Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2004 9:10 pm Post subject: :! PCB123 Version 2.0 Feature list! and release notes
PCB123 Layout Basic Feature List
• No tooling charges
• Import netlists from multiple CAD Vendors.
• Easy setup- New-board wizard simplifies your design configuration.
• Board Templates- Easily select or define industry standard board outlines.
• Quick Designs- Design reuse allows you to leverage existing designs.
• Versatile library manager.
• Manual FreeStyle routing without a netlist.
• No pin limitation or number of design objects.
• Comprehensive parts library with over 250,000 parts.
• We generate the artwork for you, no post processing required.
• Fast autorouter that uses true 45-degree angles, glossing and via reduction
• Surface Mount Device Fanout router.
• Easily and accurately switch between metric and imperial units.
• Dynamic board price displayed as you design.
• Order from within the software with one click.
• Independent X, Y grid.
• Point to point distance measurement tool.
• High resolution database. 10,000th of a mil internal precision.
• Rotations down to a 10,000th of a degree.
• Auto ECO makes a design match a netlist in a minimum number of steps.
• Instant DRC reports spacing violations as they occur, removed when resolved.
• (DFM) Design for Manufacturing, Built-in fabrication rules ensure correct manufacturing.
• Copper Pour for Flood-filled areas, ground surrounds and copper planes.
• Full and split power and ground planes that can accept multiple nets.
• Correct (positive) on-screen display of power and ground planes.
• Very efficient manual routing and re-routing.
• Continuous routing with automatic vias. No isolated segments.
• Versatile display capabilities including hi-contrast to ease visibility.
• Easily create and edit custom and existing parts.
• Floating origin in the part editor.
• Generate browser-based library catalogs.
• Built-in facilities for Statistics, Bill-Of-Materials and netlist reports.
• Print Artwork accurately shows an exact board image layer-by-layer.
• Full cut, copy and paste operations, even between designs.
• Unlimited undo/redo.
• Crash detection ensures no loss of data or design time.
• Unique V2 database architecture ensures forward and even backward compatibility.
• Footprint modifications are immediately reflected in design.
• Use net length optimization (default) or specify pin-to-pin sequence as required.
• Online help, tutorials, and user communities.
• Keyboard accelerators for quick software navigation.
• All objects are fully editable via Tree View or properties menu.
• Easily find and place components using a powerful part searching tool.
• Dynamic display of pin names and pin net names.
• Dynamic connectivity through plane layers by using thermal reliefs.
• Dynamic guard band shows DRC clearance required while routing.
[b:5f037aaf78]Changes from release 2.0.0.5018 to 2.0.0.5796 11/19/04[/b:5f037aaf78]
---------------------------------
This is a general maintenance release that fixes the following:
---------------------------------
New/Improved features
1. New part search facility. Finding part is now much simpler and more flexible. Incorporating a much simpler default interface, a search will hit on part type names, footprint names, or the description fields of either. Matching hits are displayed in a list that shows the number of pins and the pitch between pins. Even on your own parts! Try it! There is also an advanced search that is library-centric, allowing you to look at the contents of a specific library or specify library filters.
2. Design templates through the New Board Wizard. Creating new designs just became much simpler with the New Board Wizard. In one place, you can specify the board technology, what netlist (if any) to use, and whether to use one of our pre-defined board templates or one of your own! We (and you) have taken a giant step toward design reuse!
3. Load/Save selections to disk. You can now select some objects and save them to disk. These saved objects can then be loaded into a design at any time. How did we do this? By creating the PCB123-Neutral-Library-Format. This is a human readable file that allows for data to be imported/exported to/from the PCB123 layout software. We have decided to publish this format (all you busy code-writing beavers, have at it!)
4. Revamped the ECO (Engineering Change Order) process to more correctly recognize existing parts in default libraries.
5. Introduced new code to optimize the loading speed of existing libraries.
6. Over 100 reported bugs/annoyances have been eliminated.
[b:5f037aaf78]Changes from release 2.0.0.4677 to 2.0.0.5018 09/03/04[/b:5f037aaf78]
PCB123 Build 5018 introduces several new and exciting areas and improves on many existing features.
