages/118718470/Vault+Guidelines#Schematics highlight a few suggestions regarding how to use net labels in NER projects.