Generating a drill tape

When you select the Create Drill Files option in the Post Process Settings dialog box, Layout produces drill tape files (.TAP) in Excellon format and places them in your working directory. During the manufacturing process, the drilling machine reads these files to determine the size and location of the drill holes on your board. Unless you shift the output using the X Shift and Y Shift settings in the Post Process Settings dialog box, the drill tape coordinates match the coordinates that you see in the design window.

For though-hole components, Layout outputs a file named THRUHOLE.TAP. In addition, Layout automatically generates drill tape files for each layer pair that shares a blind or buried via and names them accordingly. For example, a file with the name 1_4.TAP includes data related to layers 1, 4, and all layers in between.

Running the Post Processor

The Run Post Processor command creates files for the layers that are batch enabled in the Post Process spreadsheet. Output files are created for each layer and given appropriate file extensions corresponding to the type of output.

To perform post processing

1 From the Options menu, choose Post Process Settings. The Post Process spreadsheet appears.

2 Select a layer (or layers) you want to change settings for, then choose Properties from the pop-up menu. The Post Process Settings dialog box appears.

3 Select an output format, select the appropriate options (choose the dialog box’s Help button for information on the options in the dialog box), choose the OK button, then close the Post Process spreadsheet.

4 If necessary, choose Gerber Settings from the Options menu. Select the options you want in the Gerber Preferences dialog box (choose the dialog box’s Help button for information on the options in the dialog box), then choose the OK button.

5 From the Auto menu, choose Run Post Processor. Layout creates the post processing files.

Creating reports

The Create Reports command brings up the Generate Reports dialog box, within which you select the output reports you would like to have generated.

To create reports

1 From the Auto menu, choose Create Reports. The Generate Reports dialog box appears.

2 Select the reports you want generated (choose the dialog box’s Help button for information on the reports), then choose the OK button.