1 ========================================================================
2 Release Notes for PCB snapshot 20091103
3 ========================================================================
4 This release represents almost 200 commits and as such this summary
5 clearly is not complete. See the ChangeLog file for the complete list
8 - [feature] Add attributes to layers
9 - [bugfix] Remove memory leak in attributes
10 - [bugfix] Avoid layer buttons getting confused (GTK)
11 - [bugfix] Fix dereference bug in hid_find_action()
12 - [feature] Speed up some polygon operations
13 - [bugfix] Don't let DRC change the grid setting
14 - [bugfix] Correct URL's in some dialogs and output
15 - [feature] Add filters to load file chooser dialog (GTK)
16 - [bugfix] Avoid segfaults with png HID with newer versions of libgd
17 - [bugfix] Don't disperse locked elements
18 - [feature] Added experimental topological autorouter
19 - [feature] Added the beginning of a testsuite.
20 - [docs] Document FreeRotateBuffer()
21 - [docs] Add some additional notes on the usage of the existing
23 - [feature] Add --png-bloat option
24 - [bugfix] Fix several bugs found with valgrind
25 - [bugfix] Improve the pre-install wrapper script
26 - [bugfix] Several fixes to the autorouter
27 - [feature] Allow quoted strings and escaped characters in action
29 - [footprints] Add missing INDC3216M, remove duplicated RESC3216M
30 - [feature] Added the ability to customize mouse events via gpcb-menu.res
32 - [feature] Added the ability to use mod1 (alt)(option) in
34 - [bugfix] Fix compilation issues on centos
35 - [bugfix] Make the detection of tools and build system around
36 building the documentation be more robust. Users should
37 not be worrying about --disable-doc or --enable-maintainer-mode
39 - [footprints] Add T018, T039, fix pinout of T092 to match JEDEC
40 - [bugfix] Speed up rendering of DRC violation previews under GTK
41 - [bugfix] Fix some crashing bugs related to polygons and thindraw mode
42 - [feature] Added a DRC refresh button
43 - [bugfix] Fix some pango markup in the GTK DRC dialog
44 - [bugfix] Fix cursor warping on flipped boards (GTK)
45 - [feature] Added preview images in the DRC violations window (GTK)
46 - [feature] Add a DrcViolationType structure and add hooks to allow HID's to use this
47 - [bugfix] Fix some polygon memory leaks
48 - [feature] Add an API for registering actions with a context to support scripting
50 - [bugfix] Fix a bug with the Report(NetLength) action and NULL pin/pad names
51 - [bugfix] Allow exporters to work with hairlines (width of 0)
52 - [tools] Increase autoconf version to 2.60 since we were using some features of it
53 - [bugfix] Fix a number of polygon related issues
54 - [bugfix] Fix a number of gcc warnings
55 - [feature] Don't display undocumented options in help output. This helps
56 the transition when deprecating an option.
57 - [feature] Add outline mode for photo-mode exporting
58 - [footprints] Put the mark on pin 1 for axial footprints to make them more likely
60 - [bugfix] Fix flipping of arcs
61 - [bugfix] Fix parsing of old-syntax arcs
62 - [bugfix] Include explicit text/lines on silk layers in the assembly drawing output
63 - [feature] '--ben-mode' has been renamed to '--photo-mode'
64 - [bugfix] Fix some crashign bugs on boards with a large number of rats
65 - [bugfix] Fix an off-by-one bug in the GTK netlist window
66 - [docs] Add getting started guide
67 - [feature] Add support for parsing suffixes on numbers ("um", "mm", "in", "mil")
68 - [bugfix] Fix some configure/build issues when cross compiling
69 - [bugfix] Fix some improperly used automake conditionals
70 - [bugfix] Fix some uninstall of shortcuts issues under windows Vista
71 - [feature] Add additional crosshair shapes
72 - [bugfix] Various windows build script improvements
74 ========================================================================
75 Release Notes for PCB snapshot 20081128
76 ========================================================================
77 This release represents over 70 commits and as such this summary
78 clearly is not complete. See the ChangeLog file for the complete list
81 - Minor bug fixes in RS274-X output.
82 -.Bug fixes in postscript output
83 - DRC checks for annular ring on pads only uses the mininum annular ring
84 drc setting instead of also checking minimum copper width.
85 - Fix postscript output for zero length lines.
86 - Improve the 'save before closing' dialogs.
87 - Fixed bugs where objects attached to the cursor vanish sometimes.
88 - Various minor code portability improvements.
89 - Enabled additional gcc warnings (when using gcc)
90 - Allow outline layers to have only arcs.
91 - Added "Ben Mode" png output which provides a simulated "photograph"
92 of the board. Very nice for publications.
93 - Fix poly clearance around rotated pads.
94 - Fix the batch HID which had bit rotted a little.
95 - Display net names hierarchically.
96 - Various speed improvements in the GTK HID.
97 - Various speed improvements in the autorouter.
98 - Minor improvements to the windows port.
99 - Other various bug fixes.
101 ========================================================================
102 Release Notes for PCB snapshot 20080202
103 ========================================================================
104 This release represents over 180 commits and as such this summary
105 clearly is not complete. See the ChangeLog file for the complete list
108 - Added a footprin preview in the library window
109 - Added gnome/kde desktop integration files (app and mime icons, and
112 - Updated dbus support
113 - Fix a number of GCC 4 compiler warnings
114 - Make the gtk gui more robust against malformed menu resource files
115 - Added checking for duplicate hot key definitions in the menu resource
117 - Improved support for building on win32.
118 - Removed automake/autoconf generated files from cvs
119 - Fixed some parallel make bugs
120 - Fixed some scrolling/panning bugs in the gtk gui.
121 - Added the ability to load edif netlists
122 - Closed a number of bugs in the sourceforge tracker
123 - Fix a bg in the x-y output files where the y values were mirrored and offset
124 - Add XRENDER support to the lesstif HID to support layer transparency
125 - Fix some polygon dicer bugs
126 - Fix a handful of bugs in the png export HID
127 - Avoid vias snapping to pins and moving elements snapping to their own
129 - Fix a number of undo bugs
130 - Fix printer calibration
132 - Various improvements to the postscript export HID
133 - Improve all the GetXY prompts in the menu resource files
134 - Improved the pin/via report
135 - Improved pin/pad vs grid snapping
136 - Various footprint improvements
137 o fixed some drill sizes
138 o fixed some silk sizes
139 o Added a handful of QFP family footprints
140 o Converted the QFP family to the hi-res format
141 - Several other bug fixes
143 ========================================================================
144 Release Notes for PCB snapshot 20070912
145 ========================================================================
146 This release represents nearly 200 commits and as such this summary
147 clearly is not complete. See the ChangeLog file for the complete list
150 - Many many bug fixes. Too many to list.
151 - Added keystone, C&K, Nichicon, and Optek footprint libraries
152 - Add attribute editor to the GTK HID
153 - Add a fileselect() function to the HID spec
154 - Fix ps output with drill helper on
155 - Add a visual indicater when elements are locked
156 - Corrections to the manual
157 - BOM can export in mm as well as mil
158 - Fix a ps output bug with arcs
159 - Fix some memory leaks found with Coverity
160 - Added autoconf test for buggy versions of m4
161 - Fixed some footprint drill sizes
162 - Add user customizable menus for the gtk HID. The gtk HID now is capable
163 of reading the same format menu resource files as the lesstif HID.
164 This represents significant rework of the menu code and menu callback code.
165 - Added Center() action
166 - Store the file format in the .pcb file. This will let pcb know when
167 presented with a file which is too new. The code for checking the format
168 was present in the prior snapshot.
169 - Fix DRC checking of square pads to square pads
170 - Added window panning/cursor warping
171 - Add the ability to directly load a footprint from a file as if it were
173 - Add a Popup() action
175 ========================================================================
176 Release Notes for PCB snapshot 20070208
177 ========================================================================
178 - Add polygon clipping code. This is a big change to how polygons are handled.
