Revision
History of PCB Artist
More
help is available From the PCB Artist
Tips & Tools Page and via email at layouthelp@4pcb.com
Version 1.3.3
Custom User Reports
Output menu now has single "Reports" option instead of
previous report options. The new reports dialog has all the old reports on it,
plus the ability for the user to edit existing user reports and create their
own reports. A new Dangling Tracks
report has been added as well.
Orcad ECO From
Netlist
New option when editing a PCB design on the File menu "ECO From
Netlist" to import an OrCAD EDIF netlist and
compare it with the PCB design, list the differences and allow the user to
perform Forward Design Changes to bring the PCB design in-line with the netlist
file. See online help for more details.
New Manufacturing Capabilities
A copper pour area can be added prior to the main copper pour area that
serves as a keep out. Select that copper
pour area, right-click and go to Properties and click on the Copper Pour Keep
Out checkbox and OK to save the change and exist the
dialog. Then add the copper pour area
for the area to pour and pour it. The
keep out area will prevent that area from pouring.
New Manufacturing Capabilities
Expanded Service Layer count increased to 28 layers. New capabilities will be added to PCB
Configuration as they become available.
Minor
Maintenance Fixes
Version 1.3.2
New Manufacturing Capabilities
Expanded Service Layer count increased to 14 layers. Minimum track width and space decreased to
.004”. Minimum drill hole decreased to
.006”.
Password Masking
The Submit Order dialog now masks the user passwords.
Minor
Maintenance Fixes
Version 1.3.1
Minor
Maintenance Fixes
Version 1.3
Compatibility
With V1.3 the design format has changed, but V1.2 files (or earlier) can
still be read into it. But note that V1.3 files cannot be read into V1.2.
Covered
Vias
This is a new option on the Layers page of the New PCB & PCB
Configuration wizards. If checked, vias will not be included on the solder mask
layer, which will mean they will be covered.
This includes all via pads, which are yellow in color in the default
color scheme. Pads that appear grey are
not vias and will have mask relief.
Print
Margin
Print Margin is a new "Plot Margin" option in the Printing
section of the General Preferences dialog. Use to reduce the plot area on the
paper to avoid hardware margins.
Translate
To PCB
When translating to PCB from schematic, the Layers page of that wizard
will now list the power and ground nets of the schematic in the drop down menu
for creating automatically generated pure plane layers. Previously, only nets pre-defined in
templates would be available in the drop down list.
Reducing
Layer Count
In the New PCB Wizard or PCB Configuration, when the number of layers is
reduced, the system will first look to eliminate layers that do not contain
design items in them.
Preferences
Dialog
Dialog was getting a bit big so it now has multiple tabs, one for each
different preference section.
Properties
- Shape Area
The Properties dialog will show values for total area of selected shape
on the Properties dialog. There is an
area listing both with and without taking into account line style thickness.
Styles
Dialog - Copy Style As
An extra button on each of the Styles pages to add a new style based on
the one currently selected in the grid.
Screen
Grid
Primary and/or secondary screen grid can now be drawn as lines instead
of dots using new check boxes next to grid colors.
Also, a new “Draw Grid First” checkbox is available to make grids be
drawn before, instead of after, the design contents.
Report
File Extensions
Added ability to output all reports to .TXT file extension instead of
different drr, dcr, xyz,
etc. extensions. The new checkbox is on
the General page of Preferences dialog. If the box is checked it uses the
design type and title of the report to form the report file name e.g “Design3 (PCB – Design Status Report).txt”
Change
Net Color
A small dialog accessible from the right-click menu in schematics select
mode.
Provides access to change net "own color" without having to
use the properties dialog.
Drawing
Highlights
Two new highlight check boxes and colors on PCB colors dialog:
Lowlight Fixed Items - Dims
the color of pads and shapes of items that are fixed.
Un-plated Holes - Draws small diamond
inside drill hole, only visible if "Draw Drill Holes" is enabled in
colors dialog.
