What’s New in Altium Designer

Explore new features, enhancements, and important changes introduced in the latest version of
Altium Designer, or see what they are working on now for upcoming releases.

Easily manage your PCB design rules with the ability to enable or disable basic rules directly from the All Rules view in the Constraint Manager from the PCB.

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Simplify your Harness Design release process with Altium Designer's Project Releaser. Automate and manage releases with one-touch ease, reducing errors and saving time, whether working online with Altium 365 or offline.

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Refine your 3D-MID designs with Altium Designer's new track editing features. You can click and drag to modify tracks or add new vertices, giving you more control and precision in your design process.

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When accessing the Constraint Manager from the schematic, it is now possible to choose and configure specific width constraints per layer for any PCB document in the same design project, and independently across layer stacks defined for a chosen board.

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You now have the ability to specify the 'Strip Length' and 'Pull Off Length' when defining a crimp-type cavity in the Wiring Diagram.

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3D-MID Design now includes the ability to select and drag multiple components on the substrate. This enhancement allows users to easily reposition multiple components simultaneously on the 3D substrate.

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The Single Layer PCB Support feature in Altium Designer allows users to create single-layer PCBs, with full integration in the Layer Stack Manager and related outputs.

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  • To learn more about Layer Stack Manager in Altium Designer, visit the documentation page.


 
 

You now have the ability to choose alternate components in variants without changing the schematic symbol or PCB footprint.

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The Constraint Manager has been upgraded with features such as exporting/importing constraint sets, a global 'Ignore Pad to Pad clearance within a footprint' option, and improved rule cell highlighting within the PCB.

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In Harness Design, you now have control over cavity information in Connection Tables. We’ve also added Commenting and Tasks features for collaborative reviews and task assignments.

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Support for complex-shaped footprints and natural gridlines on 3D substrates, plus snapping priority override, makes designing easier and more efficient.

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Add favorite filters in the Manufacturer Part Search panel and preserve component lifecycle states when releasing new revisions for enhanced data management.

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  • To see an overview about the Manufacturer Part Search, visit the feature page.

  • Visit the documentation page to learn about the searching and placing components.

 
 

Ensure a smooth transition to Altium Designer and reduce manual tasks when importing your latest KiCad projects.

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Now, with a new dialog summarizing imported values from the schematic in the Constraint Manager, visualizing constraints becomes more intuitive. Additionally, imported directives are easily distinguished within the design space by their blue coloring and distinct symbols, with corresponding rules accessible in the properties panel.  With support for creating xNets and xNet classes directly within the Constraint Manager from the PCB, bidirectional E-C-O propagation simplifies the synchronization between PCB and schematic sides. Furthermore, selecting the Custom topology for a 2-pin net automatically adds its pins as nodes to the topology editing area, facilitating quicker selection of proposed xSignals.

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You can create, upload, edit, and reuse Harness Wiring Diagram and Harness Layout Drawing templates within a connected Altium 365 Workspace, eliminating redundant efforts on your part. Additionally, Altium Designer offers enhanced control over your designs with the incorporation of a 'Type' field for objects in the Wiring Diagram and labels and coverings in the Layout Drawing, enabling precise management of their inclusion in the BOM. Moreover, shield objects can now be assigned a library ID, enhancing organization and accessibility. Simplifying wire color definition, Altium Designer now utilizes a single-color parameter in the Wiring Diagram, reflecting secondary and tertiary coloring for improved visibility and clarity. Furthermore, the introduction of an 'Include Cut' parameter for wire objects grants you control over their inclusion in a Wiring List placed in a Harness Draftsman document.

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The 'Supply Nets' rule is automatically added to every power net during compilation.

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You can now select between the latest ODB++ v.8.1 and legacy v.7.0 formats within a single installation. You can generate data for all defined variants collectively or separately, streamlining your workflow. Moreover, it simplifies Flex/Rigid-Flex manufacturing by incorporating various layer sub-types and implementing zones file support.