---------------------------------
This is a general maintenance release that fixes the following:
---------------------------------
1. Freestyle routing. What many of you have been asking for is finally here. Point and click routing without a netlist.
2. Edit footprints in place. You can now right click on a part to edit its footprint and have that change immediately be reflected on your board (even all instances of that footprint if you desire).
3. Online help. With this release we are introducing a new online help system that will grow virtually everyday.
4. Improved printing. Print Artwork mimics what your board will look like.
5. Adjustable global spacing. DRC spacing used to be set to our minimum manufacturing requirements (adjusted for copper thickness). You can now specify what you want your DRC spacing to be down to 5 mils (.005 inches).
6. Line width can now be adjusted down to 5 mils too.
7. More accurate picking around vias.
8. Insertion of text is much easier.
9. Many annoying bugs and quirks have been eliminated.
[b:5f037aaf78]Changes from release 2.0.0.3520 to 2.0.0.4380 6/22/04[/b:5f037aaf78]
----------------------------------
Enhancements:
----------------------------------
1. Added Real Time DRC during manual routing.
2. Software now associates *.123 file with the PCB123.exe layout application.
3. Added library manager. (Ability to copy, paste, move and delete footprints among all libraries)
4. Added Keyboard accelerator map in to the Help menu.
5. Added Ctrl+F key accelerator, will allow you to snap a named object to your cursor (i.e. U1, R12)
6. Added ECO Process (Engineering Change Order) Existing layout designs can now be compared and updated against an updated Schematic netlist.
7. Added Copy/Paste functionality to the library footprint editor - Pasted pins will duplicate arrangement, but sequential ordering may not match.
8. File/Open dialog now remembers previously used folder location.
9. Added the ability to generate an HTML Catalog of selected libraries.
10. Multiple selected objects can now be moved at the same time in the footprint editor.
11. Pin properties will no longer allow a pad size that is smaller than the drill size plus a minimum required annular ring of 8 mils (0.008").
12. Modified grid to a single entry instead of multiple entries, you can still enter a variable grid if needed i.e. (.025,.050)
13. You can now delete objects from the project panel by selecting the object and right clicking and selecting delete
14. Many visual improvements have been made to the painting routines.
1. No-drill (SMD) pads will remain visible when moved in the footprint editor.
2. Changes to the grid setting are now instantly updated, no longer requires that an object be selected first.
3. Net length now shows only 4 digit decimal accuracy and the leading whole number portion is no longer obscured.
4. New Package and Load Package selections no longer appear in the File menu of the library footprint editor.
5. If an attempt is made to open a non-existent file from the Recent File list the application will remain open and issue a message stating the file does not exist instead of crashing.
6. Reference designator text for bottom side component no longer moves to the top layer silkscreen when the component is rotated.
7. Routing priority has been disabled in this release.
8. Only relevant layers are listed in the drop-down list when changing polygon properties.
9. M Key (accelerator) measurement tool no longer obstructs view and works correctly in the part editor.
10. Minimum viewable grid is now limited to prevent a potential slow down at low zoom levels
11. Added the ROBOEX32.DLL to the install path for the schematic help system.
12. Fixed the DRC engine's accuracy when reporting silkscreen on solderable surfaces.
13. Multiple small crashes have been fixed.
[b:5f037aaf78]Release Notes from release 2.0.0.2865 to 2.0.0.3520 April 21st[/b:5f037aaf78]
----------------------------------
Enhancements:
----------------------------------
1. Added Tango netlist import.
2. Added Protel netlist import.
3. Can now unroute entire net, not just point-to-point connections.
4. Added some statistics to the library browser.
5. Line widths can now be controlled at the net level, track level, and segment level. Use the W key while drawing will allow you to quickly change widths.
6. After running a DRC, you can press the 'N' key to go to the next error. In this way, you can cycle through all the errors and it will run another DRC at the end of the list.
7. Added a fanout router for automatically escaping surface mount parts. It's not working yet for BGA devices. Only SMT pins with nets are eligible for fan out. This is accessible from the Design Menu.