Preferences
- Draw 'Empty' Values
This is a new check box on the Preferences dialogue in the Display tab. When checked, any value position that resolves
to an empty string will be drawn as <?> instead. This small change is
required because it is possible through Properties to end up with component
values that have no text, e.g. by turning off all but 'Reference Name' on the
"Text" tab and then also turning off "Name" on the
component tab. Then there remain value positions you cannot see or pick, so
they are using text styles but you cannot find them to change style.
Status
Bar
Position of selected item now shown on status bar for: component, pad,
text and via. These coordinates do NOT
reflect System or Reference Origins.
They are from the lowest left work area corner at all times.
Change
Layer
Layer drop-down list now auto-numbers the electrical layers to make it
easy to access them by key. So typing "4", will select the 4th
electrical layer.
Add
Track/Shape - Next Layer and Previous Layer
These are new commands for cycling through available layers. They are available from the right-click menu
during interactive editing of shapes and tracks. Next Layer has the shortcut
key <Shift> + <L>.
Add
Track – Show Nearest Node On Net
This is a new PCB option on context menu when adding a track. Use it to
show a line from the end of the track being added, to the nearest item on the
same net.
The line is drawn in the highlight color. The option is also in the
Interaction tab of the Preferences dialog.
Library
Component Find
The Find dialog within the Library Manager and Add Component options has
been extended to allow up to 4 component values (attributes) to be used for
searching. Values can also now be compared using the same 'operators' as the
Name (is, begins with, contains).
Default Track
and Via Styles
There is now a new switch in the Interaction tab of the Preferences dialogue
labeled "Don't use Track and Via Styles from the Net Class". Check
this box to always use the "last used" style when interactively
adding or editing tracks and vias.
Color
for Moving Items
New check box in Display preferences labeled "Moving Items Use Sel Color".
Default setting is On, which retains existing behavior
of drawing the selected moving item(s) in the selection color. When unchecked,
dynamic selected items are instead drawn in their normal color. So when adding tracks, for example, you can
see by the color which layer the current segment is on instead of just seeing
it in the selected color.
Component
Editor & Component Values - Copy & Paste Improvements
It is now possible to copy & paste data between the Component Editor
grid and external applications such as spreadsheet
applications. A single cell or a range of cells can be selected for copying or
pasting. It is also possible to paste the same value into a range of cells. See
the Help>Contents search for more details.
The Values dialog (from the Library Manager dialog, in the Component tab)
has also been similarly modified to allow copy/paste to/from spreadsheets.
Component
Edit - Apply Increment to Selected Cells
This new option is available on the context menu when an appropriate
range of cells is selected cell for Component Pin Name/Number cells in the
Component Editor. This can be used to name one cell and easily create an
incremental sequence from it to each subsequently selected cell.
Styles -
Pad Shapes
You can now define target and annulus pad shapes. Be aware that that an annulus (donut) looks
very similar to a drilled pad. That
shape should never be used for a drilled pad.
Colors
Dialog - Value Positions
There is now a new column in the Layers & Layer Spans tab called
"Value Positions". Use this to switch off component values in the
design, values such as component name for example, and change their color. This
previously shared the Symbol Text colors.
Pan and
Zoom
You can now change the Pan and Zoom sensitivity and direction of
movement using sliders and check boxes on the Display Preferences dialog.
Library
Manager Dialog - Close on Edit
A new check box on Library Manager dialogue that allows user to choose
whether or not the dialog should be closed after opening a library item for
edit. If checked, the Library Manager
will remain in the foreground and more parts can be selected and opened for
editing. Then the Library Manager would
be closed to edit those library symbols or components.
Library
Manager - Report
The Component Library report now shows the name of the looked up symbol
library rather than the 'Originating' symbol library. Meaning the name of the library from which the
symbol will be loaded when the component is added to a design. When running the
Component Library report there is an additional prompt asking “Show library
folders for symbols”. If answered Yes, the report will
show the full folder path for each looked up symbol library as well as its
name.
