A Guide to Allegro 16.6 Free Viewer: Features, Benefits, and Tips
Allegro 16.6 Free Viewer: A Powerful Tool for Viewing and Plotting PCB Designs
If you are working with printed circuit board (PCB) designs, you may have encountered files created with Allegro or OrCAD software from Cadence. These are popular tools for PCB design and analysis that are used by many professionals in the industry. However, if you do not have a license for these software products, you may not be able to open or view these files easily.
Allegro 16.6 Free Viewer
That is where Allegro 16.6 Free Viewer comes in handy. This is a free tool that allows you to view and plot databases from Allegro PCB Editor, OrCAD PCB Editor, Allegro Package Designer, and Allegro PCB SI technology. You can use it to access, review, and share PCB design data without needing a license or installing any software.
In this article, we will explain what Allegro 16.6 Free Viewer is, what are its benefits, how to download and install it, how to use it, and some tips and tricks for using it effectively. By the end of this article, you will have a clear idea of how Allegro 16.6 Free Viewer can help you with your PCB design projects.
What is Allegro 16.6 Free Viewer?
Allegro 16.6 Free Viewer is a free download from Cadence that allows you to view and plot databases from Allegro PCB Editor, OrCAD PCB Editor, Allegro Package Designer, and Allegro PCB SI technology. It is a standalone application that does not require any license or installation of the original software products.
Allegro 16.6 Free Viewer is a useful tool for PCB designers, engineers, manufacturers, and collaborators who need to access, review, and share PCB design data. You can use it to open and view various file formats, such as DWG, DXF, DSN, BRD, SIP, PKG, and more. You can also use it to plot and export the design data to PDF, TIFF, JPEG, or other formats.
Allegro 16.6 Free Viewer is a compatible viewer that supports designs for versions 15.x to 16.6 and runs on Windows OS. You can use it to view designs created with Allegro or OrCAD software products, as well as third-party tools that support the same file formats.
What are the benefits of using Allegro 16.6 Free Viewer?
There are many benefits of using Allegro 16.6 Free Viewer for viewing and plotting PCB designs. Here are some of them:
Easy to install and use: You do not need a license or any special hardware or software requirements to use Allegro 16.6 Free Viewer. You just need to download the zip file from the Cadence website, extract it to a folder of your choice, and run the setup.exe file. The installation process is simple and fast, and you can start using the viewer right away.
Supports various file formats: You can use Allegro 16.6 Free Viewer to open and view a wide range of file formats that are used for PCB design and analysis. These include DWG, DXF, DSN, BRD, SIP, PKG, and more. You can also view files that contain multiple boards or packages in a single file.
Provides powerful viewing and plotting features: You can use Allegro 16.6 Free Viewer to navigate, view, plot, and export the design data in various ways. You can use the toolbar buttons and menu options to zoom, pan, measure, print, export, and more. You can also use the right-click menu or the keyboard shortcuts to access more commands and functions.
Enables cross-probing between schematic and layout views: You can use Allegro 16.6 Free Viewer to view both the schematic and the layout views of the design in separate windows. You can also cross-probe between them by selecting a component or a net in one window and highlighting it in the other window. This helps you to verify the consistency and accuracy of the design data.
Allows you to view design constraints and properties: You can use Allegro 16.6 Free Viewer to view the design constraints and properties that are applied to the components, nets, pins, vias, or other objects in the design. You can see the values of these parameters in the status bar or in the property editor window. You can also filter the objects by their constraints or properties using the Find command.
Supports 3D viewing and visualization of PCB designs: You can use Allegro 16.6 Free Viewer to view the 3D representation of the PCB design in a separate window. You can rotate, zoom, pan, and tilt the 3D view to see the design from different angles and perspectives. You can also change the display settings, such as colors, lighting, transparency, and shadows, to enhance the visualization of the design.
How to download and install Allegro 16.6 Free Viewer?
Downloading and installing Allegro 16.6 Free Viewer is a simple and straightforward process. Here are the steps you need to follow:
Visit the Cadence website and go to the Allegro Downloads page.
Click on the link for Allegro/OrCAD/SIP/MCM FREE Physical Viewers 16.6.
Fill out the registration form and agree to the terms and conditions.
Download the zip file and extract it to a folder of your choice.
Run the setup.exe file and follow the instructions to complete the installation.
Once the installation is done, you can launch the viewer from the Start menu or the desktop shortcut. You can also check for updates or uninstall the viewer from the Start menu.
How to use Allegro 16.6 Free Viewer?
Using Allegro 16.6 Free Viewer is easy and intuitive. Here are some basic steps you need to follow:
Launch the viewer from the Start menu or the desktop shortcut.
Open a design file by clicking on File > Open or dragging and dropping it into the viewer window. You can also open multiple files at once by selecting them in the Open dialog box.
