Re: [PEDA] [PROTEL EDA USERS]: Suggestions for improving Protel...
On 06:58 PM 5/02/2001 -1000, Cecil Waterhouse said: One item I would like to see added to PCB is the use of a wild card (and a range) when placing components etc. i.e. 'edit' 'move' 'Component' U*. This would allow the user to place all designated components starting with the lowest value of U and progress upward to the last, or moving components individually within the designated range. I have seen this capability in other CAD systems. Should be easy to implement. Cecil W. Riddle me more on this one pls, Cecil. Are you saying after moving say U1 (first in the list) and clicking it into its new spot the cursor would jump to U2 (or U2 jump to the cursor) and have U2 floating on the cursor ready form placement? Seems this would be most useful on the first placement of a new board and only when you had a numbering scheme that kept consecutive component numbers in an order that means they are best placed nearby (a good thing for a number of reasons but not universal). Now it might be possible to get the auto-component selection to work in with the 'room' feature as well. I s'pose you could have a hot key(s) that steps you forward or backward through the list as well - and the status bar would need to be fixed so you can see what the component you are moving actually is. (It doesn't show the component designator while the component is moving, currently.) I am not sure that I would get much use from such a feature, if I have understood it correctly, but others may. Ian Wilson * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * This message sent by: PROTEL EDA USERS MAILING LIST * * Use the reply command in your email program to * respond to this message. * * To unsubscribe from this mailing list use the form at * the Association web site. You will need to give the same * email address you originally used to subscribe (do not * give an alias unless it was used to subscribe). * * Visit http://www.techservinc.com/protelusers/subscrib.html * to unsubscribe or to subscribe a new email address. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * To leave the EDAFORUM discussion list, send a email with 'leave edaforum' in the body to '[EMAIL PROTECTED]' More Information : http://www.dolist.net
Re: [PEDA] [PROTEL EDA USERS]: Suggestions for improving Protel...
re split planes -- change PCB so that the plane layer must be the CURRENT layer for the split to be editable. (How often do you edit the split, compared to ALL the other parts on the board!) I just did my first design that had one of these, and being CONSTANTLY prompted to choose between the split plane and the part I really wanted was a REAL pain. At times I resorted to moving the split plane off to the side, or hiding it, but that shouldn't be necessary. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, February 04, 2001 11:44 PM snip Pcb bugs = . Remove the bug that always make you grab the split plane (if the layer is visible) instead of giving you the first corner of a selecting rectangle. It should at least give you the pop-up menu of what primitive you want. snip * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * This message sent by: PROTEL EDA USERS MAILING LIST * * Use the reply command in your email program to * respond to this message. * * To unsubscribe from this mailing list use the form at * the Association web site. You will need to give the same * email address you originally used to subscribe (do not * give an alias unless it was used to subscribe). * * Visit http://www.techservinc.com/protelusers/subscrib.html * to unsubscribe or to subscribe a new email address. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * To leave the EDAFORUM discussion list, send a email with 'leave edaforum' in the body to '[EMAIL PROTECTED]' More Information : http://www.dolist.net
Re: [PEDA] [PROTEL EDA USERS]: Suggestions for improving Protel... (exgraphic images lost)
Yes, I think it is the same as I had with the company - logo on the schematic. In the sheet ( or library part ) there is a link to the graphic file and not the graphic itself. Your collegue has probably not the same graphic in the same path. Georg I have also had similar experiences. So what I would like to see in the next SP or major version (depending upon whether or not it *could* be done in the next SP) is the ability to specify a *relative* (rather than just *absolute*) location for graphic files and/or the ability to embed graphic files within DDB files (i.e. graphic files can not only be included within the DDB file, but can also be accessed by schematic files that are also within the same DDB file, on an as needed basis). --- Some other items that come to mind for this thread (and which I have intended to post for a while): Provide new Special Strings for schematic files which print the date that the file was last saved, and the time that the file was last saved. (At present, the .date and .time Special Strings identify when the file was *printed*. And for those who advocate adding *standard* strings to indicate when the file was saved, bear it mind that it is all too easy to forget to update the contents of these strings, and if they are *not* so updated, then their usefulness is seriously compromised...) The .Printout_Name Special String (Pcb files), provided in SP6, should identify the name of the plotlayer within Gerber files (e.g. Top Pad Master, Top Silkscreen, etc). (At present, it literally