Keysight Genesys PCB Layout Ground Plane

[SparkFly]

Hi all,

I've recently managed to gain access to Keysight's Genesys software, and I'm excited to use it. I've just finished a simple low pass filter design which I'd like to lay out and simulate. However, I am having some real problems understanding how Genesys likes to work. I've attached a screenshot representing the problem I've having. I am unsure exactly how Genesys likes to represent ground. It seems to me Ground itself is a 'component' and not a net as in software like Eagle or Altium, and it is represented by the blue circles which I think is copper on the bottom. When I try to do a ground fill polygon, it actively avoids the ground pads of components (see C2) unless the ground component is connected (as C1 is through a via). This doesn't seem very sensible to me. Am I doing something stupid? Is there a better, more elegant way to connect nets? Or is there a reason behind this layout method? I presume if I want a ground 'pad' on the top layer, I'd need to create my own footprint for it, as I cannot see any top copper ground footprints...

I've tried watching the tutorial videos, and have scoured the manuals etc for advice, but can't find anything. It seems this is very specialised software.

Any other advice/tips/tricks would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,

SF

[eb4fbz]

Check stackup properties, bottom layer is probably defined as GND, but hidden. However you are running a linear simulation, so layout doesnt matter. Its only taken into account for EM simulation (EMPower, Momenmum...)