The 16.6 Allegro PCB Editor release's new ‘Slide’ command utilizes a move-intersect algorithm that delivers smoother, more predictable, and localized edits. This change has allowed for simplifying the use model, integrating sliding of off-angle and arc routing, and providing new options to improve efficiency. In 16.6, the standard ‘Slide’ command has been replaced with a new version and is accessible in the same way as previous Allegro methods to invoke ‘Slide’. The following options are available while running the ‘Slide’ command: 
New Slide Options:
- Min Corner Size: A fill-in field for minimum 45-degree corner size allowed between two non-parallel cline segments.This field also supports ‘[N] x width’ values.
- Min Arc Radius: A fill-in field for minimum arc size allowed between two cline segments. This field also supports ‘[N] x width’ values. This value prevents arcs from completely collapsing during slide operations.
- Vertex Action: A drop-down field that controls what action occurs if the user selects at vertex between two segments during Slide. A special vertex cursor is shown to the user as an indication when a pick will get the vertex rather than a segment. The available actions are:
- Line Corner – causes the current angle at the vertex to be split and a new segment is created. The new segment is then active on the cursor and can be modified with Slide. This would allow the user to change a 90-degree corner into a 45, or split any other existing angle. This is very useful to cleanup 90 corners, adjust off-angle corners, or reduce length of existing routes.
- Arc Corner – causes an arc to be created at the selected vertex. The new arc is then active on the cursor and can be modified with Slide. This is very useful to convert 90 or 45 corners to arcs.
- Move (default) – causes the vertex to ‘move’ as both adjacent segments are modified with Slide.
- None – prevents any special action when a vertex is selected.
- Auto Join: This option controls the behavior when parallel cline segments meet during a slide operation. The ON behavior of this option causes parallel cline segments to join as they meet during the slide operation, allowing the user to continue the current operation on larger sections of the cline. The OFF behavior of this option does not join parallel cline segments when they meet (unless a click is made), but instead creates new segments to connect the parallel cline segments.
- Default Setting = On
- Holding CTRL key during the slide operation will give the opposite behavior of the current setting on the Options form. This is useful to get the alternate behavior for Auto Join during a single edit, without having to switch the option setting.
- Extend Selection: This option makes it easier for the user to preserve the connective pattern of multiple cline segments during a slide operation. The ON behavior of this option extends the original selection made in the slide operation to include the two cline segments adjacent to the selection (additional segment on each side). The OFF behavior has no effect on the original selection.
- Default Setting = Off (it is recommended to use SHIFT for the ON behavior during specific slide operations)
- Holding SHIFT key during the slide operation will give the opposite behavior of the current setting on the Options form. This is useful to get the alternate behavior for Extend Selection during a single edit, without having to switch the option setting.
- This option is very efficient for sliding tuning patterns or other multi-segment structures when it is desired to keep the basic shape of the cline segments, without having to do a window selection on the segments.
- Arc corners – Extend Selection can be used when sliding a 45-/90-degree segment that has arc corners, and the user wants to maintain the arcs while the selected segment slides (similar to previous “arcs with segments” option).
The following options have been removed:
- Corners
- Max 45 len
- Add at max
- Vias with segments
- Ts with segments
- Arcs with segments
- The Enhanced Arc Editing mode has been removed as a RMB option. New Slide always runs in Enhanced Arc mode when arcs are involved in the slide operation.
Read on for more details …
Let’s first review the ‘old slide’ command as it related to the issue of ‘re-cornering’. Part of the challenges working with the ‘old slide’ command was corner management. Designers frequently adjust the ‘Max 45 len:’ parameter to either a big (99999) or little (10) corner sizes. Often the parameter is the opposite of what is required for a particular trace segment edit. For example - ‘Max 45 len’ set to 99999.00 expands a small corner (e.g. tuning): 
Conversely when ‘Max 45 len’ is set to 10 or lower, sliding a segment with a long corner may result in the unfavorable condition where the corner is shortened, resulting in a cumulative effect on adjacent circuitry. Often, the modified circuit will be out of the Designer’s view screen:
Another common condition we see on designs is fracture trace runs. A pick on the highlight segment below would essentially split the trace into two district sections as shown in the second graphic:
Working with offset routing is becoming more popular and ‘Add Connect’ in 16.6 addresses those challenges; however, if we take a look at an old slide, here are some of the results:
With ‘Max 45 len’ set to 10 or 99999, we get this undesirable result:
So what does a user do? Corners must be set to ‘OFF’! Not an obvious solution to the end user:
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How does one simply extend the trace segments represented by the arrows below?
Some of the results as I experimented with different settings: 
Best practices suggest windowing around the 3 segments, resulting in a ‘3 segment group slide’:
Let’s see how the new Slide command addresses these conditions. Invoke Etch Edit Application Mode. ‘Slide’ the segment as shown in the graphic below, noting the corners are adjusted, not regenerated, during the slide action. The tuning to the right is not destroyed: 
Make single picks on any of the angled segments and note how new slide maintains the integrity of the routes:
Hover over what appears to be a contiguous line, noting it’s really comprised of 2 segments. ‘Slide’ the line noting the default ‘joining’ behavior: 
One of the new ‘Slide’ options is ‘Auto Join’. This option is enabled by default. Use the Control key during the action to toggle the behavior:
Use slide to join the segments into 1 contiguous one. Consider disabling the ‘Auto Join’ behavior to experience the old slide behavior. This may require you to ‘UNDO’ a few steps: 
Make picks as directed by the arrows in the graphic below, noting the initial behavior of slide. Now hold down the Shift key to toggle the option, ‘Extend Selection’. You are now performing a 3-segment slide operation: 
Perform some of the same steps with the arc-based tuning:
There are 4 options related to vertex behavior when using slide: ‘Line Corner, Arc Corner, Move and None’: 
Invoke ‘Slide’ then hover over the vertex location, noting the change in cursor display. With the option set to ‘Move’, select the vertex and note the 2-segment slide behavior: 
Set the vertex option to ‘Line Corner’. Select the vertex again and note the trimming behavior. Select the Diff Pair vertex just above the GND net and perform the same action. This trimming technique can be used to reduce trace length to meet timing requirements:
Set the vertex option to ‘Arc corner’. Select the vertex points associated with the offset routing:
A method to convert the 45 corner to 90 is:
a. Set ‘Min Corner Size’ to ‘0’
b. Slide the corner until the angle becomes orthogonal:
Select the vertical segment while in the slide command, then press the Shift key to toggle the ‘Extend Selection’ option:
The Slide command is now ‘same net’ aware. Slide the vertical segment to left, noting the temporary DRC highlighting:
Perform a group slide on the 2 Diff Pairs and note the behavior associated with the diagonals:
Previously, the coupled segments would short to each other as outlined in the graphic below:
Improvements have been made to gather the Diff Pairs coming INTO the pads. The workaround for many users is to exit rather then enter pins during Diff Pair routing. Complete the route into the connector pins. Control the gathering of the Diff Pair by placing your cursor to the left or right side of the pad:
Please share your feedback using these new features.
Jerry “GenPart” Grzenia