Create a new PCB Project, add Schematic and PCB document

The main goal of this tutorial is to explain how to:

1. Create a new PCB Project
2. Create a new Schematic document in a project
3. Add en existing Schematic document in a project
4. Create a new PCB document in a project
5. Add en existing PCB document in a project

1. Create a new PCB Project

1. Select File->New->Project from the menus (top left Main Menu of Altium window) (for details see the image below)

2. Mark PCB Project from the Project Types list (for details see the image below)
3. Set a PCB Project name in the field Name (for example Buck) (for details see the image below)
4. Set Location of a PCB Project in the field Location or Browse Location (for example D:/Lib) (for details see the image below)

5. Press OK
6. The new file Buck.PrjPcb will appear in the Projects panel (for details see the image below)

(note: if Projects panel is not displayed on the screen, select System from the bottom right menu of the main Altium window and choose Projects (for details see the image below))

2. Create a new Schematic document in a project

There are two ways to Create a new Schematic document in a previously created PCB project.

a) Go to File -> New -> Schematic. See image below for the details.

b) Right mouse click on a previously created PCB project. Drop down menu will appear and choose Add New to Project -> Schematic.  See image below for the details.

In both options Sheet1.SchDoc will appear in a PCB project. See image below for the details.

Save as a new Schematic document

The next step is to Save as a new Schematic document with a custom name. It is possible on two ways:

a) The first is to click on File -> Save As. See image below for the details.

b) The second is to click with right mouse button on a Sheet1.SchDoc file name and choose Save As option from the drop down menu. See image below for the details.

In our example we saved it under the name Buck.SchDoc.

3. Add en existing Schematic document in a project

If you already have a schematic document and just want to add it to a PCB project you can do it in two ways:

a) Right click on the PCB Project file with extension PrjPcb (in our example Buck.PrjPcb) and click on Add Existing to Project from the drop down menu. Choose Schematic document file from your computer. For details see the image below.

b) The second way is just to move the file from your Windows Explorer or some other file manager application to Altium Designer Project Window below the Project PCB file.

4. Create a new PCB document in a project

There are two ways to Create a new PCB document in a previously created PCB project.

a) Go to File -> New -> PCB. See image below for the details.

b) Right mouse click on a previously created PCB project. Drop down menu will appear and choose Add New to Project -> PCB.  See image below for the details.

In both options, PCB1.PcbDoc will appear in a PCB project. See image below for the details.

Save as a new PCB document

The next step is to Save as a new PCB document with a custom name. This is possible in two ways:

a) The first is to click on File -> Save as. See image below for the details.

b) The second is with the right mouse click on a PCB1.PcbDoc file name and choose Save As option from the drop down menu. See image below for the details.

In our example we saved it under the name Buck.PcbDoc.

5. Add an existing PCB document in a project

If you already have a PCB document and just want to add it to a PCB project, you can do in on two ways:

a) Right click on the PCB Project file with extension PrjPcb (in our example Buck.PrjPcb) and click on Add Existing to Project from the drop down menu. Choose PCB document file from your computer. For details, see the image below.

b) The second way is just to move the file from your Windows Explorer or some other file manager application to Altium Project Window below the Project PCB file.

Tutorials in the category: Altium Designer