AD18 Altium 18 problem with KeepOut-Layer

[Kanc1erz]

Hi again.
I have a problem with activating KeepOut Layer.
In menu Layers (L) I checked the eye (which was crossed-out) and I can see this layer in layer bar, however when I switch to it and try to e.g. draw a line it switches me automatically to multilayer. Any existing line, for instance drawn in mechanical 1 I can't switch to KO (there is no such a layer to select). In layer menu, when I click "Used On" it hides KO so I assume, that KO Layer is switched off, however how can I enable it?


Please - help again :<

[ajb]

The Keepout layer gets special handling.  Use the tools under Place > Keepout to place objects on the keepout layer.

https://www.altium.com/documentation/1.0/display/NEXUS/((Object+Specific+Keepouts))_AD
(That link is for Nexus, but it looks to be identical in AD18.)

[mengfei]

...Also How do you convert Keep out Layer to Mechanical Layer, it was so much easier with AD10

[Deridex]

Well, you did not write, what Altium-Version you are using. So i just assume you are using AD 18.1

To place stuff on the KeepOut-Layer: (P)lace -> (K)eepout -> your choice ...(T)rack as example.
(Remember: You don't have to use the "Alt"-Key to access the menus with the keyboard.)
Important: I think you need to define, whats kept out.

To Move stuff from the Keepoutlayer to an mechanical layer: I think you can just select the stuff and then pick another layer in the properties panel. But i'm not 100% sure there and i don't have AD18.1 at home.

[Andromedam31]

Hi are you able to change Keep-out layer to Mechanical layer in AD18 yet? I just update from AD15 to AD18 , I also down-grade to AD17 but AD17 did the same thing to keep-out layer too. I used to convert Keep-out layer to another mechanical layer, but now I can't do that, I want to cry now.

[Deridex]

I would just copy that tracks from the Keepoutlayer to another layer.

Simple: Select it -> Strg+C -> select anchor -> switch to another layer -> edit->paste special -> paste on layer

[PeteT]

I would just copy that tracks from the Keepoutlayer to another layer.

Simple: Select it -> Strg+C -> select anchor -> switch to another layer -> edit->paste special -> paste on layer

Excellent, thanks for this.  We've skipped a couple of Altium upgrades and arrived at AD19 - there are some great features but other things which used to be easy have become very difficult. I appreciate that some uses of keepouts (layer specific etc) have got better, but wanting the outline of a board on the keepout is pretty standard practice and this method solves the issue