always prints as .Printout_Name within Gerber files.) Ideally, this would be the case with Gerber files produced by *both* the CAM Manager server *and* the old fashioned method, but it would be desirable to have this outcome for at least the former (and officially favoured) of those two options. The Pcb Process which reports distances should ideally report distances in both imperial and metric form. (The type of measurement unit which is currently selected would be reported first, then the other type of measurement unit. At present, the latter distance is not reported at all by this process.) The Query Server, invoked from the Pcb Server, should store and retrieve data from a file that is distinct for each different major version of Protel. (Protel 98, 99, and 99 SE all use the *same* QryFile.qry file, whereas most (/all?) other files used by these versions are distinct, e.g. CLIENT98.raf, CLIENT99.raf, and CLIENT99SE.raf.) And the abilities of the Query Server should be enhanced so that, for example, users could specify a search for all pads that are of an Unplated nature (not possible at present). Unless this has occurred already (and I am unaware of it), fix the Paste Array command, so that it matches the ability of this command in AdvPcb 2.8, in which users could roll their own footprints of a two-dimensional array nature, e.g. a BGA (Ball Grid Array). If you start off with one pad with a designator/name of A1, you can create a one-dimensional array with an increment of either 1, so creating pads with designators of A2, A3, etc, or an increment of A, so creating pads with designators of B1, C1, etc. However, if you use that one-dimensional array of pads to then attempt to create a two-dimensional array, that *did* work in AdvPcb 2.8, but as far as I am aware, it has not worked since. :( (The additional pads themselves are created OK, but the increment part of the procedure bombs out in post 2.8 versions, as the new pads do not have the desired designators assigned to them.) Provide a free, or otherwise very cheap, utility (or hobbled version of Protel) which permits users to view and print schematic and PCB files (created using the standard version of Protel). (Another recent post commented on Protel devoting some time to Pcad; after visiting the Pcad Website, it seems as though Pcad 2001 was released on Monday just passed (12 Feb 2001). And it looks as though that round about the same time, a free Pcad viewing utility was also released, permitting users to view and print files created by the standard version of Pcad.) It needs a post of its own (and the time to put together the associated text), but fix the shortcomings of the CAM Manager Server. In fairness to Protel, there have been some improvements made to this Server already. However, there are some areas in which yet more work is still highly desirable. *One* item (out of a number of these) needing attention is that octagonal pads with identical width and height are currently flashed in Gerber files with a *round* (circular) aperture *unless* the angle of (the pad's) rotation is zero degrees or 360 degrees. (How embedded aperture definitions (within Gerber files) for octagonal apertures are defined is a *distinct* issue, and is something else that I have also commented on from time to time. On this matter, take a look at how the Camtastic previewing utility, now owned by Protel itself, interprets octagonal apertures.
Re: [PEDA] [PROTEL EDA USERS]: Suggestions for improving Protel...
I was reminded again today of the old Tango complete route command. It was assigned to the forward slash key and it would interrupt the current route and reduce the display rat's nest connection line to track. It really shined when it came to doing gridded design with round off-grid pads. You could make a pad entry that was perfect with a single keystroke. As it is, with Protel, I need to complete the route, which would often be two segments if I have a routing mode turned on (i.e., 45/90), and then I will use Move Endpoint to back up the last junction to the next to the last junction. Compare that to the single keystroke once when has come within appropriate range of the pad. This would be a fairly large timesaver compared to the difficulty of programming it We could do this now by making a macro that will change the routing mode to any-angle, and presumably, one to change it back. But that is still a lot more keystrokes than that single slash that did the trick. (It also dropped one out of place track mode at the same time since, by definition, it was completing a route and usually one would not want to go on.) [EMAIL PROTECTED] Abdulrahman Lomax P.O. Box 690 El Verano, CA 95433 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * This message sent by: PROTEL EDA USERS MAILING LIST * * Use the reply command in your email program to * respond to this message. * * To unsubscribe from this mailing list use the form at * the Association web site. You will need to give the same * email address you originally used to subscribe (do not * give an alias unless it was used to subscribe). * * Visit http://www.techservinc.com/protelusers/subscrib.html * to unsubscribe or to subscribe a new email address. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * To leave the EDAFORUM discussion list, send a email with 'leave edaforum' in the body to '[EMAIL PROTECTED]' More Information : http://www.dolist.net
Re: [PEDA] [PROTEL EDA USERS]: Suggestions for improving Protel...
