QuickNav - Altium 365 Applications

Created: September 02, 2024 | Updated: December 03, 2024

Applications (or 'Apps') are an essential part of the Altium 365 platform. Purpose-built and developed by Altium and our technology partners, they extend the functionality of the platform, while providing secure, seamless and streamlined collaboration. This page provides quick reference information about the various applications available for Altium 365, giving you a means to quickly navigate to more detailed information about each.

Categorization

Applications can be further loosely organized into the following categories:

General Applications - the main, core category for apps, including those that provide a standalone interface in which to work, without having to switch between applications to complete a particular task within the Altium 365 platform.
Integration Applications - typically includes those apps that provide integration with a 3rd party system/tool.
Connector Applications - typically includes those apps that cater for connection to the Altium 365 platform and all of its collaborative features, in a CAD-agnostic way.

Also included on this page are security elements. These are not apps per se, but rather packages or entities that deliver features and functionality that cater for security-related aspects of working with the Altium 365 platform.

Applications by Category

The following is a convenient listing of Altium 365 applications/entities grouped by category. The left-hand entry in each case is the application's/entity's name (as seen on the Pricing page) and behaves as a direct link to the corresponding overview page for that application/entity on the altium365.com website. Links into the Technical Documentation for deeper-dive information are provided below the description in each case (Learn more about).

General Applications

Advanced MCAD CoDesigner

The Advanced MCAD CoDesigner app delivers advanced functionality for ECAD-MCAD CoDesign between Altium Designer and supported MCAD design tools (Autodesk Fusion®, Autodesk Inventor®, Dassault Systemes SOLIDWORKS®, PTC Creo Parametric®)^*, far beyond that of the free, basic bidirectional communications between the ECAD and MCAD^** design domains. CoDesigner can pass design changes, via an associated panel^***, back and forth through an Altium Workspace, which acts as a bridge between the ECAD and MCAD domains. The advantage of passing design changes through a Workspace is that the update process becomes stateless. This means each side can continue to work independently, without worrying about where the other team is up to in the design process.

Advanced features provided by the app include: Advanced copper geometry, synchronization of keepouts and rooms, rigid-flex board synchronization, native component linkage, enclosure exchange, advanced history, synchronization of a multi-board assembly and synchronization of a harness design. Note that not all features are supported across all supported MCAD tools (refer to documentation for more information).

* Does not include integration with Siemens NX, which is available only with Altium Designer Enterprise Subscription.
** MCAD users require this app to access and experience advanced CoDesign functionality.
*** To access the Altium CoDesigner panel in your MCAD software, you must install a Plugin (also referred to as an Add-In in some MCAD tools).

Assembly Assistant

The Assembly Assistant app provides a browser-based project assembly tool that is based on advanced interaction between the project's detailed BOM data and its 2D/3D assembly view. By bringing these two related sources of assembly data together, the Assembly Assistant delivers an integrated tool that allows assemblers to check and work through the board assembly process from one convenient location. For those checking a board's assembly prior to manufacture or engaged in the process of manually assembling boards (say, for prototypes or a short run), the Assembly tool provides the required set of graphical and component part information for stepping through the assembly process. This avoids the need for traditional, and potentially error-prone, assembly processes such as manually checking between assembly and BOM printout sheets.

Learn more about: Working with the Assembly Assistant

BOM Portal

The BOM Portal app is an advanced tool for creating and managing Bill of Materials item listings for review and procurement purposes. Drawing on Altium's comprehensive manufacturer part and supplier data resources, the application augments imported BOM data with live, detailed parts availability information and qualitatively rated alternative part suggestions. Features are included for resolving issues in the BOM listing, determining your preferred supply chain options, including additional information, specifying the BOM Lifecycle state, and much more. As an independent BOM analysis tool, the BOM Portal application allows Altium 365 users to perform design reviews and procurement data updates without requiring access to design-side software. The result is a fully ratified and up-to-date BOM document ready to be passed to the manufacturing stage.

