Staggering, I've been hitting my head on the desk for hours trying to figure this one out.
Well, the whole functionality is quite shaky, so a very specific technique must be followed:
How to draw a copper pour and connect to vias in pads layout 9.3:
1. Draw copper pour, make sure it is a SIMPLE SHAPE. Any complex shape is not registered properly and creates problems. (This is KEY to making copper pour work)
2. Place vias where appropriate, use routing on the main layer, then right-click>create via; then right-click>end.
3. Type "PO" and then press enter.
4. Re-flood the copper pour.
5. Repeat 2-4 until all connections are placed.
Bug Report:
Upon having a complex shape for the copper pour (polygon, 45 deg cut-off corners, irregular to about 20-30 edges) the copper pour is not registered as a copper pour, doesn't connect to vias/routing, and re-appears after being deleted.
Typing this up for anybody struggling out there.
---------- Post added at 20:23 ---------- Previous post was at 18:46 ----------
OK, I was too happy too fast. This issue is not resolved.
I have a nice copper pour, that is not very complex, smack down in the middle of my PCB. It works - meaning that any relevant VIA that I add, then "PO" and re-flood, is connected.
However, adding any new copper pour doesn't work - no matter the complexity or shape, upon connecting the pour to actual net, it doesn't flood. When not connected to any net, it floods OK.
I can't figure out how to make it flood; so far I've tried shutting down dxdesigner link, different shapes and different order of property change - still can't figure out what did I do exactly to make my other pour work.
This means that my previous conclusion is either partial or incorrect.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers,
-Dan.
---------- Post added at 20:37 ---------- Previous post was at 20:23 ----------
I GOT IT!
FINALLY a solution.
Apparently, PADS will not flood unless there is a VIA (not a TH element connection, mind you, but an actual VIA) inside the area of the copper pour.
I've tested this with more complex shapes and in various parts of my PCB; it works.
Still, on the side of caution, I will wait a day before marking this post as solved.
Best regards to all, and good luck.
-Dan.