99SE - multiple via's on same net?

[DTJ]

Using Protel 99SE how do I put multiple vias on the same net?

I'm manually routing & I've got some heavy tracks I want to stitch together using multiple vias.

Protel is automatically removing the additional vias (the loop back remover perhaps??).

I've tried locking them to no avail.

How to I do this so the additional vias remain?

Thanks.

[Precipice]

It does sound like loop removal, but I've forgotten everything I ever knew about P99 options...
If you cut & paste a via into position, does it do the same thing? I suspect not, and you'll get what you want, until you move the copper, but really, you want to turn off loops for a while...

[DTJ]

Thanks for the reply.

Yeah the copy & pasting vias seems to work until the copper or that track is modified - then it deletes them. I don't want to do it by turning off loop removal as sooner or later it will be turned back on & all the doubled up vias will disappear & I won't remember where they all were!

Placing a pad as a via seems to work - I'm not sure what the downside of using pads as vias is?

 

[Precipice]

It only deletes them when you make a local change, it's not as if it blows them away as soon as you tick the box!

Nothing fundamentally wrong with placing pads instead of vias, but it's hassle.

(I'm pretty sure that there's a way to manage this on a net or group basis in newer versions - but mostly I just turn off loop detection when I'm doing power stuff, then turn it back on for signals.)

[DTJ]

Thanks Precipice, I might just place pads - then I wont be worrying that they've secretly disappeared on me.

[nctnico]

In Orcad the magic word for what you want is a 'free via'. Perhaps Protel has something similar.

[Precipice]

In Protel, there's not even a word for it, you just stick vias wherever you like.  P V  place via...
Unfortunately, DTJ can't find  (or won't turn off temporarily) the feature where Protel deletes routing loops (which is often a  handy thing to have on - you add a track, it deletes the old one for you - good for signals, not necessarily good when what you want is multiple routes, say for power, ground or high current stuff. )

(In AD, right-click on the net in question, Net Actions -> Properties -> untick 'remove loops' for that net, by the way. No idea if that route is available in P99)

[free_electron]

Turn off loop removal.
Plonk as many vias down as you want (use copy paste if you want).
When done tool-> comfert free vias to pads.
Turn loop removal back on.

[dsc-pcb]

I think you could take the vias(single sold pad), add it to the components library, and then use it from library.