I'm still about 500 emails behind, so this may have already been addressed: Edi, I can customize the way a power object appears while in the tool-bar (by editing the .BMP), but my custom bitmap doesn't appear when I try to place the power object. The default Protel power object is placed. The only thing it appears we can edit is the color of power objects. This is disappointing because I would like to make the Power Ground symbol a little smaller. I'd like to officially add this to the list of enhancements Protel should make. (i.e. Being able to edit Power Objects graphically.) I have a list of improvements that I will submit, once I've gone through the rest of my emails, to avoid duplication. Mark Geddes At 11:42 05.02.01 +0100, you wrote: The power objects in schematic are not elegant. I'd like to setup a list of objects for my design to choose from: +5V_bar +3.3V_bar +15V_arraow -5.2V_circle GND_dig GND_analog Earth You can change this quite easy. (Customize|Toolbars|Wiring Tools) The bitmaps of the buttons are in the directory Design Explorer 99 SE\System\Buttons and can be copied and edited. I've changed ALL the buttons. E.g. grounds are blue and VCC's are red. This is common, at least in Europe, isn't it? As it is now, GND looks the same though they can named GND_dig and GND_analog. I should be able to select by image and the image shows what it means. The vias in pcb are not nicely implemented. select connected copped and assign another net leaves the vias to be assigned manually. They seem not to be counted as copper. They do, but the dialog is different for tracks and vias, so if you globally change the nets of tracks, you only change the tracks. You have to change the vias, pads, fills, arcs,... separatly. Edi * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * This message sent by: PROTEL EDA USERS MAILING LIST * * Use the reply command in your email program to * respond to this message. * * To unsubscribe from this mailing list use the form at * the Association web site. You will need to give the same * email address you originally used to subscribe (do not * give an alias unless it was used to subscribe). * * Visit http://www.techservinc.com/protelusers/subscrib.html * to unsubscribe or to subscribe a new email address. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * To leave the EDAFORUM discussion list, send a email with 'leave edaforum' in the body to '[EMAIL PROTECTED]'
Re: [PEDA] [PROTEL EDA USERS]: Suggestions for improving Protel...
On 02:58 PM 1/03/2001 +1100, Geoff Harland said: - (Pcb Server): Add support for *resizing* of a currently-focused fill primitive using the *mouse*. That is, if you click on an edge or corner of a currently-focused fill, then you can change the location of that (by dragging it with the mouse) (rather then repositioning the entire fill, without changing its overall width or height, which is the current behaviour). If you want to reposition the fill (current behaviour), then click on the *centre* of this (and then drag it). Click once and then drag the sizing handles - function is already there. But the behavior is possibly not obvious. The resizing and rotation handles are only used if you click (and release) once more on one of the handles. In other words the resizing and rotations only occur if you are not holding the mouse button down. Ian * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * This message sent by: PROTEL EDA USERS MAILING LIST * * Use the reply command in your email program to * respond to this message. * * To unsubscribe from this mailing list use the form at * the Association web site. You will need to give the same * email address you originally used to subscribe (do not * give an alias unless it was used to subscribe). * * Visit http://www.techservinc.com/protelusers/subscrib.html * to unsubscribe or to subscribe a new email address. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * __ To post a message: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe or subscribe we recommend using the form at our web site: http://www.techservinc.com/protelusers/subscrib.html You may also unsubscribe directly by email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=leave%20edaforum however this may fail if you're trying to unsubscribed an old email address, an alias mail account, or if your mail client uses an unusual encoding format. To contact the Forum Administrator: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [PEDA] [PROTEL EDA USERS]: Suggestions for improving Protel...
Dear All, I am still intending to compile a list of everyone's suggestions and post them back to the group for comment. Also going to try to form this list into a database on egroups/yahoo if practical. Currently up to my neck in paid work though. Please be patient, and keep posting. Regards, Rob Malos, Cyborg Design * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * This message sent by: PROTEL EDA USERS MAILING LIST * * Use the reply command in your email program to * respond to this message. * * To unsubscribe from this mailing list use the form at * the Association web site. You will need to give the same * email address you originally used to subscribe (do not * give an alias unless it was used to subscribe). * * Visit http://www.techservinc.com/protelusers/subscrib.html * to unsubscribe or to subscribe a new email address. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * __ To post a message: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe or subscribe we recommend using the form at our web site: http://www.techservinc.com/protelusers/subscrib.html You may also unsubscribe directly by email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=leave%20edaforum however this may fail if you're trying to unsubscribed an old email address, an alias mail account, or if your mail client uses an unusual encoding format. To contact the Forum Administrator: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
