Just downloaded DXP demo yesterday and rejoined the forum (missed any earlier discussion).
My initial impressions: To compare the product I choose an 8-channel amplifier board that is one of six identical cards used in a 48 transducer system. Of course this was very tedious to do (or tedious to maintain, take your pick) with 99SE methods for handling multiple channels and the even the auto routing of a single two-sided card was ridiculously complex and loaded with vias. The interesting thing about the test is that the card layout by hand is actually quite simple and can be routed by someone with minimal experience (me) with no vias and nice trace hugging. To facilitate comparison, I created the auto routing test PCB from my hand layout by locking those traces that clearly reflected choices that I was making to influence the layout, both design and aesthetic, (like power rails and initial signal fanouts from connectors). DXP routes the card essentially the same as my hand layout in about 1.5 minutes, but with about 6 vias. 99SE failed to complete the route and makes a mess of what it does complete, with about 40 vias left standing. BOTH PACKAGE WILL IDENTICALLY UNROUTE SOME OF THE LOCKED TRACES when cleaning the board between tests. Since they do this identically to some (not all) of the unconnected prerouted stubs I used to influence the layout, I assume this is the identical software still in place. If the multichannel features work at all, they will be a big win for me and huge step in the right direction. I will let you know. If the flat file project methods work reliably, that is also a plus as it reflects the way most programming IDE's work with complete independent access to files, the file dates, etc. My guess is: no more trips to PLUTO! So for moderate level projects like I have, DXP might be a big win. On the other hand it may not be as improved as I would like. Even a quick cursory test revealed that the old bugs are still there. But other problems with 99SE were more limiting than the few bugs I learned to tolerate. These things made 99SE largely unworkable (PLUTO effect and multichannel maintenance, etc). regards, Tim Hutcheson Institute for Human and Machine Cognition 40 S. Alcaniz St. Pensacola, FL 32503 805-202-4461 ************************************************************************ * Tracking #: 6C599303C0C24742B2C84717B879B55BD05BC46C * ************************************************************************ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 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/[email protected] * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
