Introduction to Altium Designer and Its Output Files

Altium Designer is a popular electronic design automation (EDA) software used by engineers and designers to create printed circuit boards (PCBs). The software provides a comprehensive set of tools for schematic capture, PCB layout, and document generation. When working with Altium Designer, users encounter various output files, including outjob files and project release packages. Understanding the difference between these two types of files is crucial for effectively managing and sharing your design data.

What are Outjob Files?

Outjob files, with the file extension “.outjob,” are configuration files used by Altium Designer to define the output settings for generating manufacturing files. These files contain information about the specific output requirements for a PCB design, such as the file formats, layer settings, and drill sizes. Outjob files are essential for ensuring that the generated manufacturing files meet the requirements of the PCB fabricator.

Creating an Outjob File

To create an outjob file in Altium Designer, follow these steps:

1. Open your PCB design project in Altium Designer.
2. Go to the “File” menu and select “New” > “Output Job File.”
3. Configure the desired output settings, such as file formats, layer options, and drill sizes.
4. Save the outjob file with a descriptive name.

Once you have created an outjob file, you can use it to generate manufacturing files by running the output job. This process ensures consistency and accuracy in the generated files.

Advantages of Using Outjob Files

Using outjob files in Altium Designer offers several benefits:

1. Consistency: Outjob files ensure that the generated manufacturing files are consistent across different designs and revisions. By using the same outjob file for multiple projects, you can maintain uniform output settings.
2. Efficiency: With outjob files, you can automate the process of generating manufacturing files. Instead of manually configuring the output settings each time, you can simply run the outjob file to generate the required files.
3. Collaboration: Outjob files can be easily shared among team members, enabling collaborative work on PCB designs. By distributing the outjob file along with the design files, you ensure that everyone uses the same output settings.

What is Project Release?

Project release, also known as “project packaging,” is a feature in Altium Designer that allows you to create a comprehensive package of your design files for archiving or sharing purposes. A project release package includes all the necessary files and information required to reproduce the PCB design, such as schematic files, PCB layout files, libraries, and documentation.

Creating a Project Release Package

To create a project release package in Altium Designer, follow these steps:

1. Open your PCB design project in Altium Designer.
2. Go to the “File” menu and select “Project” > “Project Packager.”
3. Configure the desired options for the project release package, such as the included files, output formats, and documentation settings.
4. Generate the project release package by clicking the “Generate” button.

The generated project release package is a single compressed file (e.g., ZIP or 7z) containing all the specified design files and documentation.

Advantages of Project Release

Project release offers several advantages for managing and sharing PCB designs:

1. Archiving: Project release packages serve as a comprehensive archive of your design files. By creating a project release package, you can ensure that all the necessary files are stored together, making it easier to retrieve and reproduce the design in the future.
2. Collaboration: Project release packages facilitate collaboration among team members. By sharing the project release package, you provide others with access to all the design files and documentation, enabling them to review, modify, or manufacture the PCB design.
3. IP Protection: Project release packages can help protect your intellectual property (IP). By selectively including or excluding certain files in the package, you can control the level of information shared with external parties.

Differences between Outjob Files and Project Release

While outjob files and project release packages are both used in Altium Designer, they serve different purposes and have distinct characteristics. Here are the key differences between outjob files and project release:

Outjob Files	Project Release
Configuration files for generating manufacturing files	Comprehensive package of design files for archiving or sharing
Define output settings for specific manufacturing requirements	Include all necessary files to reproduce the PCB design
Generate consistent manufacturing files across different designs	Facilitate collaboration and IP protection
Used for automating the generation of manufacturing files	Used for archiving, sharing, and reproducing the complete design
Contain information about file formats, layer settings, and drill sizes	Contain schematic files, PCB layout files, libraries, and documentation

Best Practices for Using Outjob Files and Project Release

To effectively utilize outjob files and project release in Altium Designer, consider the following best practices:

1. Create separate outjob files for different manufacturing requirements: If you work with multiple PCB fabricators or have varying manufacturing requirements, create separate outjob files for each set of requirements. This allows you to easily generate the appropriate manufacturing files for each scenario.
2. Use descriptive names for outjob files: Give your outjob files descriptive names that indicate their purpose or the manufacturing requirements they fulfill. This makes it easier to identify and select the correct outjob file when generating manufacturing files.
3. Include relevant documentation in project release packages: When creating a project release package, include all the necessary documentation, such as assembly instructions, bill of materials (BOM), and test procedures. This ensures that the recipient has all the information required to understand and work with the PCB design.
4. Use version control for outjob files and project release packages: Incorporate outjob files and project release packages into your version control system. This allows you to track changes, revert to previous versions if needed, and collaborate with team members efficiently.

FAQ

1. Q: Can I use the same outjob file for different PCB designs?
   A: Yes, you can use the same outjob file for different PCB designs as long as they have similar manufacturing requirements. However, if the designs have varying requirements, it’s recommended to create separate outjob files for each set of requirements.

2. Q: How can I share outjob files with my team members?
   A: You can share outjob files with your team members by including them in your version control system or by distributing them along with the design files. Ensure that everyone on the team has access to the latest version of the outjob file to maintain consistency.

3. Q: What should I include in a project release package?
   A: A project release package should include all the necessary files and documentation to reproduce the PCB design. This typically includes schematic files, PCB layout files, libraries, bill of materials (BOM), assembly instructions, and any other relevant documentation.

4. Q: Can I selectively include or exclude files in a project release package?
   A: Yes, Altium Designer allows you to selectively include or exclude files when creating a project release package. This is useful for controlling the level of information shared with external parties and protecting your intellectual property (IP).

5. Q: How can I ensure the consistency of manufacturing files generated from outjob files?
   A: To ensure consistency, use the same outjob file for generating manufacturing files across different designs or revisions. Additionally, incorporate outjob files into your version control system to track changes and maintain a history of the output settings.

Conclusion

Understanding the difference between outjob files and project release in Altium Designer is essential for effectively managing and sharing your PCB design data. Outjob files are configuration files used to define the output settings for generating manufacturing files, ensuring consistency and accuracy across different designs. On the other hand, project release packages are comprehensive collections of design files and documentation, facilitating collaboration, archiving, and IP protection.

By following best practices such as creating separate outjob files for different manufacturing requirements, including relevant documentation in project release packages, and using version control, you can streamline your PCB design workflow and enhance collaboration with team members and external stakeholders.

Ultimately, utilizing outjob files and project release in Altium Designer empowers you to efficiently generate manufacturing files, archive complete design packages, and share your work with others, leading to improved productivity and successful PCB design projects.