Design
Rule Check – Report
A new report that is available from the PCB Output menu. The report lists all error markers currently
in the design.
Maintenance
This release contains many standard minor Maintenance fixes.
Version 1.2.4
Maintenance
This release contains many standard minor maintenance fixes.
Version 1.2.3
Projects
Projects allows for the creation of true multi-page schematics.
Netlist Import
EDIF formatted netlist files can now be imported to create a PCB.
Free Pad
to Via
This option allows vias created as free pads to be converted to true
vias. Via pads can use smaller pad sizes
than Free Pads and Component Pads.
Maintenance
This release contains many standard minor Maintenance fixes.
Version 1.2.2
The Online Library
The online library adds the ability to search an online database of over
280,000 parts. The library is accessible
from the Library Manager dialogue with the Download Online Library Components
button in the upper right.
Maintenance
This release contains many standard minor Maintenance fixes.
Version 1.2.1
Maintenance
This release contains many standard minor Maintenance fixes.
Version 1.2
Library
Structure Overhaul
The way in which libraries are stored, organized and managed has been
significantly changed. Library items are no longer tied to a specific library
and the library mechanism can use multiple lookup paths for locating library
items. This means that multiple folders can be used for libraries, including
combinations of local and network folders. The Library Manager’s Folders tab allows
management of this functionality.
Common
PCB Pads In Component Pin Mapping
You can now map one Schematic pin to multiple PCB pads, either to simply
allow a net on a single pin in a schematic to be applied to multiple pins in a
PCB, or to indicate that multiple PCB pads are internally connected together
within the component.
Design
Technology Dialog
Styles, nets and spacing dialogs on the Settings menu now share one easy
to use tabbed Design Technology dialog.
Active
Status Bar
In some interactive modes you can now double click on the status bar
field to change its value, for example to change the layer of the selected
item.
Shape
Creation
Some new features to aid the creation of documentation
and copper shapes.
Add Copper - There
are now separate options for adding copper and documentation shapes.
New Shapes - You can directly add Square,
Triangle and Single Line shapes.
Adding and Removing Corners -
allows you to add a single corner to a selected segment, or remove all corners
between multiple selected segments.
Item
Editing and Positioning
Several new options have been added to help with item construction and
positioning.
Delta Coordinates -
Are shown on the status bar when adding shapes or moving items to show the
offset from the previous corner or last position. These can be reset at any
time to show an offset from a particular point.
The specific commands from the right-click menu are Type Coordinate and
Type Offset.
Type Coordinate -
When moving or editing design items you can now type in the actual required
position, or offset, rather than using the mouse to pick a position. You can
also type the name of a component or pad to get its position. This can be used
to type in a whole shape, track or netlist.
Arc Size - When
editing circles, arcs or mitred corners you can now
type the exact radius, diameter or angle required.
Restricted Movement
- You can now restrict placing of items to just horizontal or vertical
movement.
Save Symbol
Settings To Library
Now saves the Grid, Units, Relative and System Origins with each
Schematic or PCB symbol in the library.
Symbol
Origin Improvements
When editing a symbol you can set the symbol origin to be over the
selected item. Also, when editing a PCB or Schematic design, the origin of each
symbol can be displayed using the Display dialog.
Rearrange
Multiple Items
A new option to allow multiple components,
pads or vias in a design to be arranged in rows.
Goto Bar
You can now find pads in PCB and Schematic designs by terminal name.
Opening
Multiple Designs
You can now select multiple designs in the file open dialog.
Auto Pan
Speed Setting
New user preference control to allow
control of the speed of auto pan.
PCB
Configuration
Can now specify which sides the autorouter can
route on.
Maintenance
This release contains many standard minor Maintenance fixes.
Version 1.1.3
Maintenance
This release contains many standard minor Maintenance fixes.
Version 1.1.2
DXF
Import
New option on File menu for PCB designs.
This feature is intended to import DXF from mechanical software for
creation of complex board outlines.
DXF
Output
New option on Output menu for PCB designs. This feature is intended to export board
outlines and holes to mechanical software.