179 The new code now removes islands and correctly identifies open circuits caused
180 by a trace fully cutting through a polygon. In addition, the RS-274-X output
181 is now simpler and works with some board houses that use older non-conforming
182 sofware. Different styles for thermal reliefs are also now supported as part
183 of the polygon clipper code.
184 - Add support for plugins
185 - Many improvements to the autorouter.
186 - Various improvements to the trace optimizer.
187 - Add a fontmode for editing pcb fonts
188 - Add progress() hook to HID structure
189 - Fix a bug with non-functional windows on some window managers commonly
191 - Add support for controlling pcb via dbus
192 - Fix various bugs which would cause a crash
193 - Add --scale for postscript scaling
194 - Intercept window manager delete events with the GTK gui
195 - Scan the .pcb file for a FileVersion value. This is not written out yet
196 but will be in future versions.
197 - Warn if non-manhattan lines are trying to become pads.
198 - Allow no-solder paste pads to support fiducials
199 - Report in mm or mils as selected by user
200 - Allow reordering of layers
201 - add some more QFN packages
202 - fix building with sun studio c compiler
203 - Made a pcb installation be relocatable.
204 - Convert the m4 libraries to newlib libraries as part of building a distfile.
205 The m4 libraries are still considered the sources and as such are still
206 distributed but this eliminates the need for m4 at runtime for footprints.
207 - Got rid of the pcb wrapper script around pcb-bin.
208 - Remove some old footprints of questionable naming, accuracy, or usefulness.
209 - Get the autosave/backup code working on all GUI's
210 - Fix some drill size rounding in the reports
211 - Changed the backup file name to be derived from the .pcb file name
212 - Added a command line option for DrawGrid
213 - Fix logic for adding new ratlines
214 - Fix gtk grid when board is flipped
215 - Add "find" and "rip-up" buttons to the netlist window
216 - Draw plated holes when exporting
217 - Fix some bugs when converting selection to element
218 - Fix build on cygwin
219 - Enhance the win32/build_pcb script used to generate a non-cygwin windows
221 - Make pcb work under non-cygwin windows
223 ========================================================================
224 Release Notes for PCB snapshot 20060822
225 ========================================================================
226 - various manual updates
227 - update the INSTALL documentation
228 - fix a bug where pins turned into pure holes when an element
230 - use locale-independent strtod and dtostr functions to avoid problems
231 loading files saved in some locales.
232 - fixed various bugs which caused pcb to crash
233 - update the gtk status line after save/save as
234 - make the gerber file names be compatible with pre-HID versions
235 - split plated and unplated drill output
236 - fix various typos in menus and comments
237 - add a batch mode HID.
238 - fix drawing of box around text in the buffer
239 - various fixes and improvements to the trace optimizer and the
241 - fix board flipping code
242 - fix rounding bug when creating list of drill sizes
243 - add support for > 8 copper layers
244 - avoid strict aliasing violations encountered with gcc4
245 - refactor code related to handling the filenames in the export
247 - fix layer group parsing code
248 - add the ability to user-configure mouse actions in the lesstif GUI.
249 - enable loaded netlists by default
250 - improve the positioning of the drill list in the postscript output
251 - various improvements to the configure script to improve robustness
252 and improve error messages when thing don't go well.
253 - add IPC style footprints for 01005 passives.
254 - added a Renumber() action which will renumber all reference designators
255 and produced an annotation file for backannotating to schematics.
256 - Draw via annulii on assembly drawings
257 - various other bug fixes and improvements.
259 ========================================================================
260 Release Notes for PCB snapshot 20060422
261 ========================================================================
262 - Several minor portability fixes for Solaris and the SunPRO compiler and
263 for Irix and the MIPSpro compiler.
265 - Added --psfade option for the postscript HID.
267 - Fixed a bug where the "load layout" and some other menu choices
270 - Added remaining actions to the actions reference section of the manual.
272 - Worked around X11 polluting the name space with some of the X header files.
274 - Fix route style "Save as default" bug.
