Component Names on PCB being initially placed at random

[scott]

When I created a PCB from a schematic, the component Names on the PCB were not placed next to the components.  Instead, they seem to have been placed at random distances from the components, forcing me to manually track them down and bring them back to close proximity.  The attached screenshot shows a handful of components, which I have spread out for clarity.  One can see how the Names are in most cases not near components.

This is using version 9.2.1 on Mac OS.

Thanks,

Scott

[jm2morri]

Hi Scott,

The location of >NAME on layer tNames in the package (footprint) is the default location of the reference designator.  The location of these strings isn't always optimum in off-the-shelf libraries or user libraries (not mine for this very reason!).

Anyways, check that first.  If they are messed up in the library, then fix them there and update the PCB from the libraries.  That should put them back where they belong.  (Though I'm not sure how 9.2 handles that since all reference designators are "unsmashed" by default and if they are moved not sure if the location is updated during an update.  If you placed them on purpose you wouldn't want that.  But in your case you do.  Perhaps @jorge_garcia could elaborate on how that works).

The other possibility is that you grouped a bunch of items with the tname layer ON but the top layer (or torigin) layer off and then moved the group.  In this case, you would have selected the designators and moved them with the group.

In that case, you'll have to manually move them back, though you should be able to group them and move them in one step -- turn off all layers but tNames and group everything then move the group.

Hope that helps.

James.

[scott]

Hi James,

It's not the library; I made the components myself and put the tNames right next to the components.  I also don't recall having the tNames layer on with the tOrigins layer off, let alone doing a Move in that condition.

So, I'm suspecting this is a new bug.

Thanks,
Scott

[jm2morri]

Can you send me the library?  I can try adding to a schematic here.

James.

[scott]

I've done a little more experimentation.  It turns out not to happen on PCB creation, but rather on copying a component group in the schematic and then pasting the group, still in the schematic of course.  The steps were:

1. Create simple schematic of just a handful of components, don't even need to wire them up.

2. Create PCB from schematic -- the Names are placed properly.

3. Perform the Group/Copy/Paste operation in the schematic.

4. Look at the Board and note that the Names are scattered.

I've attached a schematic and a board.  They are in the condition of Step 2 above being completed, so to reproduce the problem one just has to do steps 3 and 4.  No library is needed for this.

Thanks,

Scott

[jm2morri · Accepted solution]

Yes, I see the same thing.  The placement of tName string does seem to be random.  It's not where it was in the copied components and not where it is in the library.  Very odd.

Good news is that it's easy to put back where the library has it at least.  Group everything, run the smash command (either button or type is "smash" into command line and hit enter) and then apply it to the group.

All the designators will go back to their default location from the library.

James.

[scott]

Ah, yes, running smash on smashed parts should unsmash them and thus restore the locations, then another smash would make them moveable again.  Sounds like a bug, though.  Hopefully someone from Autodesk will see this and log it.

Thanks,

Scott

[jm2morri]

Sorry, I forgot one important detail.  To "unsmash" hold down the shift key when you apply "smash" to the group.  That is what does the unsmash.  Sorry, that's important.

The help entry for the smash command has the details if you're interested.

James.

[scott]

Thank you -- I wondered at some point how to do that using the new UI.

Scott

[jorge_garcia]

Hi Guys,

We are looking into this issue and a bug report has been created. Stay tuned.

Best Regards,