Using Routing applications > Routing Appendix > Creating and editing paths

Create Path — Simple tab

The Simple tab provides several different create-path methods.

Start New Path — Completes the path creation and starts a new path. Applicable to all modes.

Mode: None

No extra path creation methods are available. Screen positions and Face Offset are available. Choosing OK exits the dialog box.

Face Offsets — When you choose a face, the system uses an offset value to compute a distance normal to the face: selecting point P on a face, the Face Offset value computes point O, normal to the face at P. Point O defines the position of the RCP created under Mode None. Under Axis Parallel mode, an offset plane through O normal to vector N is used to calculate the new RCP; the RCP is created at the intersection of the offset plane and the Axis Parallel Line (or, if collinear, position O projects onto the Axis Parallel Line).

Note: Face-offset associativity is not maintained.

Mode: Specify Points

Allows creation of segments by specifying points with the standard Point Tool.

Note: Do not specify points already specified — Routing does not support a circuitous path.

Mode: Connected Curves

No extra path creation methods are available. You can select curves; the selected curve and any attached curves have segments created on them. Choosing OK closes the dialog box.

Mode: WCS Offset

Available after specifying a starting RCP. You can then create paths in the XC, YC, or ZC directions with the specified parameters.

Mode: Axis

New RCPs are created on the Axis Parallel Line. Create Path is in Axis Parallel mode whenever Axis Parallel is set to XC, YC, ZC, Port, View X and Y, or View X or Y.

XC/YC/ZC define the Axis Parallel Line parallel to the respective WCS axis.
Port Parallel mode may only be set when the current RCP is on a Port; the Axis Parallel Line is parallel to the alignment vector of the port.
View X and Y / View X or Y create path segments using a view-plane horizontal or vertical reference in a single or multiple view layout.

Axis Parallel Point Projection — the selected object determines the position of the new RCP on the Axis Parallel Line: for a screen position, point, RCP, or Point Constructor selection, the closest point on the Axis Parallel Line defines the new RCP.

Axis Parallel Vector Projection — if you select a Port, closed arc, circular edge, or drive curve, the associated vector is used: alignment vector of ports, Z-axis vector for closed arcs/circular edges, and tangent vector of the end closest to the selected position on a drive curve. The point on the Axis Parallel Line closest to the line defined by the associated vector defines the new RCP. If you don't want the associated vector considered, use Point Constructor.

If the associated-vector line and the Axis Parallel Line are not coplanar, the new RCP is still the closest point on the Axis Parallel Line to that line. If parallel, the associated position projects onto the Axis Parallel Line (position of a port, center point of closed arcs/circular edges, or end point of the selected follow curve closest to the selection).

Note: There is no maintenance of parallel associativity.

View X or Y — the segment created is either horizontal or vertical with respect to the view plane of a layout view (e.g. start an RCP in one view, pick the other end in a different view; each segment is created horizontally or vertically relative to the viewing plane used for its terminating RCP).

View X and Y — a Dual-Segment option allows simultaneous creation of two segments (one horizontal, one vertical) connecting the starting RCP and a selected point where a new RCP is generated. Choose Horiz–Vert or Vert–Horiz ordering.

Mode: Dynamic Axis

An easy method to create rectilinear paths. Not available until a start point is established. Drag handles appear at the start point when you choose Dynamic Axis mode, and remain at the end of the last segment created for creating the next segment.

Grab an axis handle with the cursor and drag to create a segment; a screen dialog lets you enter specific values. You can rotate the handles to create corners other than 90°.

Dynamic Axis mode also supports sloped paths, specified as:

Degrees — enter the number of degrees of slope.
Percentage — enter a percentage of slope (e.g. 10% = a slope of 1 per 10 units of segment length).
Ratio — enter a ratio a:b (e.g. 1:10 = a slope of 1 per 10 units of segment length).

A positive slope value corresponds to a rise, and a negative value to a drop. The system calculates rise/drop counterclockwise (CCW) in a plane determined by the Routing Down direction vector and the axis handle currently being dragged. You can change the down direction via the Preferences dialog box — the down direction indicates the direction of gravity in the routing part and is stored with the part once defined, so different parts can use different down directions. If the down direction and dynamic axis direction are parallel (a vertical run), slope values are ignored.

Note: Segments that are part of a Bend Corner — the arc segment itself or the linear side segments — are not selectable.