276 - For the Gtk HID, add an alternate vertical window layout mode to
277 help on lower vertical resolution displays.
279 - Fix soldermask draw while TAB view from solder side.
281 - Change default PNG output scaling to be 100 dpi instead of fixing
282 the max dimension at 800 pixels.
284 - Added background image support for the GTK HID (lesstif one has it too).
286 - Fix missing window icons for the main GTK window and log window.
288 ========================================================================
289 Release Notes for PCB snapshot 20060414
290 ========================================================================
291 - This is the first snapshot of the new HID version of PCB. HID, which
292 stands for Human Interface Device is the abstraction created by
293 DJ Delorie which seperates the core PCB code from the graphical user
294 interface. In this release, two GUI HID's are supported, gtk and lesstif.
295 In addition, there are HID exporters for postscript and encapsulated
296 postscript, RS-274-X (gerber), bill of materials, centroid file, and
297 png/gif/jpeg. This represents a major restructuring of the code and
300 - PCB's actions (the commands which drive the core of the program and
301 may be directly accessed by the user) now have the documentation in-line
302 in the code and the actions reference section of the manual is
303 extracted from the in-line documentation. The goal it to provide more
304 complete and accurate documentation. As always the manual is still
305 a work in progress but it is getting more complete and up to date.
307 - Fixed a long standing segfault when saving connection data
311 - Fix some rounding issues when setting sizes. Hopefully this will address
312 the issue with 23.99 mil drills and related problems.
314 - The html manual is now in one file instead of many files
316 - The lesstif HID now supports loading of background images to help
317 recover a layout which may exist in hardcopy form only.
319 ========================================================================
320 Release Notes for PCB snapshot 20060321
321 ========================================================================
322 - Add internal support for more than 8 layers. By default PCB is still
323 compiled for 8 copper layers.
324 - Fixed several minor bugs in the GTK user interface including fixing
325 scrolling of the log window, fixed up some of the DRC reporting
327 - Fixed several key bindings.
328 - Updated refcard.tex to reflect the current set of key bindings.
329 - Fixed some minor bugs which caused compilation problems on some
331 - Converted the QFN footprints to hi-res.
332 - Added documentation to the manual for the centroid file format and
333 the algorithm used for finding the centroid and rotation.
334 - Fixed a bug so that the initial layer named 'component' is actually
335 on the component side of the board and 'solder' is actually on the
336 solder side of the board.
337 - Fixed the pin order in the bourns trim pots (~bourns library)
338 - Added actions and a script to allow command line printing.
339 - Added IPC-7351 recommended footprints for 0201, 0402, etc passives.
340 - Fixed SME5 package.
341 - Fixed a bug which prevented disabling nets from the ratsnest
342 - Fixed a bug where clearances could be set 1 below the spacing
343 - Fixed clearline flag so that arcs also have this property.
344 - Speed up rtree searches and other autorouter speedups.
345 - Fixed a bug in computation of the closest polygon point.
346 - Use rtrees for polygon handling for speed improvements.
347 - Add a ChangePinName() action.
348 - Fix a bug which caused duplicate rats names when manually adding
350 - Added DRC checks for minimum drill diameter and minimum annular ring.
351 - Add a minimal glossary to the manual
352 - Fix the author name in the fab drawing
353 - Cause the crosshair to snap to pad ends instead of center for rat
355 - Add "join" to SetFlag, ClrFlag and ChangeFlag.
356 - Added inline documentation for the pcb file syntax. The manual now
357 is up to date and correctly documents the file format. In addition
358 the inline documentation will make it much easier to maintain the
360 - Remove some broken m4lib footprints
361 - Put the correct setting for the gschem footprint= attribute in []
362 in the library window for the m4 libraries.
364 ========================================================================
365 Release Notes for PCB snapshot 20050609
366 ========================================================================
368 - **** The GUI is now based on gtk2 instead of Xaw **** This represents
369 a fairly major change. You will now need gtk-2.4 or higher installed
370 along with any of its dependencies to build pcb. On linux
371 distributions, it is probably the case that you already have this,
372 but see the README-GTK_PORT file for a note on gtk versions.
