1 ==============================================
2 'gschem and Friends' Electronic Design Suite
3 ==============================================
5 Copyright (C) 1998-2011 gEDA Developers
7 This file documents important user-visible changes in gEDA/gaf. For
8 more information, please consult the `ChangeLog' file.
10 Notable changes in gEDA/gaf 1.7.0
11 =================================
13 * All gEDA/gaf applications now handle configuration files much more
14 strictly, and provide much more useful feedback when an error
17 * Several changes to `gschem' command-line options:
19 - The `-t' option is no longer supported.
21 - Several command-line options now support a long-form alternative.
23 - The `-s' option can now be used to run multiple Scheme scripts
24 during `gschem' startup.
26 - A new `-c' option is available, which runs a Scheme expression
27 during `gschem' startup.
29 - A new `-L' option is available, which adds a directory to the
32 - A new `-V' or `--version' option is available, which displays
35 * `gschem' now provides a "Select All" function, which is bound to
36 <Control a> by default, along with a corresponding "Deselect"
39 * In the `gschem' "Add component" dialog, filtering the component
40 library will expand matching libraries. If the filter is cancelled,
41 all libraries are collapsed. Components can now be selected by
42 double-clicking on them in the component list.
44 * The `gschem' "Edit Text Properties" dialog now has an easier to use
47 * Printed text size now better matches on-screen text size in
50 * Special characters, including commas, are now escaped or quoted
51 appropriately in `gattrib' CSV output.
53 * Several changes to `gnetlist' command-line options:
55 - Four command-line options specific to the `spice-sdb' backend have
56 been removed. They can be replaced with `-O <option>' according
57 to the following table:
59 -e, --embedd -O embedd_mode
60 -I, --include -O include_mode
61 -n, --nomunge -O nomunge_mode
62 -s, --sort -O sort_mode
64 - The list of available backends is now obtained using a new
65 `--list-backends' option. `-g help' no longer outputs a list of
68 - A new `-L' option is available, which adds a directory to the
71 - A new `-V' or `--version' option is available, which displays
74 - When run with invalid command-line arguments, `gnetlist' now exits
75 with non-zero exit status.
77 * Several `gnetlist' backends have now been fixed so that it should no
78 longer be necessary to set an expanded Guile stack in gEDA's config
81 * The `spice-sdb' backend for `gnetlist' now supports probes
82 (`TESTPOINT' devices).
84 * `gsch2pcb' now correctly handles footprint names with hyphens (`-').
86 * The undocumented `mk_verilog_syms' program is no longer installed.
87 The symbols it creates are still installed to
88 `${prefix}/share/gEDA/sym/verilog'.
90 Notable changes in gEDA/gaf 1.6.2
91 =================================
93 * PNG export from `gschem' will now be cropped correctly.
95 * The `partlist' backends for `gnetlist' now handle hierarchical
98 * On Windows, `gschem' and `gattrib' will no longer launch with a
99 command window visible.
101 * `gnetlist-arg' is no longer valid in `gsch2pcb' project files.
103 Several other bugs were fixed, including a major crash bug in
106 Notable changes in gEDA/gaf 1.6.1
107 =================================
109 * Added accelerator mnemonics for root menus in gschem
111 * Lots of updated and new language translations in libgeda, gschem, and
112 gattrib. (Courtesy of language translators and Launchpad)
114 * Updated the shipped documentation from the official gEDA wiki
116 * Fixed the following bugs:
118 - 2876373: Fix rendering with zoomed out dashed lines
119 - 2901183: Fix for some manpage issues
120 - 2904715: Don't update page connectivity from o_place_rotate()
121 - 2949232: Fix slot editing routines to not edit inherited attributes
122 - Cherry picked some other bug fixes from master that should be in
125 Notable changes in gEDA/gaf 1.6.0
126 =================================
128 * Fixed the GtkItemEntry code inside of gattrib code so that it builds
131 * In gschem, rubberband pin to pin connections by adding nets.
133 * Cleanup of the slot handling code in libgeda.
135 * Fixes/updates to the MinGW port.
137 * Updated the shipped documentation from the online wiki.
139 Notable changes in gEDA/gaf 1.5.3/1.5.4
140 =======================================
142 * NOTE: gEDA/gaf 1.5.3 was released with some critical bugs, so
143 it was withdrawn before it was widely distributed.
145 * Text rendering using native system fonts:
147 - The various programs in gEDA/gaf no longer uses its own built-in
150 - Native system fonts are used for rendering, giving support for a
151 wider range of symbols, and better looking schematics.
153 * Always use PostScript fonts in gschem's PostScript output. The
154 "output-text", "text-output" and "output-vector-threshold" config
155 functions have been removed.
157 * Image rendering in 'gschem' uses cairo instead of GDK.
159 * Numerous build system changes:
161 - gEDA/gaf is now distributed as a single source archive, called
162 gEDA-<version>.tar.gz.
164 - GTK+ 2.10 or newer and Guile 1.8 or newer are now required.
166 - `intltool' is no longer required.
168 - Documentation is now installed to ${docdir} (usually
169 ${prefix}/share/doc/gEDA).
171 * The attribute edit dialog in `gschem' now has completion of most
172 common attribute names.
174 * The multi-attribute edit dialog in `gschem' now shows unpromoted
177 * Menu items in `gschem' now have icons and properly aligned key
178 bindings. They also support accelerator keys.
180 * The `gschem2pcb' and `PCBboard' netlist backends have been removed.
181 It is recommended to use `gsch2pcb' instead.
183 * Check for and reject non-footprint PCB files in 'gsch2pcb'.
185 * Removed unimplemented "File->Open" feature in 'gattrib'.
187 * Added --disable-gattrib command line flag to ./configure to disable the
188 building of 'gattrib'. This is useful if you are building against
189 gtk+ 2.17.x which breaks 'gattrib'.
191 * 'gnetlist' does not recommend drc2 every time it runs. The drc2
192 backend is only useful in certain circumstances.
194 * Assign shortcuts "vd" and "vl" for changing between color schemes
197 * Fix problem with attached net attribute not being honored in 'gnetlist'.
199 * Focus the "save" button in the close confirmation dialog in 'gattrib' and
202 * Accept empty attributes in the src file in 'tragesym'.
204 * Cleaned up the slot dialog box in 'gschem'.
206 * Changed the grip size rendering in 'gschem' to be reasonably sized when
209 * Introduction of a new attribute searching API in 'libgeda' and 'gschem'.
211 * Improvements and cleanup to the 'gnetlist' and 'gsymcheck' test suites.
213 * Fixed the following bugs:
215 - 1758673: Combine source tarballs
216 - 2058707: gschem, gattrib: Dangerous button focus in "Save changes"
218 - 2430369: gschem: Deselect invisible attribs with their parent object.
219 - 2449060: Graphic state left inconsistent cancelling from net mode
220 - 2460301: libgeda: Make o_complex_promote_attribs() respect keep_invisible
221 and libgeda: Make o_complex_copy() actually copy.
222 - 2455061: Gnetlist output changed, and tests fail with recent GLib
223 - 2655088: autogen.sh: Make sure to exit if autopoint fails.
224 - 2823703: gnet-pcbpins.scm: Quote pins names if they contain comma
225 or close parenthesis.
226 - 2823755: gnetlist: Fix DEBUG builds.
227 - 2836109: build-sys: Add check for groff html driver.
229 * Spanish translation were updated.
231 * Lots of code, infrastructure, and doxygen documentation cleanup and
234 Notable changes in gEDA/gaf 1.5.2
235 =================================
237 * `gschem' now uses Cairo for all rendering. This allows for
238 everything to be rendered anti-aliased.
240 * `gschem' now uses a mesh grid instead of dots by default.
242 * Net junction cues in `gschem' are drawn smaller now.
244 * Copy and paste now works between different `gschem' instances (using
247 * Recent files are no longer opened in a new `gschem' window.
249 * Major, *backwards-incompatible* changes to color handling in
250 `libgeda' and `gschem'.
252 - All colors are specified using hexadecimal `#RRGGBB' or
255 - The print and display color maps are now separate.
257 - A new Scheme syntax is used to inspect and modify color maps.
