--- In [email protected], "markjames_ipower" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > This is a small company with few resources, although I feel it's > important to take the time to make a good decision the delay will > impact a number of projects that would require some EDA package. So > I'm trying to triage the decision to mitigate the effects. If I pick > a package that doesn't cost a lot of money and doesn't take a lot of > time to learn but can't do something I absolutely need it to do then > the time I took up to that point is wasted. If I then need to use a > different program and there is no way to convert the files I had > created to the new software then I need to take more time to re-enter > the design. Not only is time==money but additionally the delay pushes > back the release of the product which delays the profit we would have > seen. > I know how to do things right but time/money/productivity all have to > be considerations.
I don't want to beat a dead horse, but your argument above is contradicting itself. You have said that you don't have the time to fully evaluate a layout package because this will impact the schedule of several projects. On the other hand you have pointed out that if you short change the evaluation and have to start over with a new package in the middle of a project, then you will also cause intolerable delays... you can't have it both ways. There is no way to do an evaluation "right" so that you make the correct decision but don't delay things by doing a short evaluation. But you can consider using one of your simpler projects as an evaluation vehicle to fully explore the most likely candidate. As long as you are able to complete the project using the evaluation tool, you will not be causing schedule problems. Using FreePCB, I have found some things it does not do the way I would like it. But it did not stop me from completing the project. So I don't think it is likely that picking a given package will cause a problem with your schedule. If you don't like the tool, you may have to learn a second tool on the second project, but I don't know of any way of picking the best tool without spending an adequate amount of time evaluating the tools. Certainly you should be able to list the features you require from a tool before you even start an evaluation. Just picking a tool and sitting down with is it not the best way to evaluate it. If you don't know your needs, you really can't begin to test them. > My research has provided other free options and I appreciate the > suggestion, I have reached this point with KiCad looking like a front > runner, if there is a major fly in the ointment then I will have to > dive back in and concentrate on another option. What did you use as selection criteria? Rick