373 For *BSD, Solaris, and others, you may want to use NetBSD's pkgsrc
374 to help install gtk2 and its dependencies.
376 - Flags are stored symbolically in the .pcb file. This is the start
377 of moving to support >8 layers. Please note that >8 layer support
378 is not yet available in this snapshot.
382 - As part of the switch to gtk2, the user customizable menu feature has
383 been temporarily broken. Hopefully this will be fixed by the next
384 snapshot. In addition, the loading of background images has also been
387 ========================================================================
388 Release Notes for PCB snapshot 20050315
389 ========================================================================
391 - Several footprint library fixes including TO-220 parse errors and
392 incorrect drill holes on several componenets.
394 - Fixed a crashing bug in the pinout window.
396 - Allow the FAB author to be set via an Xresource to override what
397 PCB might have gotten from the gecos information.
399 - Added table of standard drill sizes to the manual.
401 - Fixed a crashing bug when trying to use arrow keys to adjust the scale
402 slider in the print dialog box.
404 ========================================================================
405 Release Notes for PCB snapshot 20050127
406 ========================================================================
408 - Fix drill size for PLCC sockets in ~geda library. Fix drill size for
409 LED3 and LED5 footprints in ~geda library.
411 - Move the right-click popup menu to pcb-menu.res.
413 - Add DisperseElements() action for spreading out elements in an initial
416 - Fix fab drawing output for the case where a very small number of
417 drill sizes are used.
419 - Various documentation improvements.
421 - Remove many compiler warnings.
423 - Added metric output to the cursor display
425 - Fix <Key>. for toggling 45 degree mode.
427 - Crosshair snap snaps to center of pads and also to the mark of the
430 - Protect all strcmp() calls with a check for a NULL pointer. Fixes
433 - Fixed the mode buttons which were unresponsive in some versions of
436 - Element names may be edited over the element.
438 - Added --enable-efence for ElectricFence debugging. Off by default
440 - Added --disable-rpath to avoid using rpath for the X libraries.
442 - Added vendor resource file support. This allows lets you specify
443 a set of allowed drill sizes and drc rules for a particular vendor.
445 - Added -action command line option to allow executing an action on
448 - Date and time of compilation added to About dialog.
450 - Fix a bug where the soldermask relief on a new element is 100x smaller
451 than the default when "convert buffer to element" is used.
453 - Fix a name_tree corruption bug when changing an element name.
455 - Don't remove the formatted manual with a 'make clean' since they are
456 part of the distfile.
458 - Let automake handle the html and pdf conversion. This ends up using
459 texi2pdf for the pdf output which seems to do a better job than ps2pdf.
461 - Sort actions by modifier so that both Ctrl<Key>x and <Key>x work.
463 - Fix a SelectByName bug.
465 - Fix non-gcc compilation
467 - Command history added to :
469 - Fixed pinout window crash
471 - Allow Ctrl-drag to copy objects in arrow mode.
473 - Fixed a polygon clearance bug
475 - Fix an arc bounding box calculation error.
477 ========================================================================
478 Release Notes for PCB snapshot 20040903
479 ========================================================================
481 - enable -Wall when compiling with gcc. Many compiler warnings have
484 - add a short man page which refers the user to the real documentation
486 - Added ExecuteFile(file) action which allows the execution of several
487 actions contained in a text file.
489 - Added -script <file> flag which specifies a file containing actions
490 to be executed upon startup.
492 - Various documentation improvements
494 - Protect some gcc extensions with tests for gcc. This allows
495 compilation with the IRIX c compiler.
497 - Add support for a background image in the drawing area which can
498 help in importing a layout from a scanned image.
500 - Updated the ~geda library 150 and 300 mil width SOIC packages
501 to remove silk on pads and to more closely follow the IPC
504 - Added support for menu accelerators.
