中文

Pad Expand Helper (English UI pad-expand-helper)

Batch generate solder mask expansion geometry based on selected pads or components in the PCB editor: output as keep-out areas on electrical layers (to control copper pour/fill), or solder mask layer fill graphics only. Suitable for scenarios where you need to quickly place solder mask openings and process keep-out zones with a fixed expansion amount.

Feature Diagram

If the diagram does not exactly match the current interaction, refer to the "Usage Instructions" below.

Extension Identity

name uniqueness: The extension store requires that extensions with different uuids cannot use the same name. If the submission review prompts a naming conflict, change the name in extension.json to an unused name (lowercase letters, digits, and hyphens only, 5–30 characters), then rebuild and upload.

Feature Description

Generation Type (choose one of three)

In the settings window, select which rule type the result falls under:

Expansion geometry is first constructed on the solder mask side, then converted to keep-out areas or retained as solder mask fill based on the selected type; round pads etc. will generate ring fills of outer ring minus inner ring (see changelog 1.0.2).

Workflow

1. After opening the feature via the menu, an inline settings page (iframe/index.html) pops up first: select the generation type, enter the expansion width (single-side width outward relative to the pad outline), and choose whether to enable continuous generation mode. If the inline page is unavailable, it falls back to the system native dialog flow.
2. Single generation: Processes the currently selected pads/component pads/components (expanding all pads) once and finishes.
3. Continuous generation mode: After applying settings, you can click or box-select multiple times on the canvas to select pads/components; press Esc or right-click to exit; running the menu again will end the session and allow reconfiguration.

Selection and Layer Assignment

• Selection: You can directly select pads, component pads, or select components (automatically expanding and deduplicating all pads underneath); supports multi-select and mixed selection.
• Layer assignment: Top layer pads → top solder mask / corresponding electrical layer; bottom layer pads → bottom layer; cross-layer/multi-layer pads → corresponding primitives generated on both top and bottom sides. Special pads on inner layers with no corresponding solder mask/electrical mapping will be skipped with a notification.

Geometry and Units

• Shapes: Common pad outlines such as circles, rectangles, ovals, rounded tracks (stadium shapes), regular polygons, and complex polygons are all supported; expansion uses polyline fitting (no standalone arc primitives).
• Units: Reads the current canvas unit; input values are converted to PCB internal mil for generation; expansion has an upper limit (currently 2000 mil in source code, subject to the actual compiled constant).

Feedback and Exceptions

• Success or partial success will show a toast notification with the number of generated items; partially failed entries will list brief reasons (e.g., inner layer pad skipped, keep-out area conversion failed, etc.).
• No valid pads selected, running in a non-PCB environment, etc. will display a clear dialog or toast explanation.

Resources and Configuration (extension.json)

• logo: ./images/logo.png (square icon, recommended ≥500×500, PNG/JPEG).
• banner: ./images/banner.jpg (extension store banner, aspect ratio 64:27, JPEG, see official documentation).

Usage Instructions

Environment Requirements

• JLCPCB EDA Professional Edition / EasyEDA Professional Edition, version must satisfy engines.eda in extension.json (currently ^3.0.0).

Operation Steps

1. Open a PCB design file.
2. Single mode: First select the target(s) on the canvas (pads, component pads, or components).
3. Find 焊盘外扩助手 in the top menu bar → 焊盘阻焊外扩… (in English: pad-expand-helper → pad-expand-helper: expand…; the inline settings page English title is pad-expand-helper: setup; subject to what the client displays).
4. Complete in the settings window: generation type, expansion width, and whether to use continuous generation.
5. Continuous mode: After entering, repeatedly click/box-select on the canvas to generate; use Esc or right-click to exit continuous mode.

Menu Description

FAQ

• No valid objects selected (single mode): Please select at least one pad or a component containing pads first.
• Selected but contains no pads: A notification will indicate that the current selection does not contain pads.
• Cannot see the menu or feature not working: Please open the board in the PCB editor and try again; this extension registers entries in home / sch / pcb etc., but the core logic targets PCB.
• Settings window won't open: The inline frame API may fail due to version differences; try updating the client; if the issue persists, please include the version number in your feedback.
• Upload to store reports missing banner: Ensure images/banner.jpg exists in the package and extension.json's images.banner is ./images/banner.jpg. You can use scripts/gen-banner.ps1 locally to generate a placeholder banner before running npm run build.

Development and Build

npm install
npm run compile   # generates dist/index.js
npm run lint
npm run build     # compiles and packages .eext to build/dist

After the build completes, find pad-expand-helper_v<version>.eext in the build/dist directory (composed of extension.json's name and version, consistent with the extension store identifier; do not change just the filename in the packaging script for aesthetics while keeping an incorrect name). Install the extension package in the client.

Entry file: entry in extension.json is ./dist/index; before publishing, make sure to run npm run compile (or npm run build) to ensure dist/index.js exists and is consistent with the source code. The inline settings page is located in iframe/ and must also be included in the extension package.

API and License

• Development guide: https://prodocs.lceda.cn/cn/api/guide/
• API reference: https://prodocs.lceda.cn/cn/api/reference/pro-api.html
• License: Apache-2.0