DipTrace Forum

Hello,

I am working on a plugin. I'd like to highlight an entire net, then blink the net at one second intervals.

1) For the <NET> xml, does SELECTED only apply if you click on a routed trace? If I highlight the net using the design manager it does not seem to get exported as selected
2) What if I wanted to just modify a selected segment?
3) Can the plug-in remain open, and update the layout file multiple times, or are the changes only committed once the plugin closes?

Thanks
Howard

Any insights? Thanks

Blinking an entire net with one second intervals using a plugin is not good idea as it requires periodic reading and overwriting a file thus it loads SSD or HDD significantly.
1) Using the design manager a net is highlighted but not selected.
2) What exactly do you want to do with a selected segment?
3) Changes are applied after plugin execution, i.e. after its closing.

For initial part placement with large number of nets and a large board, It is helpful to see certain nets for pre planning purposes. I regularly do board with mixed analog / digital, and 8 or more voltage domains. So, pre planning where my current return paths will be is critical. To see the entire board I often have to be at 75% zoom or less.

Currently, I click on a net which highlights in red all pads on the associated net. The eye is very good at seeing color change, but after a few seconds (esp when zoomed out) you can no longer easily see the related nets. I usually have to try to go back and forth between two nets to get it to "Blink".

Try loading a very large board (12" or larger) that is high density, zoom out, and it is easy to see what I mean. Highlighting does not really help, as this is at the unrouted trace stage and you are zoomed out....

Thanks