The tools (figure below) required to auto place components is displayed automatically on the workspace when Tools| Autoplace menu is invoked.

Even though AutoPlacer function can be invoked at will, following sequence of operation is recommended. Single components may be relocated between bins or placed on the board in Manual Mode. User decides on final location of relocated component. In Automatic Mode components are placed automatically and their final positions depend on parameters. Parameters should be set separately

The new autoplacer is a sophisticated tool, which does the function of placing all components on to the board and is interactive and flexible. There is no predefined procedure or sequence of operations but certain convention must be observed.

    a. Only components located outside of the board (present in the bins) are selected for placement. Components, which are currently located on the board, are considered as already placed.
    b. Only the components with at least one net connected pad are selected for placement. Totally disconnected components are ignored and have to be placed manually. The reason for this is because, it cannot be predicted that, which position on the board is optimal for unconnected component.


Autoplacer can do the following:

• It can automatically place all components outside of the board boundaries and sort them according to parts.
• It allows user to relocate single components and manually place them according to selected placement cell patterns.
• It allows user to identify other components connected to selected component on the board and manually place them according to selected placement cell patterns.
• It allows to automatically place components connected to selected one.
• It allows to automatically place all connected components starting with those connected to selected component.
• It allows to build groups of components and relocate these groups to desired position on the board.
• It allows to automatically build new groups of components using the currently present group as template and relocate this newly created group to desired position on the board.

Procedure to Autoplace components

A: Select All Components from Place components in bins function tool. When this function is executed, the program decides arbitrarily to which bin the given component is assigned depending on total area of its pad lands. User may then manually relocate components from bin to bin if required. With automatic placement in bins current placement layer of the component is taken under consideration. Those currently placed on top of the board are sent to COMP.SIDE bins and those on the bottom to SOLDER SIDE bins.

B: Design Rules for placement are set.
Required parameters in the Parameter dialog is set. This dialog automatically is switched ON when user selects Tools/ Auto Place menu or using the option tool Display Parameters from Autoplace Parameters function tool, the parameter dialog is invoked.

C: One or more strategic components are selected and manually relocated to desired positions on the board. In most cases such components will be connectors, mounting holes etc, which have to reside at mechanically predetermined positions.
To be more precise atleast one component should be on the board and acts like a hub component. This component acts as a reference component for the autoplacer and places other components. This is performed using the function tool Autoplace all components.

D: Other components are placed semi automatically or automatically according to parameters set in DR and selected placement strategy .