Create a new Altium Project

Open Altium
File –> New –> Project

Fig. 235 Altium - Create new project.

Give a describing name for the project
Choose a location for saving the project (often it is suitable to save the project in a folder with BitBucket reference)
Click Create
A new project with no content was created

Fig. 236 Altium - New empty project.

Add a new schematic sheet: right mouse click –> Add new to project –> Schematic
Save the new schematic sheet: right mouse click –> save as

Fig. 237 Altium - New schematic sheet.

New schematic sheet was added.

9. In general the symbol * marks that this sheet/ project is not saved. This can be done be clicking File –> save or save all

10. If you develop the PCB for the ELSYS institute the template A4_CoBo_THN should be used. It is also part of the BitBucket content and can be found under the following path (for working with BitBucket and Libraries look at the instruction for Altium DB Lib) …pcb_librariestemplatesschematicsA4_CoBo_THN

To use the template in the schematic open the schematic click Design –> Templates –> Project Templates –> Choose a File

Fig. 238 Altium - Choose template.

and select the suitable template

Fig. 239 Altium - Select template.

Then you get a schematic sheet with this header

Fig. 240 Altium - Templates.

To fill the * marked fields, select the schematic sheet, open the properties (Panels –> Properties)

Fig. 241 Altium - Properties.

Change the register from general to parameters

Fig. 242 Altium - Parameters.

Enter the necessary missing parameters

Fig. 243 Altium - Parameters.

The result should look like this

Fig. 244 Altium - Template filled.

The field Project Revision can be neglect or combined with a repository version tool or set manually.
The way for the manual edit process is select Project –> Project Options
Select the register “Parameters”
Add “ProjectRevision” and a value e.g. 0.1

Fig. 245 Altium - Options for PCB Project.

Now the schematic workstation is prepared and you are able to place components on the schematic sheet
If components are placed, it is necessary to annotate them by Tools –> Annotate –> Annotate Schematics

Fig. 246 Altium - Annotate schematic.

Update Changes List

Fig. 247 Altium - Update Changes List.

OK

Fig. 248 Altium - OK.

Accept Changes (Create ECO)

Fig. 249 Altium - Accept Changes.

Validate Changes –> Execute Changes –> Close

Fig. 250 Altium - Validate/ Execute/ Close.

27. Every component should have a designator. Most important thing is to be consistent within one project. See Wikipedia for an example list.

Fig. 251 Altium - Designator D1.

If you placed some components on the schematic sheet(s) and annotated them compile the project right mouse click on the project –> Compile PCB Project Guide.PrjPcb

Fig. 252 Altium - Compile Project.

If errors exist –> debug problems

If no errors –> create PCB

Create PCB

Right mouse click –> Add new to project –> PCB

Fig. 253 Altium - Add PCB to project.

Save PCB

Right mouse click –> Save as

Import Components from the schematic to the PCB Design –> Import Changes from Guide.PrjPcb (short cut: di)

Fig. 254 Altium - Import components from schematic.

Be careful not to use Update Changes from Guide.PrjPcb. In this case you update the schematic with no content of the PCB. All components included in the schematic sheets are placed on the right edge of the PCB.

By pressing the numbers 1, 2 and 3 you can select between the following views

1 = Board planning mode –> define the shape of the PCB

2 = 2D view –> routing view

3 = 3D view

Often it is helpful to define the null- point on the left corner because then the x and y dimension is without any offset

To do this: