If you choose to load one of the board templates (board outlines) provided with Layout, but DEFAULT.TCH is not suitable for your type of board, you can load a technology template to match the characteristics of your board, including manufacturing complexity and component type. You can load a technology template after you open the board.

A netlist file describes the interconnections of a schematic design using the names of the signals, components, and pins. A netlist file (.MNL) contains the following information:

· Footprint names

· Electrical packaging

· Component names

· Net names

· The component pin for each net

· Net, pin, and component properties

You can create a Layout netlist directly in Capture or Express, or you can import Layout-supported netlists using a translator that corresponds to your schematic program. The translator creates the file design_name.MNL.

The AutoECO (Automatic Engineering Change Order) process combines a board template (.TPL) and a schematic netlist (.MNL) to produce a Layout board file (.MAX) that contains all of the board’s physical and electrical information.

Resolving missing footprint errors

If you are in the process of running AutoECO and it is unable to find a designated footprint, the Link Footprint to Component dialog box appears. Choose one of the options in the dialog box (described below) to resolve the error, so that the AutoECO process can continue.

Link existing footprint to component

Displays the Select Footprint dialog box, within which you can locate and select the desired footprint, then choose the OK button to return to AutoECO. (Choose the Add button in the Select Footprint dialog box to add additional footprint libraries, if necessary.)

Create or modify footprint library

Opens the library manager, which you can use to create or modify footprint libraries.When you’re finished, exit the library manager (from the File menu, choose Exit) to return to AutoECO.

Defer remaining edits until completion

Continues to run AutoECO, then checks for errors at its completion. Layout reports missing footprints in an ASCII file (design_name.ERR).