In the context of Sprint Layout 6.0, a macro is a saved group of objects on the PCB layout. This includes:
Unlike a full component library (which requires editing .lib files), a macro is simply a saved selection. You can store anything from a single test point to a 100-pin microcontroller footprint.
Now that you know the basics, let’s unlock the true potential of Macros Sprint Layout 6.0 with advanced workflows.
Creating a macro in version 6.0 is incredibly intuitive.
Eloise wiped the solder smoke from her glasses and stared at the clock: 2:00 AM. The client wanted the prototype by 9:00 AM. She had the schematic in her head, the components on her bench, but the PCB layout in Sprint Layout 6.0 was a mess.
She had drawn the power regulator circuit—a boring but essential block of capacitors, a 7805, and two resistors—six times already today. Six times. Every new project needed the same voltage island, yet every time she drew it manually, she introduced a tiny error. A trace too thin. A via in the wrong spot.
"Manual labor is for machinists, not engineers," she grumbled, right-clicking on the completed regulator block. She highlighted the five components, the seven tracks, and the three vias. Then, she hovered over the menu she usually ignored: Macros.
She clicked Save to Macro.
A dialog box popped up. "Name your masterpiece," the software seemed to whisper.
"REG_5V_STD," she typed.
The screen flickered. The selected block turned a deep, satisfying gold and shrank into a tiny icon in the Macros toolbar. It looked like a ghost of a circuit.
At 2:15 AM, she started the main logic board. It needed three separate 5V rails. Before, she would have cried. Now, she grinned. She clicked the Macros tab, dragged REG_5V_STD onto the canvas, and poof—the entire regulator circuit appeared, perfectly routed, components labeled, vias placed. She did it again. And again.
Three rails. Thirty seconds.
But then came the nightmare: the RF amplifier stage. It was a finicky beast with specific 45-degree angle traces, a ground pour isolation trench, and a specific footprint for an obscure Japanese transistor. Last month, she had spent four hours tuning it. Last month, she had wept. Macros Sprint Layout 6.0
She opened that old project file. She highlighted the RF stage. Save to Macro. "RF_AMP_FINICKY."
At 3:00 AM, she imported the macro into the new board. It landed exactly as she had perfected it—every angle, every gap. She didn't have to think. The Macros were her past self doing the heavy lifting for her present self.
Suddenly, the client called. "Eloise, change of plans. We need the regulator to handle 12V input, not 9V."
Before Macros, this meant deleting three hours of work. Now, she opened the REG_5V_STD macro in the editor. She changed one resistor value and the input capacitor rating. She hit Update Macro. A warning popped up: "Update existing instances?"
She clicked Yes.
On the board, three regulator blocks shimmered, recalculated, and redrew themselves simultaneously. Traces shifted. Values changed. It was like watching a flock of birds turn in mid-air.
At 5:00 AM, the board was finished. Gerbers exported. She leaned back.
Sprint Layout 6.0 wasn't just a drawing tool. It was a language. And Macros were her reusable sentences. She wasn't drawing circuits anymore—she was composing them.
She looked at the Macros toolbar. There was "REG_5V_STD," "RF_AMP_FINICKY," "USB_PROTECT," and "LED_MATRIX_8x8."
Her library of wisdom.
She saved the file, shut the laptop, and smiled. Tomorrow, when the client asked for another change, she wouldn't start from zero. She would just open her Macros and let the ghosts of her past work do the heavy lifting one more time.
End.
In Sprint-Layout 6.0, a "Macro" refers to a predefined component footprint or a group of layout elements that you can save and reuse. Creating a New Macro In the context of Sprint Layout 6
You can create a custom macro from any elements you have already placed on your layout.
Draw the Component: Use the standard tools (pads, tracks, labels) to draw your component footprint on the design board.
Select the Elements: Use the selection tool to highlight everything you want to include in the macro. Save as Macro:
Open the Macro-Library panel on the right side of the screen. Click the Save as Macro button within the library panel.
Choose a filename and save it into a specific folder in your library directory.
Define as Component (Optional): If the "As Component" option is activated during saving, the macro will behave as a single entity with an integrated identifier and value when placed. Using and Managing Macros
Drag & Drop: To use a macro, simply select it from the tree view in the Macro-Library and drag it onto your layout.
Footprint Wizard: For standard footprints like DIP or SMD packages, use the Footprint-Wizard to automatically generate macros based on parameters you input.
Predefine Data: You can double-click a macro preview in the library to predefine its "Pick+Place" data, which is essential for automated SMD assembly.
Deleting: Use the Delete Macro button in the library panel to remove any selected macros you no longer need. com/iwakura/sl-macros">GitHub or SolderingMind? Sprint-Layout 6.0
In Sprint-Layout 6.0, the Macro-Library is a core feature that serves as a repository for pre-defined component footprints, allowing you to drag and drop standard parts directly onto your PCB design. Key Macro Features
Structured Library: Macros are organized in a tree-view on the right side of the screen, making it easy to find specific components like resistors, ICs, or connectors.
Footprint Wizard: This tool allows you to automatically generate new footprints for standard components by entering parameters like pin count and pitch. Unlike a full component library (which requires editing
Custom Macro Creation: You can create your own macros by drawing elements (pads, tracks, silk screen), selecting them, and saving them as a .lmk file for future use.
Batch Editing: Existing macros can be modified by "splitting" the group, adjusting properties like pad size or silk screen thickness, and then re-saving them. How to Use Macros
Open the Library: Click the "Macro-Library" button in the toolbar to toggle the side panel.
Select & Place: Navigate the tree-view, select your component, and drag it into the workspace.
Manage Files: Most macro collections are stored in C:\Users\Public\Documents\Layout60. You can add new folders here to expand your library with community-sourced components.
These tutorials provide step-by-step guidance on creating, editing, and managing macros within the Sprint-Layout environment: How to make your own macros in Sprint Layout 6 4K views · 5 years ago YouTube · Green Free Energy Macro editing on Sprint Layout 6 4K views · 9 years ago YouTube · Coqui Audio Sprint Layout 6 macro collection - with share macros link - 16K views · 10 years ago YouTube · Coqui Audio Sprint-Layout 6.0
Sprint-Layout 6.0 is often considered the "golden age" version of the software. It reached a sweet spot where the interface was modern enough to be usable, but the software wasn't yet bloated with features rarely used by hobbyists.
While the macro function existed in earlier versions, version 6.0 is where it became a staple for high-efficiency PCB design.
Here is a deep dive into the Macro functionality in Sprint-Layout 6.0, how it works, and why it is the single biggest productivity booster in the software.
Unlike Eagle or KiCad, Sprint Layout does not have a "macro editor." To edit a macro, you must import it, modify it, and overwrite it.
To edit an existing macro:
Warning: If you change the reference point, previously placed instances on existing PCBs will not update. Only use this for new designs.
Need a macro that includes a label like "J1" or "RV1"? Add text before saving as macro. However, note that text saved in a macro is static—it will not auto-increment like a true schematic-driven tool. Use text macros for fixed labels (e.g., polarity markers, logo, or "GND").