 
 

To help for early detection of footprint mirroring,  'No' is the default option in the warning dialog when using a keyboard shortcut to flip a component or room to add a layer of safety. There is also a new check ‘Components with Mirrored Footprints’ option added to the Components section of the PCB Health Check Monitor, which detects changes in pins between a placed component footprint in the PCB design space and the corresponding footprint in the applicable source library.  Additionally, the 'Update From PCB Libraries' tool has been enhanced to detect changes in designators and 3D bodies across all layers, with differences listed on the Properties tab.

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You can now enter a width value into a single cell at the top grid area, and it will automatically propagate to all corresponding width or gap fields. Furthermore, when working from a schematic, there is an indication of the sync status between constraints defined in the Constraint Manager and those specified through design directives in the source schematics.

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You now have the ability to specify crimps, seals, plugs, or other cavity parts for each required pin directly within the Wiring Diagram. These elements are also seamlessly integrated into the wiring list and connection table in the Draftsman document, providing clarity and precision to your designs.

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Altium Designer’s S-parameters tool, available within the Simulation Dashboard panel, offers a method to characterize networks by evaluating the ratio of incident and reflected microwaves, effectively addressing challenges in high-frequency circuits.

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  • Witness the benefits of using the Simulation tool in this short video.

  • To see an overview about the Simulation tool, visit the feature page.

  • Visit the documentation page to learn about the Simulation tool

 
 

A Creepage rule can now be specified for electrical clearances between nets and/or differential pairs, facilitated by the matrix in the Clearances view. Also, support has been added to the clearance matrix for multi-editing within a selected row or column to streamline your workflow.

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You now have the ability to specify crimps, seals, plugs, or other cavity parts for each required pin directly within the Wiring Diagram. These elements are also seamlessly integrated into the wiring list and connection table in the Draftsman document, providing clarity and precision to your designs.

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Altium Designer’s S-parameters tool, available within the Simulation Dashboard panel, offers a method to characterize networks by evaluating the ratio of incident and reflected microwaves, effectively addressing challenges in high-frequency circuits.

Recommended Content:

  • Witness the benefits of using the Simulation tool in this short video.

  • To see an overview about the Simulation tool, visit the feature page.

  • Visit the documentation page to learn about the Simulation tool

 
 

When accessing the Constraint Manager from the PCB editor and defining constraints on the Physical and Electrical views, it is now possible to transfer those constraints to the Schematic through the Engineering Change Order (ECO) process. This enhancement ensures design consistency by reducing errors and saving time in the constraint definition process.


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Altium Designer has added support for multi-colored wires, with the ability to define primary, secondary, tertiary, and border colors as part of a wire's parameters to help expand the functional identification capability of wires in your design.

 

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You now have the ability to manually map components in target blocks where multiple components have been detected by the PCB Layout Replication Tool as having similar connections. This allows you to manually choose between available components that are able to replace each other, without violating circuit connectivity.

 

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Altium Designer's Constraint Manager, with significant enhancements in design control, is now more flexible and intuitive. Efficiency in design organization is improved with the capability of adding nets to an existing class. Custom topologies are defined more insightfully with structured xSignals, and we’ve also added line numbers on tabs/grids to enhance clarity and navigation. Lastly, you can now choose between the Constraint Manager and the older Design Rules system when creating a new project to adapt to your preferred workflow.

 
 

Altium Designer's latest PCB CoDesign enhancements offer a more efficient and streamlined collaboration process. You can now precisely compare and apply changes to unions for targeted modifications. Also, the ‘Show on PCB’ option simplifies highlighting changes in specific categories for better visualization. These improvements aim to boost efficiency and provide a more organized and seamless collaborative design experience.

 
 

Altium Designer's Multi-board Draftsman tool integrates manufacturing drawings into Multi-board design projects. The multi-board view displays combined graphics of PCB outlines and 3D models with various viewing options. Enjoy standard Draftsman features like annotation, dimensioning, and BOM, and say goodbye to managing different documentation sets or relying solely on MCAD software. Draftsman for Multi-board offers a clear visual representation of board connections in larger systems, ensuring design integrity and consistency.

