| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| tswelectronics |
Posted - 18 Aug 2015 : 10:44:57
I am just wondering if to upgrade this year or not. Not been a lot of comment about the new version. What do people think? Happy? Indifferent? Are there any stand out features this year?
Trev |
| 5 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| neilh |
Posted - 18 Sep 2015 : 19:37:58
Hi David
Interesting - never used the Goto Bar before - always the short-cut. I set up as ^G - which is defined as View.Goto.Component
Selecting the Goto Bar and pinning it, and then selecting list Component, it only show current page.
However on the Goto Bar, drop down arrow - there is a property down at the bottom called "include schematic only components" which was selected ON.
So deselecting it - nothing changes. Restarting EasyPc - still same, only the current schematic components show on pinned Goto.Componnet listing.
Ahhh .. If I now enable GotoBar drop down arrow, property
"Search all project"
I get all the components in the project, and a single click takes me there.
I've also enabled the property "Center View on Found Item" and "Flash Found Item" and deselected "Select Found Item"
and it now goes there with properties I want - fantastic .
Further more if I now select Goto Bar "Funnel Icon" or Define Filter - then set it to "U*" and click on "Use Filter" - it now only selects Us across project - cool 
Now I enter ^G - "Goto Component" windowlet pops up - I type a component not on this schematic but in another - press OK - a windowlet pops up [Error - Component "U1" is in this project, but in designed XZZ.sch] OK to dismiss windowlet.
Oh well - still a feature request from me - but I've got more capability than I realized. Thanks for the tip.
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| DavidM |
Posted - 18 Sep 2015 : 16:55:30
Always good to hear some appreciative comments about the features we include.
On your specific requests:-
- goto Component in multi-page schematic : my Goto bar shows comps from other sheets (sheets other than the one currently active) in a different colour with their sheet name, and clicking on one of those does indeed take me to that page. Can't work out yet why yours doesn't, but the feature is definitely there.
- you can already create your own solder paste/mask layers. You just need to use/create a separate layer type, then create a layer of that type. You can then use the 'Add Exception' button the pad styles editor to define a specific size/shape on those special layers. As long as you are using that same setup in both the PCB symbol and the PCB design, you should find it works fine. I suspect we've not helped make this very clear because it looks like our default technology files don't have this setup.
- we hear you, its just that the change has such a widespread impact across the whole product that its a significant engineering exercise to implement.
David
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| neilh |
Posted - 18 Sep 2015 : 16:43:40
For me the Component Values Across Project has been really nice.
I'm also using BOM Composer more to be able to generate a CSV which can easly be changed to upload for a Digikey quote
Boxes around Net Names is a nice touch.
The creating new projects is also good enhancement
++ Support, has been excellent - and if you want to report an issue it has to be against the latest software.
What I'd like to see for the future
- In schematic on Goto a component - if not on the current page it tells you which page its on. I'd like to see that it gives an option "Go that page/component"
- In the PCB editor to be able to add a Solder Paste layer for more reliable SMT assembly. Currently only copper and silk screen are supported in PCB editor. For components with variable size pads, the applied Paste needs to be judiciously managed - for large pads applied paste needs to be reduced, for small pads (0.3mm) needs to have different formats according to manufacturers specifications. Thus once a reliable Solder Paste mask has been defined it will always be used when a component is placed. Currently v19 it has to be tweaked every instance of the component.
- in the PCB editor be able to create more complex aribitary shapes, as per manufacturers specifications |
| Iain Wilkie |
Posted - 19 Aug 2015 : 11:07:51
Totally agree with Ed. Main changes only really help you to do some tasks a bit easier that before ... e.g creating a new project from an old one. This was doable before but just a bit clumsy. More support for project based designs ... the values across a design in multiple schematics is really helpful, as is the update components dialogue.
A bit more power in searching libraries and the cleaner file path presentation is nice.
Additional gerber support for X2 although I am not sure what that is !
Nothing really on actual PCB layout albeit that this is kinda saturated now (except for high speed support !), however there is the apply layout pattern enhancement (not tried), but apart from that, really more a design management update than anything else.
As Ed says for £59 its perfectly acceptable .... more so for support which I have to say from my experience has been unprecedented.
Iain
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| edrees |
Posted - 19 Aug 2015 : 10:14:15
I must admit that there is not one single feature listed in the V19 promotional documentation that grabs my attention. But it's a rare upgrade when No.1 introduce a truly exciting new feature (like the net names on tracks intoduced in V18). No reflection on No1 intended as EPC is now a pretty comprehensive package.
However, I will upgrade before the end of August, otherwise there will be twice as many changes to get used to when V20 is released. Also the £59 upgrade cost is wholly justified in case you need assistance from the exceptionally good Support Department. |
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