DIY Layout Creator - software for easy drawing PCB, vero and perfboard layouts

[zpyder]

bancika-

I would suggest that when you add a new component and the screen pops up so that you can fill in it's value (resistors, capacitors, etc), that you allow more flexibility over the value entered:

Don't REQUIRE a suffix (K, R, M, u, p, n, etc.).  Still have the dropdown for suffixes, but have it default on a blank suffix.  That way I can enter "2k7" (which is what I prefer) instead of "2.7K", and anyone can still use suffixes if they wish.  If I enter "2k7" now, it comes out as "2k7R".  Since the default suffixes tend NOT to be the most commonly used for our applications, I don't believe this would cramp anyone's style.

cheers,
zpyder

[bancika]

Ok

[Dragonfly]

bancika-

I would suggest that when you add a new component and the screen pops up so that you can fill in it's value (resistors, capacitors, etc), that you allow more flexibility over the value entered:

Don't REQUIRE a suffix (K, R, M, u, p, n, etc.).  Still have the dropdown for suffixes, but have it default on a blank suffix.  That way I can enter "2k7" (which is what I prefer) instead of "2.7K", and anyone can still use suffixes if they wish.  If I enter "2k7" now, it comes out as "2k7R".  Since the default suffixes tend NOT to be the most commonly used for our applications, I don't believe this would cramp anyone's style.

cheers,
zpyder

if you enter it as 2.7k on the table, then you can click on the component twice, enter "change value", and enter 2k7 ...only takes a second or two more...

AC

[zpyder]

if you enter it as 2.7k on the table, then you can click on the component twice, enter "change value", and enter 2k7 ...only takes a second or two more...

Though it's true that you can change the value later, I would say it's highliy inconvienient, and unfortunately takes quite a bit more than a second or two to do... As others have voiced, any projects with a good number of components start to lag pretty heavily.  bancika's talked about things to do about this.  In the meantime, dbl-right clicking and waiting for the window to pop up may only take a few seconds, but unfortunately the redraw that is necessary after you click "OK" can take upwards of 30 seconds.  For a project with, say, 20 resistors, that could be 20 x 33 sec worst case... or 660 seconds :: 11 minutes.  Even if it was half that much - even a quarter that much I guess, I'd still say that's quite a headache...

zpyder

[pyrop]

By the way, it's been a while since someone recommended feature/component. C'mon guys 

Ok here is a nice easy one.


A nice little "Ground symbol" like above instead of routing wires back to the board from off board components.
It can get a bit messy when you have a pot or three on the other side of the board from where your ground connections are.

Once again thanks for a great program!

pyrop

[pyrop]

if you enter it as 2.7k on the table, then you can click on the component twice, enter "change value", and enter 2k7 ...only takes a second or two more...

Though it's true that you can change the value later, I would say it's highliy inconvienient, and unfortunately takes quite a bit more than a second or two to do... As others have voiced, any projects with a good number of components start to lag pretty heavily.  bancika's talked about things to do about this.  In the meantime, dbl-right clicking and waiting for the window to pop up may only take a few seconds, but unfortunately the redraw that is necessary after you click "OK" can take upwards of 30 seconds.  For a project with, say, 20 resistors, that could be 20 x 33 sec worst case... or 660 seconds :: 11 minutes.  Even if it was half that much - even a quarter that much I guess, I'd still say that's quite a headache...

zpyder

Better still, leave it blank and type in the symbol when you type in the value when you first place the component.
Having drop down lists with all the component values would slow things down even more than it is.

pyrop

[markm]

If you don't show pots you don't need pot component at all

Exactly! 

[coreybox]

Something that occurred to me:  It would be nice to have a ruler option for rendering pcb images, so that you could make sure the scale is correct.

This is something i would like too.

(also, thanks for doing the program at all for us!)

[pyrop]

LDR's could be useful for some too.

