Altium Designer

{{Short description|Electronic Design Automation Software}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021|cs1-dates=y}} {{Anchor|5|6|7|8|9|10|11|12|13|14|15|16|17|18|19|20|21|22|23|24|25|26}} {{Infobox software | name = Altium Designer | logo = Altium Designer Logo.png | screenshot = | caption = Screenshot of Altium Designer | author = Nick Martin | developer = Altium (subsidiary of Renesas Electronics) | released = {{Start date and age|2005}} | latest release version = 26.5.1<ref name="Altium_Version">{{Cite web |url=https://www.altium.com/documentation/altium-designer/public-release-notes |title=Public Release Notes for Altium Designer}}</ref> | latest release date = {{Start date and age|2026|05|06|df=yes}} | programming language = Delphi, C#, C++ | operating system = Windows | platform = IA-32, x86-64 | size = | language = English | genre = ECAD–EDA, CAM | license = Proprietary | website = {{URL|www.altium.com/altium-designer}} }}

'''Altium Designer''' ('''AD''', formerly known as '''Protel''') is a printed circuit board (PCB) and electronic design automation software package for printed circuit boards. It is developed by American software company Altium Limited. Altium Designer is provided as part of the Altium Develop and Altium Agile platform solutions.

== History == Altium Designer has roots in 1985, launched by Altium Limited (named Protel Systems Pty Ltd. at that time) as a PCB design tool for MS-DOS named Protel PCB (which later became Autotrax and Easytrax). Altium Designer was officially launched by Altium in 2005. Originally it was sold only in Australia,<ref name="Martin_2017">{{Cite web |url=https://semiengineering.com/kc/people.php?pid=11492 |title=Nick Martin .: SemiEngineering.com |website=semiengineering.com |access-date=2017-12-06 |archive-date=2017-12-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171207020506/http://semiengineering.com/kc/people.php?pid=11492 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="ACCEL_Tango_3_12">{{cite book |title=TangoPCB |date=1987-12-01 |orig-year=1986 |version=Tango-PCB 3.12 |publisher=ACCEL Technologies, Inc. |quote=It was originally written in 1985 by Nick Martin, of Australia, and sold under the name of PROTEL-PCB. In 1986, ACCEL Technologies, Inc., of San Diego, California, acquired marketing and support responsibilities for the product in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. […] The reference manual was re-written for the American market. ACCEL markets the product under the name Tango-PCB.}}</ref> with Protel PCB marketed internationally by HST Technology since 1986.<ref name="ACCEL_Tango_3_12"/> The product became available in the United States, Canada, and Mexico beginning in 1986, marketed by San Diego–based ACCEL Technologies, Inc., under the name Tango PCB.<ref name="ACCEL_Tango_3_12"/> In 1987, Protel launched the circuit diagram editor ''Protel Schematic'' for DOS.<ref name="Autotrax_1988">{{Cite web|url=https://www.altium.com/company/about-altium/our-history|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180415143255/https://www.altium.com/company/about-altium/our-history|archive-date = 2018-04-15|title = History - PCB Design Tools - EDA Software}}</ref>

In 1991, Protel released ''Advanced Schematic'' and ''Advanced PCB'' 1.0 for Windows (1991–1993), followed by Advanced Schematic/PCB 2.x (1993–1995) and 3.x (1995–1998). In 1998, ''Protel 98'' consolidated all components, including ''Advanced Schematic'' and ''Advanced PCB'', into one environment. ''Protel 99'' in 1999 introduced the first integrated 3D visualization of the PCB assembly. It was followed by ''Protel 99 SE'' in 2000. ''Protel DXP'' was issued in 2003, ''Protel 2004'' in 2004, Altium Designer 6.0 in 2005. Altium Designer version 6.8 from 2007 was the first to offer 3D visualization and clearance checking of PCBs directly within the PCB editor.{{citation needed|date=February 2021}} In 2001, the company adopted the name Altium Limited.<ref name="EETimes_name">{{cite web |url=https://eetimes.com/author.asp?doc_id=1285076&section_id=36 |title=Meandering musings on Altium's bold and exciting move to Shanghai |publisher=EE Times |access-date=2025-12-03}}</ref>