259 - If you wish to use a light background in `gschem', add the line:
261 (load (build-path geda-rc-path "gschem-colormap-lightbg"))
263 to your personal or project gschemrc file.
265 * Attributes of embedded objects are now shown in the right color.
267 * Bus pins are now supported by `gschem' and `libgeda', but are *not*
268 properly supported by the netlister. The pin type can be modified
269 by selecting a pin, then right-clicking it and selecting `Edit pin
272 * All of the symbols were modified to use overbar markup tags ("like
273 \_this\_") instead of separate lines.
275 * Log files are now saved to $HOME/.gEDA/logs rather than being
276 dropped in the current directory.
278 Notable changes in gEDA/gaf 1.5.1
279 =================================
281 * GTK+ version 2.8.x or later is now required.
283 * The selection behaviour in `gschem' was changed.
285 - Lines, unfilled boxes, unfilled circles, arcs, pins, nets, and
286 buses must be selected by clicking on the drawn path itself.
288 - Filled boxes, circles, text, and components, may be selected by
289 clicking anywhere in the bounding box.
291 - The default mouse click distance required to select an element was
292 increased to 10 pixels.
294 - Double-clicking on a net segment selects all connected net
297 * The percentage step in or out while zooming the display in `gschem'
298 is now configurable with the `zoom-gain' gschemrc parameter. The
299 default value is 20%.
301 * The size of steps when panning with the mouse wheel or with a
302 trackpad in `gschem' is now adjustable with the `scrollpan-steps'
303 gschemrc parameter. The default setting scrolls in steps of 1/8 of
306 * A number of improvements were made to the `gschem' component
309 - The dialog now shows a table of top-level attributes in the
312 - It is now possible to expand/collapse a library by clicking
315 * Changes to fill- and line-styles in `gschem' can now be undone.
317 * Arcs can now be adjusted in `gschem' using an arc angle dialog. It
318 can be accessed by selecting an arc and selecting Edit->Edit.
320 * It is now possible to rotate objects while placing them in `gschem'.
322 * Support for arbitrary filled and unfilled paths, using a subset of
323 the SVG path syntax. For more information, please see the file
324 format specification.
325 <http://geda.seul.org/wiki/geda:file_format_spec>
327 - `gschem' does not yet provide a GUI for creating or editing path
328 elements. However, it does support rendering them. They can also
331 - Some of the symbols in the component library were updated to use
334 * A Scheme evaluation prompt was added to `gschem'. It can be
335 accessed by typing `:'.
337 * Improved algorithm for drawing hatched fills both on screen and in
340 * Color selection dialogs and menus in `gschem' now show the actual
341 color as well as the description. Color names are now translatable.
343 * `gattrib' now prompts to save changes.
345 * All of the unimplemented menu items and pages in `gattrib' were
348 * The `always-promote-attributes' gafrc parameter now takes a list of
349 strings as an argument. The space-delimited string syntax is
352 * Some optimisations were made to the `gnetlist' connection traversal
353 algorithm to speed up netlisting large designs.
355 * A new netlist backend was added to support Liquid PCB.
356 <http://www.liquidpcb.org/>
358 * The `bom2' netlist backend now generates a `qty' column.
360 * Several improvements and fixes were made to the `systemc' backend.
362 * The `--gnetlist-arg' option to gsch2pcb can now be used to pass
363 extra `gnetlist' arguments.
365 * `gsch2pcb' now emits files with the latest `pcb' file format.
367 * The `gxyrs' pick-and-place tool was added.
369 Notable changes in gEDA/gaf 1.5.0
370 =================================
372 * Magnetic net mode in `gschem'. Magnetic mode lets you draw nets and
373 automatically connect to valid end points (such as pins and other
374 nets). The `magnetic-net-mode' gschemrc parameter can be used to
375 enable/disable this feature.
377 * Rotating a component while moving it in `gschem' now rotates around
378 the current mouse location.
380 * The `verilog' and `vhdl' backends now work again.
382 * Embedded components can now be mirrored.
384 * The `pads' netlist backend now uses CRLF line endings.
389 Release notes for older versions of gEDA/gaf are available on the gEDA
390 website. <http://www.gpleda.org/news/index.html>