Thanks
pyrop

[joelap]

Really awesome program!  Used it two nights ago for a board layout, and I cant wait to test the layout in the real world.  Quick suggestion: when I did the layout, I started from the bottom left corner, and left myself tons of space just in case.  When I went to shrink it down, it started shrinking from the bottom, is there a way to size it so I can lower the board dimensions from the top instead of bottom?  Sorry if there is, it was my first go with it two days ago, just curious if theres a way?

[MikeH]

Really awesome program!  Used it two nights ago for a board layout, and I cant wait to test the layout in the real world.  Quick suggestion: when I did the layout, I started from the bottom left corner, and left myself tons of space just in case.  When I went to shrink it down, it started shrinking from the bottom, is there a way to size it so I can lower the board dimensions from the top instead of bottom?  Sorry if there is, it was my first go with it two days ago, just curious if theres a way?

You can just select all with cntl-A (or is it alt-A?) and move everything up to the upper left corner.  Then resize the board.

[bancika]

yep
cheers

[choklitlove]

hey bancika!

i don't know if this has been talked about (don't feel like going through the behemoth thread here), but i found something that i thought might be better.

when you close, it brings up the box with the "Continue without saving?" YES, NO.
in my opinion, i think it would be better, and closer to other programs that we're used to, if it was something like "Would you like to save?"

i've just accidentally clicked NO a few times because it's what i'm accustomed to.  what do you think, everyone?

[bancika]

no problem

[RLBJR65]

Bancika, I only have 1 inductor right now it's a Dunlop ECB-156.
Also a couple of photocouplers (I think someone mentioned them ) 1 is a Vactec VTL5C2 the other is a Clairex CLM6000.
Look at the bottom of this pic for the sizes http://aronnelson.com/gallery/Richard-Boop-RLBJR65/VERO_TOOLS?full=1
Not enough info to mess with unless someone else chimes in I guess.

Something that occurred to me:  It would be nice to have a ruler option for rendering pcb images, so that you could make sure the scale is correct.

This is something i would like too.

(also, thanks for doing the program at all for us!)

Me too!

Richard

[bancika]

Bancika, I only have 1 inductor right now it's a Dunlop ECB-156.
Also a couple of photocouplers (I think someone mentioned them ) 1 is a Vactec VTL5C2 the other is a Clairex CLM6000.
Look at the bottom of this pic for the sizes http://aronnelson.com/gallery/Richard-Boop-RLBJR65/VERO_TOOLS?full=1
Not enough info to mess with unless someone else chimes in I guess.

Something that occurred to me:  It would be nice to have a ruler option for rendering pcb images, so that you could make sure the scale is correct.

This is something i would like too.

(also, thanks for doing the program at all for us!)

Me too!

Richard

Pic would be enough, tnx
Ok for ruler!
Bye

[markm]

Oh Yes indeed.....the ruler would be very cool 
I get PM's up the wazoo about scaling my PCB's in my gallery.
Great Idea!!

[RLBJR65]

The older Halo and stacked type wah inductors have a bigger footprint because they have a square base. It's been a while but I think they would take up the whole 6X6 area with the pins at the corners. The Fasel inductors are different too they sit on their side.
Cool bunch of wah inductor pics. http://homepage.ntlworld.com/s.castledine/greenfuz/inductor.html There is a nice mods section and project page there as well.

How hard would it be to create a misc circle and misc square / rectangel? Then you could select the right size and add pads where you need them. That would be usefull for oddball stuff like wah inductors, photo couplers, ldrs, huge caps, cooling fins, transformers, etc. etc.

Thanks,
Richard

[keko]

What about the confirm dialog that shows when closing an unsaved document?

The standard behaviour is to ask wethere the user would like to save the document, and that gets the "yes" button preselected. Here is the other way around.

Changing this would work nicely with the Save As option/dialog,  because you could close an unsaved document, get the option to save it first, and use a different name if you want to.

[choklitlove]

What about the confirm dialog that shows when closing an unsaved document?

The standard behaviour is to ask wethere the user would like to save the document, and that gets the "yes" button preselected. Here is the other way around.

Changing this would work nicely with the Save As option/dialog,  because you could close an unsaved document, get the option to save it first, and use a different name if you want to.

he said he would change that already, couple posts up.  he says "no problem"