Auto Route PropertyManager

To display this PropertyManager, click Tools > Routing > Electrical > Auto Route Tool_AutoRoute_RoutingTools.gif while editing a route.

Auto Route

  • Orthogonal route. Creates a route with segments that run parallel to the X, Y, and Z axes, with right angles between segments.
    • Alternate paths. Displays alternate valid orthogonal routes. Scroll to a selection to view an alternate route in the graphics area. A maximum of seven solutions are provided at a time. You can access the alternate path solutions by clicking in the Alternate paths box and then clicking in the graphics area to view the manipulator. In the manipulator, you can right-click to change to the next possible solution and left-click to accept the current solution offered.

Selections

In the graphics area, select a start point (any point in the current sketch), then select the next entity to route to. Valid selections:

Route type Valid selections Result
Standard Point in the current sketch A spline is added from the start point to the selected point.
Sketch point outside the route sketch
Line in the current sketch A spline is added from the start point to the closest endpoint of the selected entity, then the route continues to the other end of the entity.
Line, construction line, or reference axis of an object outside the route sketch
Orthogonal Line or end point of a sketch segment in the current sketch A path is created with lines that run parallel to the X, Y, and Z axes, with right angles between segments.
Line, edge, or reference axis of an object outside the route sketch A corresponding line is created within the route sketch, and the route segment is created.

If you click Undo once, the route segment is removed, but the sketch line remains. Then you can route to an endpoint of the sketch line. If you click Undo a second time, the sketch line is removed.
  • Current selection. Lists the entities you select.
  • Current Edit point. For information only. Lists the point from which the route will continue. For example, this could be the last point you selected, or the endpoint of the last axis you selected.
  • Flip through clips. Reverses the direction of the route through the selected clip.

Route Along Geometry

Selections

  • Current selection. Lists the entities you select.
  • Offset for route along surface. Defines the offset distance between the route and the selected surface. The distance can be set to different values for different entities.
  • Include covering for dimension. Applies a covering to the route.
  • Use centerline dimension. Overrides the setting in Routing Options.
  • Current edit point. For information only. Lists the point from which the route will continue. For example, this could be the last point you selected, or the endpoint of the last axis you selected.

Re-route spline

You can update a route to travel through selected clips.

Selections

  • Current selection.. Select the spline and the axes of one or more clips, then click PM_OK.gif.
  • Flip through clips. Reverses the direction of the route through the selected clip.
You can update a route to ignore clips:
  • If you delete a clip from the route subassembly, then the next time you edit the route, the software informs you that a clip has been deleted and asks if you want to update the route. If you re-route, the route updates to a more direct path ignoring the original clip.
  • If a clip is still in the assembly, but you no longer want the route to pass through it, you can choose to ignore the clip in the route. While editing the route, right-click the sketch segment under the clip and select Unroute from clip.

Guidelines

Guideline Actions

  • Merge guidelines to form routes PM_mergeguidelines.gif. Merges two or more guidelines into a single route.
  • Join guidelines to existing routes PM_joinguidelines.gif. Joins a guideline into an existing route at a selected route point.
  • Convert guidelines to routes PM_convertguidelines.gif. Converts one or more guidelines into unique routes.
Merging or joining guidelines into routes works best if their paths are close together or approximately parallel to one another.

Guidelines

  • Display. Clear to turn off the display of guidelines and return to Auto-Route mode.
    • Update on changes. Select to update the display automatically as changes are made to the guidelines. When cleared, click Update Guidelines to update the display manually.
  • Filter guidelines by length. Select to filter the visibility of the guidelines by length.
    • Show Shortest. Move the slider until the shortest guideline you want to see is visible.
    • Show Longest. Move the slider until the longest guideline you want to see is visible.