Interactive router modes in PCB Design - Dashboard Guide

Dashboard Mode - Interactive router modes

Goal

Understand how different interactive router modes affect PCB routing efficiency and quality.

Sample Data

Mode	Average Routing Time (min)	Number of Errors	Trace Length (mm)	User Satisfaction (1-5)
Push and Shove	15	2	1200	4
Walkaround	18	1	1250	3
Glossing	12	3	1180	4
Ignore Obstacles	10	5	1300	2
Manual	25	0	1150	5

Dashboard Components

• KPI Card: Average Routing Time
  Formula: AVERAGE('RoutingData'[Average Routing Time (min)]) = 16
  Shows the average time spent routing across all modes.
• KPI Card: Total Errors
  Formula: SUM('RoutingData'[Number of Errors]) = 11
  Shows total errors found in all modes combined.
• Bar Chart: Routing Time by Mode
  X-axis: Mode
  Y-axis: Average Routing Time (min)
  Shows how long each mode takes on average.
• Bar Chart: Number of Errors by Mode
  X-axis: Mode
  Y-axis: Number of Errors
  Highlights error counts per mode.
• Table: Detailed Mode Metrics
  Columns: Mode, Average Routing Time (min), Number of Errors, Trace Length (mm), User Satisfaction (1-5)
  Shows all data for detailed comparison.

Dashboard Layout

+----------------------+----------------------+
| Average Routing Time  | Total Errors         |
|       (KPI)          |       (KPI)          |
+----------------------+----------------------+
| Routing Time by Mode  | Number of Errors by  |
|      (Bar Chart)     |       Mode (Bar)     |
+----------------------+----------------------+
|          Detailed Mode Metrics Table           |
+------------------------------------------------+

Interactivity

Filter by Mode: Selecting a mode updates all components to show data only for that mode.

Hovering over bars in charts highlights corresponding rows in the detailed table.

Self Check

If you filter the dashboard to show only the 'Push and Shove' mode, which components update and what changes occur?

• Average Routing Time KPI updates to 15 minutes.
• Total Errors KPI updates to 2 errors.
• Routing Time by Mode bar chart shows only the 'Push and Shove' bar.
• Number of Errors by Mode bar chart shows only the 'Push and Shove' bar.
• Detailed Mode Metrics Table shows only the 'Push and Shove' row.

Key Result

Dashboard compares PCB interactive router modes by routing time, errors, and user satisfaction.

Practice

1.

What is the main purpose of interactive router modes in PCB design?

easy

A. To help draw PCB paths easily and correctly

B. To create 3D models of the PCB

C. To simulate electrical signals

D. To generate manufacturing reports

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the role of interactive router modes

   Interactive router modes assist in drawing PCB paths by guiding the placement of traces.

2. Step 2: Compare with other PCB design tasks

   Creating 3D models, simulating signals, and generating reports are different functions not related to routing modes.

3. Final Answer:

   To help draw PCB paths easily and correctly -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Interactive router modes = Easy, correct PCB path drawing [OK]

Hint: Focus on routing tasks, not modeling or simulation [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing routing with 3D modeling
• Thinking routing modes simulate signals
• Assuming routing modes generate reports

2.

Which of the following is the correct syntax to activate the push-and-shove interactive router mode in a PCB design software command line?

router.mode = ?

easy

A. "pushshove"

B. "push-and-shove"

C. "push_and_shove"

D. "push and shove"

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the correct mode name format

   Interactive router modes typically use hyphens to separate words, so "push-and-shove" is standard.

2. Step 2: Check other options for syntax errors

   Underscores or spaces are usually invalid in mode names; concatenated words without separators are uncommon.

3. Final Answer:

   "push-and-shove" -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Correct mode syntax uses hyphens [OK]

Hint: Use hyphens, not spaces or underscores in mode names [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using underscores instead of hyphens
• Including spaces in mode names
• Combining words without separators

3.

Given the following interactive router mode settings in a PCB design tool:

mode = "hug"
trace_width = 0.25
obstacle_spacing = 0.2

What is the expected behavior when routing near obstacles?

medium

A. The trace will automatically increase width near obstacles

B. The trace will ignore obstacles and route straight

C. The trace will push obstacles aside to make room

D. The trace will tightly follow the obstacle edges maintaining minimum spacing

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the 'hug' mode behavior

   In 'hug' mode, the router closely follows obstacle edges while respecting spacing rules.

2. Step 2: Compare with other modes

   'Push-and-shove' moves obstacles, straight routing ignores obstacles, and width increase is unrelated here.

3. Final Answer:

   The trace will tightly follow the obstacle edges maintaining minimum spacing -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Hug mode = trace hugs obstacles [OK]

Hint: Hug mode means trace follows obstacles closely [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing hug with push-and-shove mode
• Assuming trace ignores obstacles
• Thinking trace width changes automatically

4.

In a PCB design tool, a user tries to activate the interactive router mode with the command:

router.setMode(push and shove)

What is the error in this command?

medium

A. Missing quotes around the mode name

B. Incorrect method name; should be set_mode

C. Mode name should be uppercase

D. No error; command is correct

Solution

1. Step 1: Check syntax for string arguments

   Mode names must be strings, so they require quotes around them.

2. Step 2: Verify method name and casing

   Method name 'setMode' is plausible; mode names are usually lowercase and hyphenated, but main error is missing quotes.

3. Final Answer:

   Missing quotes around the mode name -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   String arguments need quotes [OK]

Hint: Always quote string mode names in commands [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Forgetting quotes around strings
• Changing method names unnecessarily
• Using uppercase mode names

5.

You want to route a complex PCB with many tight spaces and obstacles. Which interactive router mode should you choose to automatically adjust traces and move obstacles to optimize routing paths?

hard

A. Hug mode

B. Simple mode

C. Push-and-shove mode

D. Manual mode

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand mode capabilities for complex routing

   Push-and-shove mode can move obstacles to make room for traces, ideal for tight spaces.

2. Step 2: Compare with other modes

   Simple mode does not adjust obstacles, hug mode follows edges tightly, manual mode requires user control.

3. Final Answer:

   Push-and-shove mode -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Push-and-shove moves obstacles for tight routing [OK]

Hint: Choose push-and-shove to move obstacles automatically [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Selecting hug mode for obstacle movement
• Assuming simple mode adjusts obstacles
• Confusing manual mode with automatic routing