Bad Omen?
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From: Joel Koltner on 30 Jul 2010 22:18 "Joerg" <invalid(a)invalid.invalid> wrote in message news:8bhe6gFuriU1(a)mid.individual.net... > Grant wrote: >> Online help in normal windows form, with this at the end: >> "Copyright © 1980 - 2010 WestDev Ltd. All rights reserved. E & O E" > Right now using Eagle which is great but lacks schematic hierarchy. > That's actually all I need to know, whether DesignSpark has that. > Otherwise a switch won't make much sense. WestDev is the company that makes Pulsonix and EasyPC; Advanced Circuits' (4pcb.com) "PCB Artist" is actually just EasyPC in an OEM "skin." Hence I suspect that DesignSpark is as well. Assuming that's the case and that they haven't crippled any of its features, it will support hierarchy. See this link for the Real McCoy's feature set: http://www.numberone.com/easy_pc_v14.asp ---Joel
From: Grant on 30 Jul 2010 23:00 On Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:56:20 -0700, Joerg <invalid(a)invalid.invalid> wrote: >Grant wrote: >> On Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:59:10 -0700, Joerg <invalid(a)invalid.invalid> wrote: >> .... >>> Interesting, I never heard of DesignSpark. There isn't much information >>> on their site, no manual etc. >>> >>> http://www.designspark.com/home >> >> Right home, need to register, download + install software, register it >> >> Online help in normal windows form, with this at the end: >> >> "Copyright © 1980 - 2010 WestDev Ltd. All rights reserved. E & O E" >> >> Tutorials as local .pdf files. > > >Thanks. I have bookmarked it for later, when I have time to install it. >Right now using Eagle which is great but lacks schematic hierarchy. >That's actually all I need to know, whether DesignSpark has that. >Otherwise a switch won't make much sense. Has a project file so multisheet schematics link via net names, close enough? I just found that in the online help, not used the program yet. It's BoM is hooked up to write RS Comp. parts, plus it references DesignSpark web site on startup -- so 'they' could pull the plug any time. That worries me unless the thing import/exports some common datafile standard. But then I've read that Eagle can lock one into versions when using the restricted ones -- story was importing component from restricted library converted entire job to restricted, no idea how true. Horror out there about anything, if one looks hard enough... .... >> Zoom in and watch the tracks drawn, one by one, very slowly... Only >> gain using CAD was when one needed to rework a design, I could do a >> new layout on film with tape and donuts in about the same time as on >> the CAD back then. And, we had to plot the CAD stuff for PCB makers, >> no file transfers for a Gerber machine or suchlike. >> > >No Gerber generator? Weird. That sounds really pre-historic :-) Pcad could generate them, but our local PCB makers couldn't use the files, needed plots and drill guides done the old manual way. Grant.
From: Joerg on 31 Jul 2010 15:26 Joel Koltner wrote: > "Joerg" <invalid(a)invalid.invalid> wrote in message > news:8bhe6gFuriU1(a)mid.individual.net... >> Grant wrote: >>> Online help in normal windows form, with this at the end: >>> "Copyright © 1980 - 2010 WestDev Ltd. All rights reserved. E & O E" >> Right now using Eagle which is great but lacks schematic hierarchy. >> That's actually all I need to know, whether DesignSpark has that. >> Otherwise a switch won't make much sense. > > WestDev is the company that makes Pulsonix and EasyPC; Advanced > Circuits' (4pcb.com) "PCB Artist" is actually just EasyPC in an OEM "skin." > > Hence I suspect that DesignSpark is as well. > > Assuming that's the case and that they haven't crippled any of its > features, it will support hierarchy. See this link for the Real McCoy's > feature set: http://www.numberone.com/easy_pc_v14.asp > But how could RS give it away for free if the product costs 447 pounds (UK)? Unless it's one of those limited pin number versions, that wouldn't be very useful. -- Regards, Joerg http://www.analogconsultants.com/ "gmail" domain blocked because of excessive spam. Use another domain or send PM.
From: Grant on 31 Jul 2010 22:09 On Sat, 31 Jul 2010 12:26:50 -0700, Joerg <invalid(a)invalid.invalid> wrote: >Joel Koltner wrote: >> "Joerg" <invalid(a)invalid.invalid> wrote in message >> news:8bhe6gFuriU1(a)mid.individual.net... >>> Grant wrote: >>>> Online help in normal windows form, with this at the end: >>>> "Copyright © 1980 - 2010 WestDev Ltd. All rights reserved. E & O E" >>> Right now using Eagle which is great but lacks schematic hierarchy. >>> That's actually all I need to know, whether DesignSpark has that. >>> Otherwise a switch won't make much sense. >> >> WestDev is the company that makes Pulsonix and EasyPC; Advanced >> Circuits' (4pcb.com) "PCB Artist" is actually just EasyPC in an OEM "skin." >> >> Hence I suspect that DesignSpark is as well. >> >> Assuming that's the case and that they haven't crippled any of its >> features, it will support hierarchy. See this link for the Real McCoy's >> feature set: http://www.numberone.com/easy_pc_v14.asp >> > >But how could RS give it away for free if the product costs 447 pounds >(UK)? Unless it's one of those limited pin number versions, that >wouldn't be very useful. Might be market share intro, program opens website during startup, leaves me a bit wary of using the thing, could be crippled any time, requires registration. Time-unknown demo? Dunno. Too good to be true? Perhaps ;) Grant.
From: Grant on 31 Jul 2010 22:12
On Sat, 31 Jul 2010 12:33:31 -0700, Joerg <invalid(a)invalid.invalid> wrote: >Grant wrote: [Gerber files] >> Pcad could generate them, but our local PCB makers couldn't use the >> files, needed plots and drill guides done the old manual way. >> > >Time to find a more modern PCB maker then. Unless they cook up a mean >chili or there's a good brewpub next door :-) Nah, this was 25 years ago. Grant. |