In addition, the BOM Portal’s Consolidated BOM mode allows you to create a procurement-orientated BOM document from multiple engineering BOMs, which unifies the parts requirements for delivering a complete product – typically based on multiple PCBs, modules or functional sub-sections. It replaces the need to aggregate multiple BOM lists through spreadsheets or other manual means while calculating parts quantities for favorable supplier price breaks, rationalizing equivalent component choices, and generating Purchase Orders or RFQs (Request For Quote).

Learn more about: App Access & Setup | Working with the BOM Portal | Consolidated BOM

Configurable Workflows

The Configurable Workflows app delivers support for process-based Workflows, which tightly guide your organization's designers through typical, everyday design processes. These include requesting new component parts, performing project-related activities (such as design reviews or publishing to a PLM system) and creation of new projects in the connected Workspace. Predefined process workflows are included with a Workspace, with some activated for use out-of-the-box, and others supplied as sample 'templates'. Use these, modify them, or create your own custom process to suit the specific needs of your company. A powerful Process Workflow Editor is also included, providing the flexibility for you to build processes with workflows that can be as simple, or as complex as needed, and in-line with your company's requirements.

Learn more about: Processes & Workflows | Creating & Managing Processes | Defining a Process Workflow | Working with Process-based Workflow Tasks | Interactive Process Workflows in Altium Designer

Design Review

The Design Review app delivers a central location for all project stakeholders to perform and manage structured reviews of a Workspace design project. The interface allows the creation, access and management of Design Review instances by any Workspace member, which in turn can be assigned to other Workspace members as Reviewers. The review creator (Initiator) can configure the review process to include text-based Checklist items, file attachments and relevant comments. In turn, the Reviewer(s) can open a captured snapshot of the design, complete the review Checklist items, place related comments, invoke Design Comparisons, and ultimately progress their process to a Accepted/Rejected state. The review Initiator then finalizes the process with their own Completed/Rejected assessment and comments.

Design Reviews are a convenient way to highlight design problems and ensure that it meets company compliance requirements. The reviews are available to all Workspace member stakeholders during and after the review process, and are also accessible through the project’s Tasks page.

Learn more about: Design Reviews | Design Review Checklists | Support for Design Reviews in Altium Designer

Requirements and Systems Portal

The Requirements and Systems Portal app is an advanced engineering management application used to ensure specification and performance compliance during system design development. When enabled for your Workspace, the Requirements and Systems Portal integrates with your design projects through the exchange of design data and formalized Requirements instances.

Learn more about: App Access & Setup | Working with Requirements | Requirements and Systems Portal (Full App Documentation) | Working with Requirements in Altium Designer

Integration Applications

Jira Integration

The Jira Integration app enables bidirectional data synchronization between Atlassian Jira^® issues and Altium 365 Workspace Tasks. The integration allows the remote creation of Jira issues directly from your Altium 365 Workspace as dedicated Jira Tasks, or existing Jira Issues can be linked to a Workspace project. Once a Jira Issue to Workspace Task relationship is established, its Comments and status settings (priority, progress, assignee) are synchronized in real time, which provides enhanced and interactive project management insight into Altium design projects in the Jira space.

Learn more about: App Access & Setup | Working with Jira Tasks | Working with Jira Tasks in Altium Designer

SiliconExpert Integration

The SiliconExpert Integration app provides direct access to an additional set of advanced manufacturer parts data that is available to your BOM Portal documents, project BOM documents and the Library Health dashboard. The enhanced parametric data sourced from SiliconExpert populates Workspace BOMs as specific parameter columns (YTEOL, Inventory risk, etc). SiliconExpert's advanced parametric parts data and ranked alternative part suggestions are also available when accessing supply chain information features in Altium Designer.

Learn more about: App Access & Setup | Integration with BOM Portal | Integration with Project BOM | Integration with the Library Health Dashboard | Pulling Part Data from SiliconExpert into Altium Designer

Z2Data Integration

The Z2Data Integration app brings enhanced manufacturer part information and supply chain data directly into your Workspace. The rich proprietary data sources from Z2Data help you make more informed decisions about the selection and procurement of parts used in your designs. Z2Data is available in BOM Portal documents, project BOM documents and when viewing/editing Workspace Component Part Choices. Z2Data's advanced parametric parts data and ranked alternative part suggestions are also available when accessing supply chain information features in Altium Designer.

