PADS I/O Designer supports designing for multiple devices, allowing you to switch to a larger or smaller device without changing the pin assignment or PCB routing. This is accomplished by overlaying multiple devices typically in a common package and enabling only those pins that are common. Pin assignments are therefore limited to only those common pins. This provides the flexibility to swap devices while maintaining I/O assignments and leaving the PCB unchanged.
PADS I/O Designer provides a possibility to show only pins common to the current device and some other devices. To turn it on, select View > Pins from Other Devices. The displayed window presents the list of devices from the current vendor with the same package as the current device. The list can be easily modified by the use of the Add and Remove buttons.
If the option is turned on by the OK button, only pins which have the same functions in the current device and all selected devices are displayed. For instance, if a pin is I/O in the current device, and the pin in the same position is not connected in one of the devices from the list, the pin is not displayed. In this way the option helps you to plan the design for different parts.
To access pins hidden by the Pins from Other Devices option select View > Show Hidden Rows. If that setting is checked, all rows are displayed. The rows that are hidden will be displayed in a gray color.