Use the toolbar buttons and menu options to navigate, view, plot, and export the design. You can also use the right-click menu or the keyboard shortcuts to access more commands and functions.
Some of the common commands and functions you can use are:
Zoom: You can use the Zoom command (Z) to zoom in or out of the design. You can also use the mouse wheel or the + and - keys to zoom in or out. You can also use the Zoom Area command (A) to zoom in on a specific area of the design by drawing a rectangle around it.
Pan: You can use the Pan command (P) to move or scroll the design in any direction. You can also use the arrow keys or drag the mouse while holding down the right button to pan.
Measure: You can use the Measure command (M) to measure distances, angles, areas, or perimeters of objects in the design. You can also use the Measure Between command (B) to measure distances between two points or objects.
Print: You can use the Print command (Ctrl+P) to print the design to a printer or a file. You can also use the Print Preview command (Ctrl+Shift+P) to see how the design will look before printing. You can adjust the print settings, such as scale, orientation, margins, layers, etc., in the Print dialog box.
Export: You can use the Export command (E) to export the design to various formats, such as PDF, TIFF, JPEG, BMP, PNG, etc. You can also use the Export Options command (Ctrl+E) to customize the export settings, such as resolution, color depth, compression, etc.
Cross-probe: You can use the Cross-probe command (X) to cross-probe between schematic and layout views of the design. You can select a component or a net in one window and highlight it in the other window. You can also use the Cross-probe Options command (Ctrl+X) to change the cross-probe settings, such as highlight mode, zoom mode, etc.
View: You can use the View command (V) to change the view of the design. You can choose from different view modes, such as Normal, Outline, Fill, Wireframe, etc. You can also use the View Options command (Ctrl+V) to change the view settings, such as colors, fonts, units, grids, etc.
3D View: You can use the 3D View command (3) to open a separate window that shows the 3D representation of the PCB design. You can rotate, zoom, pan, and tilt the 3D view using the mouse or the keyboard. You can also use the 3D View Options command (Ctrl+3) to change the 3D view settings, such as display mode, lighting, transparency, shadows, etc.
Tips and tricks for using Allegro 16.6 Free Viewer
Here are some tips and tricks for using Allegro 16.6 Free Viewer more effectively:
Use the Find command (Ctrl+F) to search for components, nets, pins, vias, or text in the design. You can enter a name or a pattern in the Find dialog box and click on Find Next or Find All to locate the matching objects. You can also filter the objects by their constraints or properties using the Filter tab.
Use the Layers command (L) to turn on or off different layers of the design. You can select or deselect individual layers or groups of layers in the Layers dialog box. You can also create custom layer sets and save them for future use.
Use the Options command (O) to customize the viewer settings, such as colors, fonts, units, grids, etc. You can also use the Options > Save Settings command to save your current settings as the default settings for future sessions.
Use the Help command (F1) to access the online help system or the user guide for more information. You can also use the Help > About command to check the version and license information of the viewer.
Conclusion
Allegro 16.6 Free Viewer is a handy tool for anyone who needs to view and plot PCB designs created with Allegro or OrCAD software products. It is free to download and use, and supports a wide range of file formats and features. It is easy to install and use, and provides a user-friendly interface and intuitive commands. Whether you are a PCB designer, engineer, manufacturer, or collaborator, you can benefit from using Allegro 16.6 Free Viewer to access, review, and share PCB design data.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about Allegro 16.6 Free Viewer:
What are the system requirements for Allegro 16.6 Free Viewer?
The minimum system requirements for Allegro 16.6 Free Viewer are:
Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, or 10 (32-bit or 64-bit)
Pentium 4 processor or higher
1 GB of RAM or higher
500 MB of free disk space or higher
1024 x 768 display resolution or higher
OpenGL graphics card or higher
Can I edit or modify the design data using Allegro 16.6 Free Viewer?
No, Allegro 16.6 Free Viewer is a read-only tool that does not allow you to edit or modify the design data. You can only view and plot the design data using the viewer. If you need to edit or modify the design data, you will need a license for Allegro or OrCAD software products.
Can I view encrypted or password-protected files using Allegro 16.6 Free Viewer?
No, Allegro 16.6 Free Viewer does not support viewing encrypted or password-protected files. You will need a license for Allegro or OrCAD software products to view these files.
Can I view designs created with other software products using Allegro 16.6 Free Viewer?
Yes, Allegro 16.6 Free Viewer supports viewing designs created with third-party tools that support the same file formats as Allegro or OrCAD software products. However, some features or functions may not be available or compatible with the viewer.
Can I view designs created with newer versions of Allegro or OrCAD software products using Allegro 16.6 Free Viewer?
No, Allegro 16.6 Free Viewer only supports viewing designs created with versions 15.x to 16.6 of Allegro or OrCAD software products. If you need to view designs created with newer versions, you will need a license for Allegro or OrCAD software products.
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