Using Locations with Channels

Cabling > Using Locations > Using Locations with Channels

Channels are conduits for defining direction, or for terminating cables to a conductive strip (as a ground or as part of the live circuit). Channels are also the basis for modifying cables using cross sections. You can remove an existing channel with the Remove command.

To Define a Channel

1. Click Route > Channel. The CHANNEL menu appears.

2. Click Add.

3. At the prompt, type a new name for the channel and click

or press ENTER. The CHANNEL OPT menu appears.

4. Select the type of channel you want to add:

◦ Ground—The channel is a conductive strip connected to ground.

◦ Conduct—The channel is a conductive strip.

◦ Direction—The channel establishes a direction for the cable being routed with respect to it.

5. Click Done or Quit.

6. Select the geometry representing the channel. You can select a surface for a conductive surface and a straight edge, axis, or curve to establish the direction.

To Place Locations in Channels

1. Click CABLING > Route or CABLING > Network Ops > Route. The CBL ROUTE menu appears.

2. Click Free or Dependent to place a location on a surface in the channel. This surface need not actually belong to the channel.

3. To use the direction of the channel, edge, or axis to route parallel to, click Use Dir and select the channel as the reference.

The method to create a loopback in the channel, that is, change direction is to add a Free location on the surface and then continue with more Use Dir type locations selecting the channel.

To Move Locations in a Channel Cross Section

1. Click Route and click the arrow next to Channel and then click By Cross Section.

2. Select a channel to cross-section. You can modify locations routed through a channel by cutting a cross-section through the channel, selecting the cables, and moving them to new location.

You can redefine only a free location.

3. Select a point through which the cross-section must pass. You are prompted to confirm the selection point.

4. Click Yes. The model appears in a drawing window. You are prompted to select the top edge to orient the cross-section.

5. When you select the top edge, the model orients to the cross-section of the channel. Use the Zoom dialog box to zoom in or out of the view and click OK in the dialog box.

6. Use the CABLING > Location > Move. The MOVE LOC menu appears. Use these move commands to move locations in the cross-section.

7. When the edits are complete, click Done.

The location must be routed such that there are no other locations that lock the location into a specific place, such as an Offset or Dependent location.