506 - segfault when breaking apart an element with no element selected
509 - autorouter improvements
511 - added more 400mil DIP packages to ~geda library
513 - fix a trace optimizer bug which produced a segfault
515 - other various bug fixes
518 ========================================================================
519 Release Notes for PCB snapshot 20040530
520 ========================================================================
521 This has been an exciting 3 months for PCB. Many improvements have
522 been made in the program as well as additions and improvements to the
523 footprint library. Thanks to everyone who has provided feedback,
526 ----------------------
527 Additions/Improvements
528 ----------------------
529 - Expanded DRC checking
530 - "Realtime" DRC checking
531 - DRC settings are now stored in the board fle
532 - Centroid (X-Y) and bill of materials output
533 - Dynamic menus. Users can now customize the menus via a
534 site-wide, per-user, or per-project menu resource file.
535 - Significant improvements to autorouting of congested designs.
536 - Autorouter can now use power planes.
537 - Improved appearance in autorouter output.
538 - Silk on pads/pins is clipped in RS-274-X output
539 - Ordering is preserved when writing output files so that diff
540 may be effectively used on pcb files.
541 - The autoplace feature now actually works
542 - Added ToggleVisibility action
543 - Most of the database is now kept in rtrees which avoids linear
544 searches. This speeds up operation significantly.
545 - Added SetFlag, ClrFlag, ChangeFlag actions
550 - pin/pad bounding box calculation fixed. Components can
551 now be placed closer to the edge of the board.
552 - miter trace optimization bug.
553 - Fix bug with pins which are enclosed by multiple polygons.
554 - Shorts to unnamed elements and pins are handled correctly.
555 - Various memory leaks fixed.
556 - Fixed some bugs with a really high zoom.
557 - Fixed default media selection in postscript print dialog
558 - Fix some DRC bugs with square pins.
563 - Added SOJ footprint family (~geda library)
564 - Added CTS series 742/3/4/5/6 resistor pack footprints (~cts library)
565 - Added PKG_CONNECTOR_DIL macro to let the HEADER*_1 footprints work
567 - Correct the SDIP footprints (~geda library)
568 - Correct some Minicircuits footprints (~minicircuits library)
569 - Correct some panasonic footprints (~panasonic library)
570 - Change refdes silk size for sockets (~johnstech library)
571 - Increase soldermask relief on some mounting holes
573 - Convert the COMMON_SMT_DIL_MIL and COMMON_SMT_DIL_MM macros
574 used by several other libraries to the hi-res format.
575 - Correct pin count on 100 pin QFP packages (100 not 72)
577 - Correct pin count on HEADER60_2 (60 not 50) (~geda library)
579 ========================================================================
583 (1) New library system. A directory tree is parsed and added to the library
584 selector window. This directory is specified in the config.h file as
585 PCBTREEDIR and should point to a directory where any pcb user that needs to
586 create library elements has write privileges. The "-libtree X" switch will
587 cause pcb to use directory X instead of the installed default for the new
588 library directory. You should continue to be wary of the old library
589 elements, many of them are not quite right. (Just check them carefully before
590 fabing to be sure there are no surprises). My intent is to create a
591 repository for new elements THAT PEOPLE HAVE FABRICATED SUCCESSFULLY in order
592 to grow a reliable library.
594 (2) Element files can now contain layers (line, arcs, polygons), vias and
595 elements. The new library system reads from element files (no need to learn
596 M4). The expanded capability of element files allows you to put useful
597 sub-circuits into the library. For example, a QFP package with a break-out
598 via pattern can be stored as a library element. Be careful with this as the
599 layers are saved simply by their layer number and lose any association with a
600 group (e.g. whether it is the component, or solder-side layer).
602 (3) Improved fascilities for creating elements from drawn objects. Now you
603 can put an element in the buffer, and break it into it's consitutent parts.
604 Paste this to the layout, make changes, then put it back in the buffer to
605 convert to an element. You can also save a buffer's contents to an element
606 file (i.e. add it to the library). Of course element files are still just
607 text files so you can edit them at will. Draw the element outline on the silk
608 layer (lines and arcs, no polygons), use Vias to make pins or holes, and lines
609 on the component and/or solder layers for SMD pads. Number the pins and pads
610 with the name ("n" key) entry, then cut it all to the buffer and select
611 "convert buffer to element". Saved elements always appear in the file in a
612 component-side orientation (even if you save while viewing the solder side).
