Defining Strongly Connected Pins

To define a set of pins on a net to be connected strongly (internally):

1. In the layout window, choose Connectivity – Define Pins – Strongly Connected.
   The window prompts you to click a pin figure to select a net.
2. To select the net that includes the pins you want to connect, click a shape on that net.
   You can select a net by selecting a shape in the layout before you choose the Strongly Connected command.
   Flight lines appear, connecting only the pins of the net you chose. The flight lines are drawn between pins that still need to be strongly connected. If incomplete nets are being displayed, the other net flight lines disappear.
   Selecting a net does not make a connection change.
   The window prompts you to select two or more pins to be connected strongly.
3. To select the pins you want to connect strongly, click one or more pins on the selected net.
   You can click a pin, Shift+click subsequent pins, or select pins by area by clicking and dragging with the right mouse button.
   Clicking on the pins of the selected net makes the connection change.
   • If you select a single pin, the other pins are not deselected, and that pin is connected strongly to the current selection of strongly connected pins.
   • If you select multiple pins, those pins are connected strongly to all other strongly connected pins on the net.
   
   When you click pins to be strongly connected, the net flight line display immediately changes to show the new information.
   You can also use the Define Strongly Connected Pins form to select a net.
4. Press F3 to open the Define Strongly Connected Pins form, while the Strongly Connected Pins command is active.
   
   
5. Type the name of a net in the Net field or click net names in the list box of the form to select them.
6. On the layout canvas, select the pins you want to define.
   When you add or remove pins to be strongly connected, the net flight line display changes immediately to show the new information.
   To select more than one net at a time to work on, you can:
   • Choose multiple nets in the form.
   • Use drag by area when the command line prompts you to select a net.
   
   You must define strong pin connectivity within a net. You cannot define strong pin connectivity between nets.
7. When you have finished, press Esc to end the command.
   When you define pins as strongly connected, the router routes them within the design.

You can change from the Strongly Connected command to the Must Connect command, to the Weakly Connected command, to the Pseudo Parallel Connect command with the right mouse button.

Related Topics

Define Net/Pin Connections Form

Flight lines

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