 
 

Altium Designer introduces the Simulation Stress Analysis tool, which enhances the design process by incorporating stress analysis within transient analysis. This tool calculates and checks component operating conditions against defined limits, simplifies stress model creation, and allows for reliability derating. With a comprehensive stress chart in the simulation viewer, it provides precision and control for informed decisions on component reliability and performance.

 
 

Altium Designer's Constraint Manager, available for pro and enterprise subscriptions, simplifies meeting complex standards and PCB design requirements. This tool allows easy browsing, creation, modification, and reuse of verified constraint sets through a tabular, object-based user interface. Enhancing clarity and comprehension, it seamlessly integrates rules between schematics and PCB layout, streamlining the design process with a consistent format for rule addition in both areas.

 
 


Altium Designer's PCB CoDesign simplifies collaboration, ensuring design integrity for engineering teams. With pro and enterprise subscriptions, this tool streamlines cooperation within your workspace, eliminating manual change tracking. Visualize alterations, compare layouts, and merge updates effortlessly in a unified environment. Say goodbye to cumbersome revision histories and embrace a more efficient PCB design approach with PCB CoDesign.

 
 

Altium Designer introduces the groundbreaking 3D Mechatronic Integrated Device design tool, simplifying the integration of non-planar electronic designs. It seamlessly aligns with existing components, synchronizes with schematic documents, and eliminates the need for time-consuming M-CAD hacks. This tool meets electrical specifications while enabling aesthetically pleasing designs. With pro or enterprise subscriptions, it facilitates easy adoption in your product development workflow.

 
 

Altium Designer's enhanced Power Analyzer by Keysight Tool addresses power network analysis challenges efficiently. With new support for assigning currents to multiple nets on the same component across different series elements. This enhancement ensures a seamless and efficient power analysis experience, allowing you to maximize benefits from your design in Altium Designer.

 
 

Automatic Length Tuning introduces automatic length and delay tuning functionality in 2D mode, accessed conveniently from the main Route menu. This feature reduces the manual effort typically associated with length and delay tuning, expediting your design process.

 
 

For enterprise and pro subscriptions, the new Constraint Manager offers a table-based interface, accessible from both Schematic and PCB, allowing you to define constraints more collaboratively. Engineers and stakeholders can collectively set design constraints with ease.

 
 

The new PCB Layout Replication tool gives you the ability to quickly replicate the layout for repetitive blocks of circuitry in a flat PCB design. This avoids the need for manual routines, snippets, reuse blocks, or converting into a multi-channel design.

 
 

The custom paste and solder mask feature is now automatically enabled by default, allowing you to personalize pad shapes directly without the need for workarounds. This simplification improves manufacturing efficiency, project clarity, and provides a more user-friendly interface.

 
 

We've added a new "Retrace Parameters" feature to the Gloss and Retrace panel, offering enhanced flexibility for retracing single-ended traces at any angle using the Rounded hugging style. You can also set rule-based width modes or input custom values to ensure compliance with design rules. Furthermore, you have the option to "Preserve Route Path," allowing you to maintain precise trace geometry during retracing, providing greater control and design accuracy.

 
 

Altium Designer's "Where Used" component panel streamlines component management in your PCB designs. It offers a comprehensive list of where each component is used, making conflict resolution and maintaining design accuracy a breeze. The latest enhancement features a redesigned panel and integration of Reuse Blocks from the connected Workspace's library, with tabs displayed only when relevant to reduce clutter.

 
 

For Pro and Enterprise subscriptions, PCB CoDesign in Altium Designer revolutionizes collaborative design by enabling multiple team members to work simultaneously on a project, ensuring streamlined development, efficient testing, and faster iteration to meet project deadlines. This feature includes Git-like version control, allowing collaborators to access the same project concurrently, commit changes to a master branch, and use Commenting and Tasks features to allocate work on the board. Notifications alert team members of commits, and the Compare and Merge panel displays differences in design, offering color-coded feedback. When conflicts arise, such as overlapping changes by multiple designers, you can confidently decide to keep local changes or accept remote changes from the latest commit, ensuring a smooth collaborative design process.

