Altium PCB Footprint Component Size Does Not Interpret Text Properly

Apr 21, 2025 by ADMIN 69 views

**Altium PCB Footprint Component Size Does Not Interpret Text Properly**

Introduction

As a user of Altium, a popular electronic design automation (EDA) software, you may have encountered issues with the interpretation of text in PCB footprints. In this article, we will discuss a specific problem that has been reported by users who have updated from Altium 17 to Altium 18. The issue revolves around the special string text overriding the actual size of the text in PCB footprints.

Understanding the Issue

The problem arises when you try to use special string text in your PCB footprints. Special string text is a feature in Altium that allows you to insert custom text into your PCB designs. However, in Altium 18, it appears that this feature is not interpreting the text size correctly. Instead of displaying the text at the specified size, it is overriding the size with a default value.

Symptoms of the Issue

If you are experiencing this issue, you may notice the following symptoms:

The text in your PCB footprints is not displaying at the correct size.
The text is being overridden by a default size, which is not what you specified.
You are unable to change the text size to the desired value.

Possible Causes of the Issue

There are several possible causes of this issue, including:

Incompatible design files: If you have updated from Altium 17 to Altium 18, it is possible that your design files are not compatible with the new version of the software. This can cause issues with the interpretation of text in PCB footprints.
Incorrect settings: It is possible that the settings in your Altium software are not configured correctly, which can cause the text size to be overridden.
Corrupted design files: In some cases, design files can become corrupted, which can cause issues with the interpretation of text in PCB footprints.

Troubleshooting the Issue

If you are experiencing this issue, there are several steps you can take to troubleshoot and resolve the problem:

Check your design files: Make sure that your design files are compatible with Altium 18. If you have updated from Altium 17, it is possible that your design files are not compatible with the new version of the software.
Check your settings: Make sure that the settings in your Altium software are configured correctly. Check the text size settings in your PCB footprint to ensure that they are set to the desired value.
Try a different text size: Try changing the text size to a different value to see if the issue is resolved.
Reset your design files: If none of the above steps resolve the issue, try resetting your design files to their default settings.

Resolving the Issue

If you have tried the troubleshooting steps above and the issue persists, there are several possible solutions you can try:

Update to the latest version of Altium: Make sure that you are running the latest version of Altium. Updates to the software can often resolve issues like this.
Recreate your PCB footprint: If the issue is specific to a particular PCB footprint, try recreating the footprint from scratch.
Contact Altium support: If none of the above steps resolve the issue, contact Altium support for further assistance.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the issue of special string text overriding the actual size of the text in PCB footprints is a common problem that has been reported by users who have updated from Altium 17 to Altium 18. By understanding the possible causes of the issue and following the troubleshooting steps outlined above, you should be able to resolve the problem and get your PCB footprints displaying correctly.

Additional Tips and Resources

Altium documentation: For more information on using special string text in Altium, refer to the Altium documentation.
Altium community forum: Join the Altium community forum to connect with other users who may be experiencing similar issues.
Altium support: Contact Altium support for further assistance with resolving the issue.

Troubleshooting Checklist

Check design files for compatibility
Check settings for correct configuration
Try a different text size
Reset design files to default settings
Update to latest version of Altium
Recreate PCB footprint
Contact Altium support

Common Issues and Solutions

Incompatible design files: Update to latest version of Altium
Incorrect settings: Check settings for correct configuration
Corrupted design files: Reset design files to default settings

Best Practices for Using Special String Text

Use special string text sparingly
Check text size settings carefully
Test PCB footprint before finalizing design

Altium Software Updates

Regularly check for updates to Altium software
Update to latest version to ensure compatibility and resolve issues

Altium Community Resources

Join Altium community forum for support and resources
Connect with other users who may be experiencing similar issues
Share knowledge and expertise with the community
Altium PCB Footprint Component Size Does Not Interpret Text Properly: Q&A ====================================================================

Introduction

In our previous article, we discussed the issue of special string text overriding the actual size of the text in PCB footprints in Altium 18. We also provided some troubleshooting steps and solutions to help resolve the problem. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions (FAQs) related to this issue.

Q: What is special string text in Altium?

A: Special string text is a feature in Altium that allows you to insert custom text into your PCB designs. It is a powerful tool that can be used to add labels, notes, and other text to your PCBs.

Q: Why is special string text overriding the actual size of the text in my PCB footprints?

A: This issue is likely due to a compatibility problem between your design files and the new version of Altium 18. It is also possible that the settings in your Altium software are not configured correctly, which can cause the text size to be overridden.

Q: How can I troubleshoot this issue?

A: To troubleshoot this issue, you can try the following steps:

Check your design files for compatibility with Altium 18.
Check your settings for correct configuration.
Try a different text size to see if the issue is resolved.
Reset your design files to their default settings.
Update to the latest version of Altium.

Q: What are some common causes of this issue?

A: Some common causes of this issue include:

Incompatible design files.
Incorrect settings in Altium software.
Corrupted design files.

Q: How can I prevent this issue from happening in the future?

A: To prevent this issue from happening in the future, you can:

Regularly check for updates to Altium software.
Update to the latest version of Altium.
Use special string text sparingly.
Check text size settings carefully.
Test PCB footprint before finalizing design.

Q: What are some best practices for using special string text in Altium?

A: Some best practices for using special string text in Altium include:

Use special string text sparingly.
Check text size settings carefully.
Test PCB footprint before finalizing design.
Use Altium's built-in text formatting tools.
Avoid using special characters in text.

Q: Can I contact Altium support for further assistance?

A: Yes, you can contact Altium support for further assistance with resolving this issue. They can provide you with additional guidance and support to help you resolve the problem.

Q: Are there any resources available for learning more about using special string text in Altium?

A: Yes, there are several resources available for learning more about using special string text in Altium, including:

Altium documentation.
Altium community forum.
Altium support resources.
Online tutorials and videos.
Altium user groups.