Measure
Tool
New option on Tools Menu for PCB and PCB Symbol designs, also on
toolbars.
Plated
Slots
Changes to support plated slots:
a) Add "Plated
Slots" layer if "Plated Slots" checked in the PCB Configuration.
b) Remove the layer if
unchecked (if can, if design does not contains symbols that use it)
c) This layer will be
automatically available when editing PCB symbols.
d) "Change Pad
Type" defaults to the slots layer when used on a pad in a PCB symbol.
Add SMD
Pad
New option on add menu for PCB Symbols. Forces initial pad to not be
through hole and to not use a style with a drill hole. Add Pad changed for PCB
symbol to force through hole pad with a style using a drill
hole.
Change
Shape Type
Allow text using true type font to be changed into a shape. This would
be used if the font was non standard.
Change
Shape Type
Allow change track (that is not attached) to a shape.
Pad
Style
Change dialog to use label "Hole Size" rather than just
"Drill Hole".
PCB
Configuration
Layers - Stop user from creating two planes with the same name (same
net).
Service - Renamed from service to design requirement.
Change
Pad
Changing a pad layer or style will give a warning if the result is a
through hole pad with no drill, or a smd pad with a drill hole.
Units
Changing Unit type will now automatically set the correct Precision.
Maintenance
This release contains many standard minor Maintenance fixes.
Version 1.1.1
Pad
Style
Change dialog to use label "Drill Hole" rather than just
"Drill".
Open
Warn user if they try to open a security copy of the design. (The security copy is marked with a tilde (~)
prefix in front of the filename.) Warn
user if they try to open the fabrication copy of the design (.fab).
Change
Shape Type
Allow pads to be changed into other shape types. This could be used to
create shapes for slots on the documentation layer.
Submit
Order
If user is editing the fabrication copy of the design (.fab) warn him, but allow the
order.
The “Track Width Too Small” message now gives the location of the first
offending track.
Added "How To Place Your Order" and
"Ask A Question" buttons to dialog.
Library
Manager
Added "Part Creation Tutorial" and "Ask A Question" buttons to dialogs.
Menu Bar
Added "Order Now" and "Ask A
Question" buttons and the support telephone number.
Added the ability to change visibility of the menu bar and status bar
using the right click menu on the application frame.
Created Tutorials sub-menu and included the "Part Creation
Tutorial" to it.
Help
Menu
Added a "Placing Your Order"
sub-menu with links to the Standard and Custom order help notes.
Interaction
Rotating multiple component names now rotates them individually about
their origins.
Maintenance
This release contains many standard minor Maintenance fixes.
Version 1.1
Check For Updates
Auto Update & Patch system installed.
Change
Shape Type
This allows changing a shape to a board outline or a copper pour area
and vice versa.
Changing
Library and Technology Directories
User defined Library and Technology file folders.
Line
Styles
Dotted and Dashed shape line styles.
Design
Rule Checks
New DRC checks for Copper Text Outside Board
and Mirrored Text.
Edit
Component In Library and Edit Symbol In Library
Select component in PCB or SCM design and use these from shortcut menu.
Fix /
Unfix
Previously available only for components. Now available on shortcut
menu for pads, tracks and many items.
Schematic
Component Bin
Multiple select in schematics component bin and drag all selected items
into design.
Board
Cutouts
Now board cutouts can be marked "plated" or "Not plated".
Component
Reference Names
These can now be centre aligned.
Rotate
By
A new option to take user defined value.
Schematic
Display
Separate SCM colors for net names and component names.
Maintenance
This release contains many standard minor Maintenance fixes.
List Of Earlier Versions Than 1.1
Details of these version changes have been removed as they are far
removed from the current feature set.
Many websites still have these versions available for download.
1.0.17
1.0.16
1.0.15
1.0.14 – First General Release August, 2007
Versions earlier than 1.0.14 were available only for Beta testing.
More
help is available From the PCB Artist
Tips & Tools Page and via email at layouthelp@4pcb.com