 
 

Seamlessly Import OrCAD and Allegro Design Files

For enterprise, when connected to an Enterprise Server Workspace and a design project is stored in a SVN repository managed through the Workspace's Version Control Service, you can now migrate this project from the SVN repository to the Workspace's built-in Git repository.


Migrate Projects from SVN to Git in Your Enterprise Server Workspace

For enterprise, when connected to an Enterprise Server Workspace and a design project is stored in a SVN repository managed through the Workspace's Version Control Service, you can now migrate this project from the SVN repository to the Workspace's built-in Git repository.

 
 

Optimize License Management with Enhanced Navigation and Labels

When it comes to license management, the search field and related sorting control will now appear only when more than seven licenses are in the listing to avoid redundancy. Also, license type labels have been added to help quickly distinguish differences between licenses in the listing.

 
 

Unlock More Efficient Harness Design Features and Easily Validate Projects

For Harness Design, the zoom level now sets the size of the model view's green box automatically. No need for manual adjustments. We've also added quick keyboard shortcuts for adding wires and placing bundles to streamline your workflow. Plus, you can easily validate your active harness project with the new validate button.

 
 

Simply Copy Room Format with Rotation

There is a new functionality of the ‘Copy Room Formats’ feature with the addition of an option to control whether or not the rotation of the chosen source room is copied to the desired destination room, avoiding the need for manual rotation corrections.

 
 

Add New Special Strings for Fabrication and Assembly Notes

You can now include a wider range of manufacturing and assembly parameters, such as layer counts, board dimensions, and object quantities directly into your fabrication and assembly notes. These additions are conveniently auto-calculated directly from the PCB, ensuring that your notes align with any design updates.

 
 

Freely Customize Paste Mask and Solder Mask

Altium has completed the custom pad stack feature, which includes the ability to freely customize pad, thermal relief, and most recently, paste and solder mask shapes. You now have the ability to independently control paste and solder mask shapes and can adapt to non-standard component footprints.

 
 

Conveniently Manage Part Choices for Each Component in Your Design

Altium has added the ability to manage part choices that are associated with each component in your design. The excluded part choice will still be in the project, however it will not appear in the generated BOM, nor will it be used in price calculations or as part of BOM checks

 
 

Precisely Measure your Results with the New Simulation Data Viewer

The new Mixed-Simulation Data Viewer introduces higher waveform accuracy and measurement precision. This extended precision significantly reduces the likelihood of round-off errors, ensuring more accurate results when viewing simulation waveforms to improve the overall reliability of the simulation process.

 
 

Easily Keep Track of your Harness Wiring Diagrams

Altium has expanded support for additional multi-board features, which allows you to navigate to your wiring diagrams seamlessly from your multi-board schematic. You are now able to cross-probe directly from the corresponding harness object on the multi-board schematic to the Wiring Diagram of that harness design, minimizing the risk of mismatch and giving you more control over your multi-board design.

 
 

Precisely Position Silkscreen for Footprint Creation and PCB Manufacturing Preparation

The latest release simplifies the management of the silkscreen preparation process, offering the ability to effortlessly move or clip silkscreen objects at specific distances from exposed copper or solder mask openings. This eliminates the need for manual silkscreen work while creating footprints and PCB manufacturing preparation.

 
 

Utilize the FSTIM Stimulus Model During Simulation

Altium's latest release adds simulation capabilities by providing expanded support for additional components. You are now able to add your digital file stimulus device (FSTIM) model primitives from PSpice for simulation in Altium to achieve high accuracy and efficiency in generating transient signals. This addition aligns with Altium's ongoing commitment to have a best-in-class SPICE simulator fully integrated within the Altium Designer environment.

 
 

Create Your Harness Cable Assembly Drawing Even More Precisely

This release introduces new tools for precise harness cable design, helping to reduce errors during assembly. You can now define the size of the harness covering relative to the enclosed bundle and choose between solid-style and patterned fills. Additionally, isometric views in the Layout Drawing give assemblers an additional viewpoint to enhance the presentation of harness components, enabling comprehensive communication of design intent and minimizing assembly errors.

