> I've read all the threads about wanting to view a board from the > bottom up and I cant figure out why anyone would do this.
Because it can eliminate having to manually transpose dimensions and therefore, a source of error. > The IPC > -D-325 Documentation standard states in sec 4.2.6 VIEWING : > The layout of the board design should always viewed from the primary > side of the board. blah blah blah.. Sure. That makes perfect sense once it is complete. Does it define "primary side" ? Is that the side with the most bits, the one the through-hole parts are on, the one that matches all the mechanical drawings of the complete product or something else ? I've never seen a drawing of a chair with the legs at the top, but I am sure it spends some time like that at the upholsterer. Why should it be any different when I am laying out a PCB ? In fact, I have a job at the moment where it would be a really useful tool. There are two boards that plug together component side to component side. If such a tool existed, I could place components on both sides of a single outline so that I could check for interferences as I go. I could also put the connectors on top of each other so that I know they will match up. Once I am happy, I could select everything on the bottom layer and flip them with a copy of the outline. Now I have two boards as they will be manufactured on a panel, with the components on the top, no transposition errors and I still have the ability to keep in sync with the schematic. Steve. ====================================================== Steve Baldwin Electronic Product Design TLA Microsystems Ltd Microcontroller Specialists PO Box 15-680, New Lynn http://www.tla.co.nz Auckland, New Zealand ph +64 9 820-2221 email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] fax +64 9 820-1929 ====================================================== * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 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 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *