What's New > Follow-Me Routing

Introducing Follow-Me Routing — A Smarter Way to Design PCBs with AutoTRAX DEX!

Imagine routing a PCB where the software intelligently works with you, automatically navigating around obstacles while leaving you firmly in control.

That's exactly what is been developed for AutoTRAX DEX!

I am introducing a powerful new Follow-Me Routing system that combines the precision and control of manual PCB routing with the intelligence of an advanced autorouter.

And the best part? You won't have to learn a new way of working!

You Guide. AutoTRAX DEX Does the Hard Work.

With Follow-Me Routing, you simply select a connection and move your mouse in the direction you want the track to go.

DEX intelligently calculates a suitable path, automatically navigating around pads, tracks, vias and other obstacles while respecting your PCB design rules.

Rather than forcing you to place every bend manually, DEX helps create the routing geometry for you.

You decide where the track should go. DEX figures out how to get it there.

Intelligent Routing Across Multiple Layers

Sometimes the best route isn't on the current copper layer.

Follow-Me Routing is being developed to recognise these situations and automatically introduce vias when necessary, allowing tracks to navigate around difficult obstacles.

You can also control layer changes yourself using the familiar DEX keyboard commands.

The aim is to produce clean, efficient routing without taking control away from the designer.

Stop, Make Changes, and Continue Later

One particularly useful feature is the ability to stop routing partway through a connection.

Simply double-click to finish the current routing operation. DEX preserves the track segments you've already routed.

You can then move components, adjust other tracks or work elsewhere on the PCB before returning to finish the connection.

Nothing you've already routed needs to be discarded.

Connect to Pads or Existing Tracks

Follow-Me Routing isn't restricted to connecting one pad directly to another.

You can route towards other pads or existing tracks belonging to the same electrical net. DEX handles the necessary track junctions and updates the remaining unrouted connections automatically.

This provides considerable flexibility when routing complex PCBs.

Real-Time Design Rule Checking

Follow-Me Routing uses DEX's existing design-rule infrastructure to help maintain legal track clearances and avoid unwanted copper collisions.

The system also respects locked routing, protecting work you've already completed.

And because AutoTRAX DEX integrates schematic capture, PCB layout and realistic 3D visualisation, your routing changes remain part of the same unified electronic design.

Coming Later: Push-and-Pull Routing!

We're also planning something even more ambitious.

Future versions are intended to support push-and-pull routing, allowing DEX to move or reshape existing unlocked tracks to make room for new connections.

I am also investigating the possibility of moving unlocked component footprints automatically when necessary.

These capabilities will be optional, so you'll remain in control of how much assistance DEX provides.

No New Interface. No Learning Curve. Just Smarter Routing.

Perhaps the most exciting aspect is that we're keeping the familiar AutoTRAX DEX user interface.

The same mouse operations, keyboard shortcuts, routing tools and design panels will continue to work as before.

The difference is what happens behind the scenes.

Your manual router will become an intelligent routing assistant.

The aim is to make an initial experimental version available to AutoTRAX DEX users before American Thanksgiving in November 2026, subject to successful testing.

This is just the beginning. Our longer-term goal is to develop a fully integrated DEX autorouter that replaces the existing Electra routing engine.

AutoTRAX DEX — You design the PCB. We'll help you route it!

We'd love to hear your thoughts and suggestions as development progresses.