Learn more about: App Access & Setup | Integration with BOM Portal | Integration with Project BOM | Integration with Component Part Choices | Pulling Part Data from Z2Data into Altium Designer

Connector Applications

Altium Designer® Connector

The Altium Designer Connector app provides the ability to upload an Altium Designer project (in a specified project folder^*) to an Altium 365 Workspace^**. The processed Altium Designer project will be stored under the Workspace's native Git version control and interpreted into Schematic, PCB, 3D PCB, and BOM listing project views. The project and its documents are able to take advantage of the advanced features available through Altium 365, including control of object/layer visibility, bidirectional cross-probing, collaboration through managed design sharing, document commenting, and much more. If you have access to the BOM Portal application, a procurement-orientated Managed BOM document can be created from the design to manage its manufacturing and supplier parts data. And if a new version of a particular Altium Designer project becomes available – due to further work by an external contractor, for example – then the existing Workspace project can be updated, committed as a new VCS project revision and logged as an event in the project’s History view.

* The specified project folder must contain a single PCB design project only (.PrjPCB), with all design files added to the project and all files residing in the project folder (no sub-folders).
** A single Altium 365 Workspace is included if one does not already exist for your organization.
Note that obtaining access to any one CAD connector app gives access to all CAD connectors.

Learn more about: Uploading an Altium Designer Project

Cloud PLM Connector

The Cloud PLM Connector app delivers support for bi-directional data exchange (synchronizing parts, part choices, metadata and released files) between Altium and a supported cloud PLM system (Arena® PLM and Duro® PLM). The PLM integration setup is performed through the Altium 365 Workspace browser interface, which provides an automated interface for easily configuring the interconnection, mapping parameter data and specifying the direction of data synchronization. In addition, if you have access to configurable workflow functionality, a number of sample templates relating to PLM integration are made available, including those for part creation in the PLM and publishing of design output to the PLM.

Learn more about: PLM Integration | PLM-related Process Workflows | Publishing to a PLM from Altium Designer

EAGLE® Basic Connector

The EAGLE Basic Connector app provides the ability to upload an EAGLE-based design (in a Zip archive^*) to an Altium 365 Workspace^**. The processed EAGLE design will be stored under the Workspace's native Git version control and interpreted into Schematic, PCB, 3D PCB, and BOM listing project views. The design and its documents are able to take advantage of the advanced features available through Altium 365, including control of object/layer visibility, bidirectional cross-probing, collaboration through managed design sharing, document commenting, and much more. If you have access to the BOM Portal application, a procurement-orientated Managed BOM document can be created from the design to manage its manufacturing and supplier parts data. And if a new version of a particular EAGLE design becomes available – due to further work by an external contractor, for example – then the existing Workspace project can be updated, committed as a new VCS project revision and logged as an event in the project’s History view.

* The Zip archive must contain a single PCB design only (so .sch and .brd files for a single design only).
** A single Altium 365 Workspace is included if one does not already exist for your organization.
Note that obtaining access to any one CAD connector app gives access to all CAD connectors.

Learn more about: Uploading an EAGLE Design

KiCad® Basic Connector

The KiCad Basic Connector app provides the ability to upload a KiCad-based design (in a Zip archive^*) to an Altium 365 Workspace^**. The processed KiCad design will be stored under the Workspace's native Git version control and interpreted into Schematic, PCB, 3D PCB, and BOM listing project views. The design and its documents are able to take advantage of the advanced features available through Altium 365, including control of object/layer visibility, bidirectional cross-probing, collaboration through managed design sharing, document commenting, and much more. If you have access to the BOM Portal application, a procurement-orientated Managed BOM document can be created from the design to manage its manufacturing and supplier parts data. And if a new version of a particular KiCad design becomes available – due to further work by an external contractor, for example – then the existing Workspace project can be updated, committed as a new VCS project revision and logged as an event in the project’s History view.

