Reassigning Electrical Layers
When you alter the number of electrical layers, you must reassign the old layers to locations in the new layer setup.
When reassigning layers, component keepouts are ignored. They remain on the layer on which you created them.
You can't modify the layer definition for electrical layers when a physical design reuse exists on the board.
If a route is attached to a pad that is not available on the new layer, such as a surface mount pin or a partial via, the program places a zero-length unroute from the end of the trace to the component pin.
Procedure
In the Layers Setup dialog box, click Reassign. The Reassign Electrical Layers dialog box opens.
Click the number of the layer you want to reassign from the Old list.
Type the layer number you want to assign it to in the “New Layer #” box. You cannot merge items from an old to a new layer, but you can swap layers. Additionally, the target layer must be empty.
The following information moves from the old layer to the new layer:
Traces and vias
Drafting objects
Layer name, layer type, routing direction, and component/plane layer parameters
If you decrease the number of layers and the selected layer has no data, you can remove the layer. To remove it, click Delete.
Click OK. You return to the Layers Setup dialog box.
The following layer properties are changed during layer reassignment:
Name
Plane status
Layer (routing) direction
Dielectric constant and thickness (associated with upper copper layer)
Associated nonelectrical layers (for top and bottom)
List of assigned nets
Colors, including outline colors
Tip:
Because both layer names and colors are reassigned, an object remains in the same color after reassignment.
The following objects have an assigned layer and are reassigned during layer reassignment:
Traces
2D lines, free and in decal (part outlines)
Copper, open and closed, free and in decals, but not pin-associated copper
Keepouts, free and in decals
Copper cutouts, free, associated, and in decals
Texts, free, combined with 2D lines, and in decals
Attribute labels
Pour outlines and plane areas
Pour or plane area hatch outlines and hatch voids
Conditional clearance rules
Layer mask in routing rules
The following objects have an assigned layer and are not reassigned during layer reassignment:
Tip:
Before deleting an electrical layer, make sure that you first delete all of the following objects from, and any references to, the layer.
Pad definitions on absolute layers in pad stacks (for decals and vias)
Pin-associated copper in decals
Start and end layers for partial vias
Drill pairs