8. Added a manual Fanout. Just right click when routing and select Fanout Via, or press the V key. (Only works while routing) If the net is assigned to a plane the via will automatically get e thermal relief.
9. Added a via reduction pass to the autorouter.
10. The autorouter works on a finer grid now resulting in a greater completion percentage and fewer DRC errors.
11. Libraries can now be placed in subdirectories and these subdirectories can then be filtered in the part browser. When you save a new or existing part the dialog will default to Custom/Custom.slb.
----------------------------------
Bug Fixes:
----------------------------------
1. Fixed printing bug with white objects.
2. DRC now reports unrouted connections as an error.
3. Grid is now broken out as Routing Grid, Place grid, and Display Grid. All are
Explicitly set in the Grid Dialog.
4. The router now displays a "To Go" count that ticks down to zero as the router completes attempts in lower toolbar.
5. Print now properly outputs square/rectangular pads.
6. Fixed crash when deleting multiple components.
7. Fixed crash when minimizing net lengths of nets with ring connections.
8. Fixed a DRC problem with degenerate oblong pads (round instead of oblong)
9. The database now allows footprints and components to have multiple pins with the same name
as long as the name is empty. (Un-named pins)
10. Fixed the scrollbar thumb tracking.
11. Fixed printing issue with reference designators.
12. Reference designators now move properly under all component rotations and mirroring.
13. Connectivity through plane layers has been fixed.
14. The DRC error markers don't obscure the error they are reporting.
15. Many painting glitches fixed.
16. Routed segments of plane-connected tracks are now pickable.
[b:5f037aaf78]Features:[/b:5f037aaf78]
Fine-grained database resolution to 1/10,000 inch prevents round-off errors between imperial metric units.
Fast, accurate DRC. Quickly find and eliminate manufacturing and design defects .
Hi speed batch router with fan out capability.
145,000+ part library.
Part type to PCB footprint mapping.
2, 4 and 6 layer support, 8 plus layers available in near future .
Save and load predefined board outlines.
Import netlists/partlists from numerous popular formats. Orcad, Eagle, Protel Etc.. More available as the need arises
Interactive footprint selection using graphical browser during netlist import allows for on-the-fly problem footprint resolution.
Full net intelligence. Nets are dictated via a netlist of using very efficient interactive tools.
Dynamic update of nets. During placement and routing, net lengths are minimized in real-time and unconnected portions of nets always show as ‘connections to be made'.
Plane connectivity. Nets can be assigned to plane layers and are displayed dynamically. Once a pin is tied to a plane (either directly or through a via) that pin graphically reflects the fact that it is connected.
Real-time display of net names and pin numbers inside of pins.
Net-assigned ‘copper poured' regions for quick ground-surrounds.
Very accurate and robust print facility.
Outputs netlists, BOM, Pick and Place reports.
Real-time price quoting.
Routes are implemented as continuous entities, not individual segments that must be ‘aligned' properly. Vias are implied by a change of layer in the continuous route.
Very efficient interactive editing. Editing methods designed for maximum throughput, especially in those areas where you spend a great deal of time – moving etch around.
Highly robust database. Database integrity is virtually assured. Any change to the database is done via a transaction manager that validates any field change. If change does not pass validation, then a soft-error is issued that allows us to determine/correct the problem. Also, the program is brought down gracefully, and then restarted exactly where you left off with no loss of work.
Unlimited undo/redo capability.
More items will be added as we complete them.[b:5f037aaf78][/b:5f037aaf78][b:5f037aaf78][/b:5f037aaf78][b:5f037aaf78][/b:5f037aaf78][b:5f037aaf78][/b:5f037aaf78][b:5f037aaf78][/b:5f037aaf78]
Last edited by MrWizard on Tue Dec 07, 2004 11:29 pm; edited 8 times in total
Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2004 3:37 pm Post subject: Re: layers
[quote:5ae6d15808="rhumbert"]Support for 2,4,6 and 8 layers is very fine. How about single layer? Some designs could be done in a single layer.[/quote:5ae6d15808]
A single sided board with plated through holes is actually a double sided board with traces on only one side. If you want a single sided board, just add traces to only one side. It is not any less expensive to process a single sided board as opposed to a double sided board. It is actually more complicated to build a single sided board than a double sided.
Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2004 1:38 am Post subject: A Wish List
Please improve the Help files, including the options for each pane. some of the options, we can only guess what it is for. The Auto Router Options come to mind.
- Sort, doesn't seem to work as expected !
- Bevel from the Auto Router options pane is ignored, only the global config is used.
- Bevel forces a detour (bump), even when the To be connected pins are directly in line with each other.
Auto Router, MUST NOT reroute traces already placed, by hand or on a previous batch routing.
The advantage is to allow for incremental/progressive routing, either by hand or automaticaly, allowing you to improve the Parts placement and routing, progressively.
This should include the hability to recognize the traces already placed.
A very common mistake is having a Net List like, 1-2-3, the Auto Router forces the connection (trace) to follow this order, which is obviously not required, since there shouldn't be any sequence order dependency. The Net List is just a list of electrically connected nodes, without any order implied. Example: 1-3-2 would work as well. This will provide shorter connections in most cases.
There can be some exceptions to this, when using very high frequency, but in those cases, you will have to do it by hand any way, so optimize for the most common case.
Moving a junction point (node where 3 or more points connect), should move all connected sections, instead of the random two that it currently does.
Improve the accessibility of usefull tasks, like editing a part. Currently you can only edit a part, if you include it in your design. You can created it before, but you can't edit it without using it.
Block selection (selecting more than one object), doesn't work as expected, a selection box appears, but if you drag it, only the last (or first, can't remember) selected object is moved.
The state selections should be readily available, in a pop up or always on top kind of options menu. How many times do we need to change the Pads Type, Trace Width etc... Look how WORD shows the most commonly changed states (Paragraph Type, Color, Font, etc...)
Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2004 4:05 am Post subject: PCB123 V2 features
Hi,
I just d/l'd the version 1.x software yesterday, so I'm a newbie here. I did come across some issues I haven't seen mentioned. Apologies if they've been covered elsewhere.
John
1) A "Circle" object that surrounds other objects prevents those objects from being selected. Need some form of "Send-to-Back/Bring-to-Front" kind of functionality.
2) When selecting multiple objects, it's hard to tell which ones are selected, which not. It would help if selcted items changed color.
3)Ability to edit a component directly *on the board*... Eg: *Ungroup* the pieces of a component, make changes, then *Regroup*.
Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2004 4:18 am Post subject: PCB123 V2 Features
One more issue...
In ver. 1.x I can't find a way to move components using the keyboard. The most common way I've seen this done is to use the combination of [SHIFT] + [ARROW] keys.
Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2004 3:05 pm Post subject: single sided board
Things are fine when using through hole components and going with two sides. How about strictly using surface mount part? I have hand routed a board using only SMT. Would be nice if it could be done automatically.
Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 3:00 am Post subject: Re: single sided board
[quote:05befef3a5="rhumbert"]Things are fine when using through hole components and going with two sides. How about strictly using surface mount part? I have hand routed a board using only SMT. Would be nice if it could be done automatically.[/quote:05befef3a5]
Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2005 6:37 pm Post subject: Re: So, HOW do we import netlists from Eagle
Hello,
Currently PCB123 V2 is only able to import a schematic netlist in the Protel or Tango formats. If your schematic capture application is capable of exporting an ASCII netlist in either of these two formats it can be imported into the PCB123 layout application.
[quote:0f2a18fe61="CasaDelGato"]From the new feature list:
"Import netlists/partlists from numerous popular formats. Orcad, Eagle, Protel Etc.. More available as the need arises"
So, just HOW do we do this? I tried importing a netlist exported from Eagle, and it told me that it was an unrecognized format.[/quote:0f2a18fe61]
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
PCB123 Providing the complete circuit board solution design through order.
Site Engine Powered By PHPNuke,
Site Skin by http://www.volize.com
Page Generation: 0.253 Seconds
Discussions
Support
Downloads & links
Member Info
[SPAM=http://www.pcb123.com/pcb123betaSignup.php]Click here to sign up[/SPAM]
