The ones I see used, and I use, are: - Schematic yes - PCB yes - Powerprint yes - CAM Manager yes - Simulator yes - quite often. I forced myself to work out how to use it fully. It took some time, and it is very fiddly to add new models. - Autorouter yes - 3D Viewer tried it for a marketing picture and it was close but no bananas - PLD yes - for 16V8, 22V10 and similar only - usually these are for little test jigs etc. Basically this is just CUPL. - Arrange Components occasionally on initial import - Autoplacer no - PCB Miter occasionally - Signal Integrity tried briefly - will use as necessary - Database Link no
And some ones not yet discussed: - Spread yes - Chart no - Cross Selector yes - Synchroniser (EDS) Yes Yes Yes - File Find dunno - maybe I have - Help Advisor (the little '?' mark at the bottom right) Yes occasionally - HSEdit Yes - LayerStackupAnalyser Yes - LoadPCADPCB No - LoadPCADSCH No - MacMaker Yes - Macro Yes - MakeLib Yes - PCB_SS Yes - SCH_SS Yes - SchDWGUtility No - ServMake Yes (but the wizards does not work for me) - TextEdit Yes I have left off some that are pretty much parts of the main Sch and PCB packages. I am a many hats type - not simply PCB or PCB/Sch. This, no doubt, affects my usage. Of the servers that are currently available that I see no need for, and should *not* be part of the package, there is only one,: AutoRFQ - waste of time Those that need lots of work: 3DViewer - but with user controlled models this will have occasional application. BTW the SDK does have a height parameter for components. I tried writing a server to set this parameter but either I did not debug it fully or the parameter does not (yet) get looked at by the 3DViewer. Database Link - speed and formats Autorouter Autoplacer The major servers requiring a bit more work to dramatically improve integration: Sim - including models and the rather clunky method of viewing traces - but getting there and already very useful. Lack of some of PSPICE extensions is a bit of a pain. Sch - I want a more detailed ERC/rules based system for specifying layouts in the Sch. Closer integration with PCB. PCB - lots of stuff that can be made better as this is the core of the program that should be under continual improvement. TextEdit - Not too bad but not as good as a specialist editor like TextEdit (unfortunately the same name as the Protel server). Some irritating display artefacts. Consider the comments below. Spread - needs more work. Stability is poor and the Excel4 features are a little dated. Consider the comments below. Most of the other servers can do with updates to imrpove the full suite. On the text editor and Spread - I think I would like the option of substituting external programs for these. The external programs could be specified as being OLE Compliant, if Protel so desires, but why chase your tail on non-core stuff. We could then use 1-2-3, Excel or whatever for spreadsheets and TextEdit for text editing - in a seemless manner if the OLE integration was done well. Ian Wilson * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * To post a message: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] * * To leave this list visit: * http://www.techservinc.com/protelusers/leave.html * * Contact the list manager: * mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] * * Forum Guidelines Rules: * http://www.techservinc.com/protelusers/forumrules.html * * Browse or Search previous postings: * http://www.mail-archive.com/proteledaforum@techservinc.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
