

In addition, and with the Altium Developer extension, you can extend the functionality of Altium Designer yourself through use of the Altium Designer SDK (Software Development Kit) - creating your own extensions for the software.Īnd inherent to the Altium Developer extension is the dedicated Developer Interface - the user interface for manging custom extensions. A range of extensions are available from Altium for use with Altium Designer. Install, update, or remove available extensions as and when you need to. It is the extension concept that enables the installation to be handcrafted in accordance with design needs.Ĭustomization of an Altium Designer installation essentially boils down to management of the available extensions. In addition, a range of Optional Extensions are available - packets of functionality that are optionally installed or removed by the user as required. A core set of features and functions are installed and handled transparently as part of the initial install, referred to as System Resources. An extension is effectively an add-on to the software, providing extended features and functionality. This is a key concept of the system to understand. Extensions Explainedīefore looking at the workings of the interface provided by the Extensions & Updates view, it's a good idea to take a step back and consider what it is that allows the functionality of the software to be extended - the Extension. The Extensions & Updates view also reflects the current state of the Altium Designer platform itself, with controls available to modify the core features and functionality installed with the platform, and also to update the platform to the next point version of Altium Designer, as and when it becomes available. Extensions Management InterfaceĪdditional software functionality, provided through optional extensions, can be browsed, installed and managed through the Extensions & Updates view, accessed by clicking on the control at the top-right of the workspace and choosing the Extensions and Updates command from the menu.


This document takes a dedicated look at the concept of Extensions and, more importantly, their management. In short, any targeted packages of functionality that extend and enhance the feature set of the software. This functionality could include a new importer or exporter, a tool for schematic symbol generation, or maybe support for mechanical CAD collaboration. The latter is made possible through the provision of optional Extensions. This covers not only updates to the core functionality (or system resources), but also the ability to install, update, or remove, additional functionality. Altium Designer's Installation Management System allows you to handcraft your installation of the software at any time after initial install.