614 (4) Support for elements with surface-mount pads on both sides of the board.
615 e.g. edge connectors. This also allows creation of elements with multiple
616 pins/pads having the same "number" string. This can be used, for example,
617 to create a DIP footprint that has a pad on top and bottom coincident
618 with each pin. This effectively makes the pins have elongated copper pads
619 on the top and bottom - something several home-made board makers have
620 requested. If you do create an element with multiple pins having the
621 same number, and that number appears in the netlist, they MUST be connected
622 before the board is considered routed. See the "14DIP_oval_pad" example
623 in the "test" section of the library for an example.
625 (5) Support for the strokes library. Compiling with strokes enabled (see
626 config.h) binds the middle button to recognize strokes for the user
627 interface. Zoom in, Zoom out, choose the line, arrow, or via tools, rotate an
628 object, etc. can be done with simple strokes. Check the source code
629 (FinishStroke() in action.c) to see what the strokes are.
631 (6) Better fascilites for panning at high zoom: Shift-button3 down shows the
632 whole layout - move the crosshair to where you want the display centered,
633 then release the mouse button - the previous zoom level is restored, centered
634 at the new location. You can do this while in the middle of drawing, moving,
635 etc. You can also place the cursor in the panner area, and use the arrow keys
636 on the keyboard to scroll half a window view per keypress. Of course you can
637 still drag the screen with button1 with the panner tool (previously known
639 Auto-scrolling is also improved. If you want to use menus, buttons,
640 the panner, placing the pointer over them stops auto-scroll. If you
641 want to go to another window and not auto-scroll, pass the pointer
642 over one of those things before heading to the other window.
644 (7) Auto-router. The auto-router routes with the active line size, via size,
645 and keep-away. It is a grid-less router, and will automatically avoid any
646 existing traces, etc. that you've placed on the board. It uses all layers
647 that are visible when invoked, so turn off any layers you don't want it to
648 use. You can auto-route all rat lines, or selected rat lines. This was
649 written by C. Scott Ananian
651 (8) Fascilities to rip-up tracks and vias that were placed by the
652 auto-router. You can rip-up all auto-routed tracks, or just those that are
653 selected (and were auto-routed).
655 (9) Auto-placement code. It's broken. Don't use it.
657 (10) Many functions added to the menus that were previously accessible only
658 through keys or typed commands. e.g. SetValue(Grid,1), DRC().
660 (11) You can turn on/off the requirement for unique element names. When
661 unique names are required, they may be automatically generated when pasting.
662 Turn on uniqueness for a single layout, turn off if placing several boards in
663 a panel (or if you just want duplicate names). It's in the settings menu.
665 (12) Support for metric grids. Coordinates are still always integer mils,
666 but you can have the grid fall on a regular metric spacing to within
667 +/- 1 mil. Selectable in the "Screen" menu and also with the "SetValue(Grid, x)"
668 command; the value x is still in mils, but it's floating point now. Also
669 the concept of "absolute" grid has been eliminated - just align it where
672 (13) Support for viewing the soldermask. The Screen menu has a selection for
673 turning on/off the display of the solder mask. You can also change the
674 size of mask holes when the mask is displayed by using the
675 "ChangeClearSize(what, change)" function (k key). If the mask is not
676 displayed, this function changes polygon clearances as before. For example
677 you could elliminate all via soldermask holes by selecting everything
678 (make sure vias are turned on), then typing the command:
679 ":ChangeClearSize(SelectedVias, 0)" There is a special case for
680 vias to change the mask diameter equal to the via diameter, by using
681 +0 as the size change.
683 (14) Support for creation/addition of netlist by drawing rat lines.
