Unable to get Multichannel working

Layout
1

I’m following this guide to do a multichannel layout:

I have 5 hierarchical sheets with identical schematics in and I want to layout the parts for “PWM power supply4” and get multichannel to copy that layout for “PWM power supply3” (just starting simple by copying one layout once even though I have 5 identical layouts I want to do in total).

So I laid out the footprints for “PWM power supply4” and did the routing and vias I needed. I created a reference rule area named “ps4” as below:

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I copy and pasted just the rule area rectangle to a new location on the PCB and set its properties as follows:

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Then I did “Tools → Multi-Channel → Repeat Layout” which brings up the dialog to select a reference rule area. When I click the ps4 rule area absolutely nothing happens.

So what am I doing wrong?
Thank you.

2

Your ps4 rule area is set to have ‘No placement’; this also means it can’t be a source for the multichannel tool.

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3

Okay, I set the placement for ps4 to "PWM power supply4”. (For some reason I thought that specifying placement meant that kicad would do the placing)

Now what I do the “Repeat layout” I get this dialog:

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What do the blank lines mean?

4

In your second original screenshot, you haven’t given the target rules any names.

5

You mean I need to fill in “Area name”?

6

Yep!

(more characters because reasons)

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7

Okay it now all works thank you.

Basically I had to create one “Rule Area” for each hierarchical sheet and every single one had to have the “Place items from sheet:” option selected, even the reference layout.

8

That’s correct. Do you think this wasn’t clear in the documentation? (We’re just reviewing the docs for this, so user input is valuable).

9

I would change this:

“The options in the Placement tab should be configured to select the hierarchical sheet or component class that contains the channel’s components.”

to this

“The options in the Placement tab should be configured to select the hierarchical sheet or component class that contains the channel’s components for both reference and target rule areas.”

I just feel the whole section on multichannel is a bit confusing in the way it flows. If it was up to me I would start with a simple example using screenshots:

  • Have 3 hierarchical sheets with 3 components in each.
  • Show the layout done for 1 of the sheets.
  • Show the placement dropdown selection in the reference and target areas.
  • Show the “Repeat layout” dialog.
  • Finally, show the result with the cloned layouts.

After the simple example you can go into details.

FWIW, I downloaded the multichannel demo file but it is far too complicated. You just need the much simpler setup above to demo multichannel.

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