* The Zip archive must contain a single PCB design only (so .pro, .sch, .kicad_pcb, and .lib files for a single design only).
** A single Altium 365 Workspace is included if one does not already exist for your organization.
Note that obtaining access to any one CAD connector app gives access to all CAD connectors.

Learn more about: Uploading a KiCad Design

OrCAD® Basic Connector

The OrCAD Basic Connector app provides the ability to upload an OrCAD-based design (in a Zip archive^*) to an Altium 365 Workspace^**. The processed OrCAD design will be stored under the Workspace's native Git version control and interpreted into Schematic, PCB, 3D PCB, and BOM listing project views. The design and its documents are able to take advantage of the advanced features available through Altium 365, including control of object/layer visibility, bidirectional cross-probing, collaboration through managed design sharing, document commenting, and much more. If you have access to the BOM Portal application, a procurement-orientated Managed BOM document can be created from the design to manage its manufacturing and supplier parts data. And if a new version of a particular OrCAD design becomes available – due to further work by an external contractor, for example – then the existing Workspace project can be updated, committed as a new VCS project revision and logged as an event in the project’s History view.

* The Zip archive must contain a single PCB design only (so .opj, .dsn and .brd (v17.2 and later) files for a single design only. Note that any library files are only stored, there is no visualization of them).
** A single Altium 365 Workspace is included if one does not already exist for your organization.
Note that obtaining access to any one CAD connector app gives access to all CAD connectors.

Learn more about: Uploading an OrCAD Design

Security

Altium 365 GovCloud

The Altium 365 GovCloud is a dedicated region of the Altium 365 cloud platform, situated within the US and operated exclusively by US Persons in the AWS GovCloud region. AWS GovCloud US-East and US-West regions are operated by employees who are US citizens located on US soil. Opting to have an Altium 365 Workspace on the GovCloud region can help organizations comply with various US government regulations such as ITAR and EAR.

A Workspace on the Altium 365 GovCloud region also provides for Outbound Traffic Control, enabling you to configure restrictions to prevent unauthorized outbound traffic from leaving the environment. Restrictions can be put in place on sharing projects and sending manufacturing packages outside of the Workspace (with non-members), connecting to an external PLM system, and obtaining data from external part providers and supply chain parts data integrations (e.g. SiliconExpert and Z2Data).

Learn more about: Altium 365 GovCloud | Altium 365 GovCloud 101: Everything You Need to Know | FAQs | Rehosting Customer Workspace Data to Altium 365 GovCloud

Secure Collaboration

The Secure Collaboration package (often referred to as the Organizational Security Package) provides advanced access controls and compliance tools to protect and control information flow to and from the Altium 365 platform. Package features include:

A single Altium 365 Workspace is included if one does not already exist for your organization. As part of the package, you can create additional Workspaces if needed.
The ability to authenticate your users by leveraging existing Single Sign-On (SSO) and Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) infrastructure, and control network access through IP whitelisting (Inbound Traffic Control), allowing only trusted IP addresses to connect to the platform.
The ability to access an Events Log, which is a sequential list of notable Data and User events that have occurred in an Altium 365 Workspace. It provides a single point of access for administrators to monitor and audit key Workspace activity for data governance purposes. The Events Log data can be exported/transferred to a suitable SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) system for compliance and auditing purposes.
Access to an Advanced Controls page of the Company Dashboard, allowing administrators to specify Workspace and Personal Space user access policies for the organization’s Altium 365 platform. The available options can be configured to allow multiple Workspace creation (or prevention) and to control the file sharing/uploading capabilities of the Personal Spaces available to company members, providing increased data security through the prevention of inadvertent file-sharing or external exposure.
Integration with Jira (bundling of the Jira Integration app) - enabling bidirectional data synchronization between Atlassian Jira^® issues and Altium 365 Workspace Tasks.

A-Z Listing

The following is a convenient alphabetical listing - no frills, no fuss - to be able to get at the high-level overview for a particular application/entity (on the altium365.com website) in true QuickNav fashion.

If you find an issue, select the text/image and pressCtrl + Enterto send us your feedback.