 
 

Discover the hidden parts of your board with the pcb section view

The PCB section view provides precise insight into the layout and structure of your designs, like never before. when working with dense and complex PCBs the section view reveals the details within a PCB that are typically not visible. With full control over plane placement and color you can easily see all components, even smaller SMD components hiding under larger components or mechanical parts.

 
 

Custom Thermal Reliefs for Pads

As a continuation of our custom pad shape capabilities, it is now possible to add, remove, and edit, thermal relief spikes to anywhere on a pad, regardless of shape. This helps with soldering and avoids possible manufacturing problems like tombstoning.

 
 

Test Your Circuits With Real-Time Simulation Probes

This release introduces new tools for precise harness cable design, helping to reduce errors during assembly. You can now define the size of the harness covering relative to the enclosed bundle and choose between solid-style and patterned fills. Additionally, isometric views in the Layout Drawing give assemblers an additional viewpoint to enhance the presentation of harness components, enabling comprehensive communication of design intent and minimizing assembly errors.

 
 

Circuit Simulation support for Output Values in AC Analysis for Controlled Sources and Variable Passives

We’ve now added support for voltage and current controlled sources, functional sources and variable passive components for voltage, power and current output variables in the AC analysis. Great for audio projects, communication designs, and other design types. Plus we’ve added support for multi-bit ADC and ROM PSPICE digital model primitives as well as their timing models.

 
 

Live Traces & Fixed Aspect Ratios for Harness Wiring Diagram Objects

Live traces actively follow your cursor, showing you the way to your final wire destination. Allowing you to move more efficiently in the wiring diagram. Wiring diagram objects are now synced with the documents snap grid, bringing a new level of uniformity to the diagram.

 
 

New in Harness Design: 3D wireframe View And Ability to Add Models to Connection Points

In the Layout Drawing, it is now possible to show the Physical (3D) model for a connector as a wireframe view and also, for a connection point, display the Physical (3D) model of one of its associated parts.

 
 

Support For Workspace Defined Parameters & Bulk Edits For Components

For this release we have added support for workspace defined project parameters, bulk creation and edits of components, and enhanced side-by-side component revision comparison.

 
 

Added Support for Variable Passives & Global Nodes

This release of Altium Designer we’ve added support for more programmable logic array PSPICE digital primitives as well as support for digital models that use global nodes ($D_HI, $D_LO, $D_X), and variable passives.

 
 

Harness Design Improvements

The wiring diagram and layout drawing for harness projects has been given several new features to boost usability. We’ve added additional crimping capabilities, scaling options for documentation, visual connection lines for components and more.

 
 

The Gerber Setup dialog now includes a Layer Classes section in its Layers to plot list. Using the checkbox for layer classes, you can quickly enable plotting for all the layers that belong to a specific layer class.

 
 

This release of Altium Designer supports even more PSPICE digital model primitives. We’ve added support for the PINDLY, and CONSTRAINT Pspice digital behavioral model primitives as well as support for the DIGRRGEFAULT option.

 
 

The wiring diagram and layout drawing for harness projects has been given several new features to boost usability. We’ve added additional crimping capabilities, scaling options for documentation, visual connection lines for components and more.

 
 

To better convey a message to other project stakeholders, you now have the capability to copy and paste pictures into your comments. Also, exporting a project history report can now be easily done through the Reports menu.

 
 

This release has added several improvements for both the harness wiring diagram and the Harness layout drawing. Some new capabilities include: parameters for twist and shield objects, crimping, additional 3D views, multiple connections from a single point and more…

 
 

New PCB features allow you to load a stored view configuration file from the View Configuration Panel. Also, it is now possible to change the name for the Gerber Board Profile layer when using the new, unified Gerber/Gerber X2 dialog.

 
 

Quickly assess the integrity of your power distribution network without the need for any specialized training with Power Analyzer by Keysight.

 
 

You are now able to transfer and sync your muli-board designs with your mechanical team using the MCAD CoDesigner.


Harness Design functionality allows you to create a full wiring harness design, from the individual pin-to-pin connections right through to manufacturing documentation.