Basic Question(s) about Routing Traces to a Through-Hole Connector (in DipTrace)

JRetSapDoog

​Hi, gang. I'm routing a two-sided board for a Propeller project and am wondering if it's considered "Kosher" to directly route (some) traces to a through-hole connector on the connector side of the PCB (i.e., without using any separate vias to make the connection). That is, the through-holes of the connector themselves would make the connections from the connector side with said traces through to the connector's solder side. That assumes that the connector through-holes are plated for a two-sided board. Is that the case (are the through holes for components always plated for double-sided boards)??? And if they are, is such routing considered to be within good practice? If not, I'd naturally need to use separate vias to bring some signals from the connector's solder side to the other side (which is doable, of course).

DipTrace doesn't appear to have a problem with the aforesaid routing, so I presume it works electrically (I haven't done any design rule checks yet, though). However, doing so would obscure the actual connections of such traces to the connector pins since they would be underneath the plastic connector housing, which seems a bit odd (but such connections could be assumed, I suppose). I never really considered this kind of connectivity when making home-brew boards as I always had all the traces connect on the solder side(s) of any through-hole connectors (since the through-holes of my home-made boards were never plated and most of my boards were single-sided anyway). Any comments would be appreciated (including a succinct "Of course!" or "Not Kosher!"). Thanks. --Jim

Leon

Nothing wrong with that, it's done all the time.

Oldbitcollector (Jeff)

It almost sounds like some "vias" would be useful in your design. Just don't overuse them.

Publison

As Leon said, it's used all the time and is a normally procedure. It is used a lot with software that has a limit on pins. Vias will add more pins and maybe put you over the top on a design in ExpressPCB or the free DipTrace.

As Jeff said, don't overuse them.

JRetSapDoog

Thanks, Leon/Jeff/Publison. That's what I was hoping you would say, but prepared for the other answer (or some middle ground). Thanks for your helpful comments.