In 2008, Altium Designer added direct integration with STEP mechanical CAD file formats, enabling dynamic linking between the PCB design environment and external MCAD software.<ref name="EETimes_STEP">{{cite web |url=https://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1309143 |title=Additional info with regard to the latest in Altium's unified electronics design solution |publisher=EE Times |date=2008-05-28 |access-date=2025-12-03}}</ref> Version 10, released in 2011, introduced product data management capabilities.<ref name="EDN_v10">{{cite web |url=https://www.edn.com/altium-10-adds-pdm-forums-clouds-and-features/ |title=Altium 10 adds PDM, forums, clouds, and features |publisher=EDN |date=2011-03-24 |access-date=2025-12-03}}</ref> Altium Designer 2013 opened the platform to third-party partners and system integrators.<ref name="EETimes_2013">{{cite web |url=https://eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1317587 |title=Altium Designer 2013 is available now! |publisher=EE Times |date=2013-07-02 |access-date=2025-12-03}}</ref> Altium Designer 18, released in 2018, introduced a 64-bit architecture, multiboard design functionality, and a redesigned bill-of-materials management system. Altium Designer 19, released in 2018, added connectivity with Altium 365, the company's cloud-based platform for multi-domain collaboration and real-time information sharing.<ref name="EDN_AD19">{{cite web |url=https://www.edn.com/altium-updates-pcb-design-software/ |title=Altium updates PCB design software |publisher=EDN |date=2018-12-24 |access-date=2025-12-03}}</ref>

In 2021, Altium rejected a takeover bid from software company Autodesk, which had previously acquired the EDA tool EAGLE in 2016, valuing Altium at approximately A$5.05 billion.<ref name="EDN_Renesas">{{cite web |url=https://www.edn.com/what-does-renesas-acquisition-of-pcb-toolmaker-altium-mean/ |title=What does Renesas' acquisition of PCB toolmaker Altium mean? |publisher=EDN |date=2024-02-16 |access-date=2025-12-03}}</ref> In February 2024, Renesas Electronics agreed to acquire Altium for approximately US$5.9 billion. The acquisition was completed in August 2024, making Altium a wholly owned subsidiary of Renesas.<ref name="EETimes_Renesas">{{cite web |url=https://www.eetimes.com/reneses-completes-altium-acquisition/ |title=Renesas Completes Altium Acquisition |publisher=EE Times |date=2024-08-01 |access-date=2025-12-03}}</ref>

Beginning in 2025, Altium introduced three subscription-based platform solutions built on its existing technology: Altium Discover, Altium Develop, and Altium Agile. Altium Designer and Altium 365 continue to serve as the underlying design and cloud platform, with each solution bundling varying levels of access to those tools and capabilities into tiered subscription offerings.<ref name="Altium_Develop">{{Cite web |title=Altium Develop {{!}} Tools & Software for Creating Electronics Products |url=https://www.altium.com/develop |access-date=2025-11-13 |website=www.altium.com}}</ref><ref name="Engineering_Electronica2024">{{cite web |url=https://www.engineering.com/altium-to-unveil-three-industry-solutions-at-electronica-2024/ |title=Altium to Unveil Three Industry Solutions at Electronica 2024 |publisher=Engineering.com |date=2024-10-25 |access-date=2026-04-07}}</ref>

== Features ==

Altium Designer is no longer offered as a standalone product and is instead available as part of the Altium Develop and Altium Agile platform solutions.<ref name="Altium_Develop">{{Cite web |title=Altium Develop {{!}} Tools & Software for Creating Electronics Products |url=https://www.altium.com/develop |access-date=2025-11-13 |website=www.altium.com}}</ref>

