How do I Change the Output File Name in Altium?

Changing the output file name in Altium depends on where you want to change the name. Here's a breakdown of the two most common scenarios:

1. Changing the Output Job File Name (the *.OutJob File Itself)

This is changing the name of the file that contains the output configurations, not the names of the generated output files.

1. Locate the Output Job file: Find the .OutJob file in your Altium project.
2. Right-click and Rename: Right-click on the .OutJob file in the Projects panel and select "Rename".
3. Enter the New Name: Type in the desired new name for the Output Job file and press Enter.

2. Changing the Names of the Generated Output Files (e.g., Gerber Files, PDFs)

This is where you're defining what your generated files will be called, and it involves editing the Output Job configuration.

1. Open the Output Job File: Double-click the .OutJob file in your Projects panel to open it.

2. Locate the Output Generator: In the Output Job Editor, find the specific output generator you want to modify (e.g., Gerber Files, PDF Documentation). These are typically listed under the "Documentation Outputs" or "Fabrication Outputs" sections.

3. Edit the Output Path and File Name: This step varies slightly depending on the type of output. Look for a field or settings panel within the output generator configuration where you can specify the output path and file name.

   • For Gerber Files: Look for a "Folder Structure" or "Output Path" option. You can typically define a folder and a base file name here. Altium often uses variables that automatically insert design names or other parameters.
   • For PDF Files: Look for an "Output File Name" field. You can directly edit the file name here.
   • General Tip: Look for small icons that look like an "fx" symbol or a button labeled "Variables". Clicking on these typically lets you insert variables into your output file names (e.g., <ProjectName>, <BoardName>, <Date>).

4. Apply Changes: After modifying the output path and file name, save the Output Job file. The next time you run the output generator, it will use the new file naming scheme.

Example:

Let's say you have a Gerber output defined as follows:

• Output Container: Gerber Files
• Output Folder: Output
• Output File Name: <ProjectName>_Gerber

If your project is named "MyProject," the generated Gerber files would be located in the "Output" folder and named "MyProject_Gerber". The individual layer files would then have extensions like .GTL, .GBL, etc., appended to this base name.

Important Considerations:

• Avoid Spaces: It's generally a good practice to avoid spaces in file names, especially for manufacturing outputs. Use underscores (_) or hyphens (-) instead.
• Use Variables: Leverage Altium's built-in variables to create descriptive and consistent file names.
• Consistency: Maintain a consistent naming convention across all your projects to avoid confusion.
• Save to Server (Managed Projects): If you're working with a managed project on an Altium server, changes to the Output Job file might require you to save the project to the server. You can typically do this by going to File -> Save to Server. This ensures other team members have access to the updated output configurations. You might also need to go through the process of releasing a new revision of the output job item if the changes are significant.

By following these steps, you can effectively control the output file names generated by Altium Designer.