| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Ampdoctor
United Kingdom
38 Posts |
 Posted - 06 Aug 2026 : 09:42:37
|
Hi all, in the past week or so the component editor isn't showing the copper layer on the component footprint.
I'm not sufficiently familiar with the program to know if there's a toggle for this somewhere that I've inadvertently switched off, or if it's time to reinstall the program.
Any guidance would be gratefully received!
|
|
|
Peter Johnson
United Kingdom
523 Posts |
Posted - 06 Aug 2026 : 09:52:16
|
The two images in the component editor use the technology files assigned for schematic symbol and pcb symbol editing respectively.
If you go to the library manager, open the 'PCB Symbols' tab, then click on [Tech Files] you'll see what's in use. You can also set up a different one, or, by using the [Open] button, open it on a new tab for editing.
If you're editing one of the default tech files, it's good practice to save it under a different name so it doesn't accidentally get overwritten by the original should you need to reinstall. (Remember to reset the one in use to the new name though!)
|
 |
|
|
Ampdoctor
United Kingdom
38 Posts |
Posted - 06 Aug 2026 : 10:09:33
|
Thank you for your post Peter.
If I go into Library editor some symbols have copper layers showing, and some don't.
The odd thing is that they still have the copper layers when inserted as components into a PCB layout.
It seems to be the newer Surface mount parts that are affected most. |
|
|
|
Peter Johnson
United Kingdom
523 Posts |
Posted - 07 Aug 2026 : 10:00:56
|
| That does sound rather odd. If you edit the footprints from the relevant pcb symbol library, are they behaving correctly then? I'm wondering if this is something to do with shapes on the copper layer rather than just pads. |
|
|
|
Ampdoctor
United Kingdom
38 Posts |
Posted - 12 Aug 2026 : 11:18:03
|
Hi Peter,
If I go into the footprint editor TH pads are shown in grey, SMD parts have no copper showing.
It's like Layer 1 / top copper is switched off somewhere.
Clicking on the rainbow icon while in footprint editor shows that layer 1 /top is turned on.
If I add a pad and change it from layer all to layer 1 it disappears. |
|
|
|
Peter Johnson
United Kingdom
523 Posts |
Posted - 12 Aug 2026 : 12:14:21
|
| Obviously I can't see your design, but have you checked the specific settings for symbol pads on that layer? It could be something as simple as the pad colour being set to match the background. |
|
|
|
Ampdoctor
United Kingdom
38 Posts |
Posted - 12 Aug 2026 : 12:22:39
|
Hi peter,
Copper on layer 1 /top is set to red.
Kind regards
Gordon |
|
|
|
Peter Johnson
United Kingdom
523 Posts |
Posted - 12 Aug 2026 : 12:46:21
|
OK, I'll go through this in detail.
Open the library manager. Look at the 'PCB Symbols' tab, then click on [Tech Files] in the centre column. Click on [Open]. Close the library manager. On the new tab for the tech file, check the 'Layers and Layer Spans' colours tab. Scroll to the right. Check that none of the cell colours for the 'Symbol Pads' column match the background colour. |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
Component editor not showing copper