It integrates with several component distributors (via the Octopart platform) for access to manufacturer's data, inventory information, lifecycle status, and additional technical information, which is not available in component datasheets.<ref name="EETimes_Designlink">{{cite web |publisher=EE Times |url=http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-products/ip-eda-products/4112486/Altium-Designer-links-to-Premier-Farnell-s-DesignLink |title=Altium Designer links to Premier Farnell's DesignLink |access-date=2010-09-08}}</ref><ref name="EETimes_CAD">{{cite web |publisher=EE Times |url=http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-news/4197950/CAD-links-to-disty-databases-gain-momentum |title=CAD links to disty databases gain momentum |access-date=2010-09-08 |archive-date=2020-08-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812223854/https://www.eetimes.com/electronics-news/4197950/CAD-links-to-disty-databases-gain-momentum |url-status=live }}</ref> It also has interactive 3D editing of the board, and exporting of a design into MCAD file formats (such as STEP).<ref name="EETimes_3D">{{cite web |publisher=EE Times |url=http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-products/ip-eda-products/4100440/Altium-releases-3D-PCB-visualization |title=Altium releases 3D PCB visualization |access-date=2010-09-06 |archive-date=2012-09-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929203623/http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-products/ip-eda-products/4100440/Altium-releases-3D-PCB-visualization |url-status=live }}</ref> Users can create multiple types of designs, including multi-layer rigid PCBs with high layer counts, rigid-flex PCBs, flexible printed circuits, and more specialized designs like metal-backed or ceramic PCBs.<ref name="EDN_roundup2013">{{cite web |url=https://edn.com/Pdf/ViewPdf?contentItemId=4424846 |title=Round up: PCB design software |publisher=EDN |date=2013-11-25 |access-date=2026-04-07}}</ref><ref name="EDN_AD14">{{cite web |url=https://www.edn.com/altiums-3-d-pcb-toolset-eases-rigid-flex-design/ |title=Altium's 3-D PCB toolset eases rigid-flex design |publisher=EDN |date=2013-10-20 |access-date=2026-04-07}}</ref>

=== Altium Develop === Altium Develop represents the professional design and collaboration tier of the Altium platform. It brings together Altium Designer and Altium 365 into a unified framework for advanced electronic product development, enabling multidisciplinary teams to co-create, manage components, and prepare designs for manufacturing. Develop is aimed at professional engineering teams building production-ready hardware who require robust design environments, structured collaboration, and system-level integrations that connect electrical, mechanical, and manufacturing domains.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Altium Develop {{!}} Tools & Software for Creating Electronics Products |url=https://www.altium.com/develop |access-date=2025-11-13 |website=www.altium.com |language=en}}</ref>

=== Altium Agile === Altium Agile delivers enterprise-grade process management and workflow orchestration for organizations building complex hardware systems. It extends the Altium platform to enable controlled, multi-team collaboration and end-to-end visibility across engineering operations. Altium Agile is delivered through two editions: Agile Teams, designed for smaller companies and workgroups facing increasing complexity in electronics development, and Agile Enterprise, tailored for larger, heavily regulated companies that require deeper integrations, stringent compliance, and enterprise-level governance.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Altium Agile {{!}} Empower Agile Electronics Development |url=https://www.altium.com/agile |access-date=2025-11-13 |website=www.altium.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Altium Agile {{!}} Empower Agile Electronics Development |url=https://www.altium.com/agile |access-date=2025-11-13 |website=www.altium.com |language=en}}</ref>

== File formats == {{Infobox file format | name = Altium Schematic Editor | extension = .SchDoc | developer = Altium Limited | type = Binary, ASCII<ref name=":0"/> }}

{{Infobox file format | name = Altium PCB Editor | extension = .PcbDoc | developer = Altium Limited | type = Binary, ASCII<ref name=":0"/> }}

Altium Designer supports import & export of various PCB and CAD data exchange file formats.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Interfacing to Other Design Tools from Altium Designer – Altium Designer 22 User Manual – Documentation |url=https://www.altium.com/documentation/altium-designer/interfacing-to-other-design-tools-overview |access-date=2022-11-25 |website=Altium.com |archive-date=2024-03-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308055029/https://www.altium.com/documentation/altium-designer/interfacing-to-other-design-tools-overview |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Altium Design Software Import-Export Support – Altium Designer 22 User Manual – Documentation |url=https://www.altium.com/documentation/altium-designer/importing-from-other-altium-design-software |access-date=2022-11-25 |website=Altium.com |archive-date=2023-12-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231201131839/https://www.altium.com/documentation/altium-designer/importing-from-other-altium-design-software |url-status=live }}</ref> The tool's native file formats are the binary file formats {{Code|*.SchDoc}} and {{Code|*.PcbDoc}}.

It can also import and export AutoCAD {{Code|*.dwg}}/{{Code|*.dxf}} and ISO 10303-21 STEP file formats.<ref name=":0"/>

== See also == {{Portal|Electronics}} * Comparison of EDA software * List of free electronics circuit simulators

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * {{Official website|www.altium.com}}, Altium * [https://www.altium.com/altium-designer/overview Altium Designer Overview - PCB Design Tool] * [https://www.altium.com/documentation/altium-designer/new What's New in Altium Designer]

{{CAD software}}

Category:Electronic design automation software