684 Select "netlist" from the drawing layer, and use the line tool to
685 add nets. Undo removes the rat, but not the created net. To delete
686 a netlist entry, select the connection in the netlist window and
687 hit the backspace key. The "netlist" layer must be the active layer
688 to delete connections like this. This is NOT the recommended way
689 to create a netlist, but a lot of people asked for it.
691 (15) Support for snapping the crosshair to pins/pads even when they're not on
692 grid. Selectable in the "Settings" menu. Thanks to Borges for this
695 (16) Doesn't draw negative lines and arcs in print output unless
696 necessary. It still does this for all pads though. Doesn't technically
697 matter, but there are a lot of bogus gerber viewers out there and
698 people that are easily confused by gerber files that completely meet
701 (17) Added a "Lock" feature that lets you lock an object so it
702 can't be selected, moved, or modified. Very handy for making a
703 board-outline element (e.g. pc104 card) invisible to the Arrow
706 (18) lots of bug fixes (plus, no doubt, lots of newly introduced ones).
708 (19) a tool (in the tools folder) for converting to/from ncap files
709 for auto-routing with MUCS-PCB. I have not tried this myself. Written
710 By Luis Claudio G. Lopes
712 (20) a new build system based on the GNU automake and autoconf tools.
713 This should make compiling on different systems easier than with the
714 old imake based build system.
716 (21) A program for quickly generating QFP elements. Its invoked
717 from the old library (~generic/qfp menu, generic)
719 (22) Increased resolution. The internal unit is now 0.01 mil
720 as opposed to 1.0 mil which was the previous unit.
722 Quick and dirty explanation of some as-yet undocumented features:
724 Netlist window: double-click on a net-name to enable/disable it. A "*"
725 appears next to the name when it is disabled. Disabled means rats nests will
726 ignore the net. Click on a connection to select it (and center it) in the
727 layout window. "Finding" a connection starting from a pin or pad will
728 select it in the netlist window.
730 The "j" key controls whether a line (arc) clears (plow through) polygons or
731 touches them. Newly created lines and arcs follow the setting in the
732 "settings" menu. Put the cursor over the line or arc you want to change, then
733 hit the "j" (j for join) key.
735 The "k" key controls the width of clearance around a line (arc) when it
736 plows. "k" key increases clearance by 2, Shift-K decreases it by 2, also
737 works for pins and vias piercing polygons. The initial value for new objects
738 (but not element pins/pads which is in the element definition)
739 is controlled by the "keepaway" setting, changeable in the "sizes" menu.
741 When drawing lines, you can start a new anchor point without drawing from
742 the previous point by either clicking button3, or Ctrl-button1. DON'T
743 USE BUTTON2 - that would be wrong, even if it sort of works.
745 The Arrow tool is for selecting/deselecting objects, and moving them.
746 Shift-click to add to the existing selection. You can click-drag to draw
747 boxes for box selection. If you click-drag on an already selected item, you
748 will move the selection. If you click-drag on an un-selected item, you will
749 move that item without selecting it. This last technique is the only way to
750 move a point (e.g. end point of a line), and is also the only way to perform
751 moves with rubber-banding (i.e. rubber-banding doesn't work with selections).
752 Moving a selection actually cuts it to a special paste buffer, then pastes it
753 at the new location. Always start a box selection by clicking in an empty
754 region of the board. It may be desireable to turn off some visibility in
755 order to simplify the box selection operation. You can also lock
756 an object to make it invisible to the Arrow tool (so box selections can
757 begin over the object). If you don't configure for
758 strokes, the middle button is bound to the arrow tool.
760 To move an element or silk text to the opposite side of the board, use the
761 "b" key (b for backside) to send it to the opposite side. You can also cut an
762 object to a buffer, switch viewing sides (tab), then paste it. The buffer can
763 be used this way to flip layout traces to the other side too, although if
764 layer groups are used, the precise layer they appear on may not have the
765 color you want, but the connectivity should not change.
768 Installation tip: BE SURE TO INSTALL THE NEW X11 RESOURCE FILE - run
769 make install to do this. If you just want to test without installing,
770 run the pcbtest.sh script in the src directory.