The AUTO command activates the integrated Autorouter. If signal names are specified or signals are selected with the mouse, only these signals are routed. Without parameters the command will try to route all signals. If a "!" character is specified all signals are routed except the signals following the "!" character. The "!" character must be the first parameter and must show up only once.
Example
AUTO ! GND VCC;In every case the semicolon is necessary as a terminator. A menu for adjusting the Autorouter control parameters opens if you select AUTO from the command menu or type in AUTO from the keyboard (followed by Return key).
Polygons
When the Autorouter is started all Polygons are calculated, except the ones present in the outline mode whose signals are not to be routed ("AUTO ! signal_name..;").
Protocol File
A protocol file (name.pro) is generated automatically.
Board Size
The Autorouter puts a rectangle in the Dimension layer round all wires and takes the size of this rectangle as the routing area. Wires (tracks) in the Dimension layer appear to be border lines for the Autorouter. This means you can delimit the route area with closed polygons drawn with the WIRE command.
In practice you draw the board outlines into the Dimension layer with the WIRE command and place the components within this area.
Signals
Signals defined with EAGLE's SIGNAL command, polygons, and wires drawn onto the Top, Bottom, and ROUTE2...15 layers are recognized by the Autorouter.
Please note that the autorouter cannot place vias on to the filled areas of calculated polygons. Polygons forming ground areas, for instance, should therefore be placed only after all signals have been routed (except the ground signal).
Restricted Areas
Rectangles, polygons, and circles in the layers tRestrict, bRestrict, and vRestrict are treated as restricted areas for the Top and Bottom side and for vias respectively.
If you want the Autorouter not to use a layer, enter "0" into the preferred direction field.
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