DipTrace 2.4 beta
DipTrace 2.4 beta
Hi All,
We have published DipTrace version 2.4 beta today.
Main innovation is completely new library management system (see below). It is still not completed and should include categories (3 levels, already done, but not in UI yet) and fast search in filter (these features will not be in 2.4, but in one of minor updates). Also 2.4 beta doesn't support low vertical resolution for its new component/pattern panel - we will make automatic panel reconfiguration in final verson. All new features if compate to 2.3.5 beta:
1. New library management system:
- Library Groups;
- Standard and user libraries are separated to different groups, standard libraries can not be changed by user;
- Project libraries and design cache;
- The same system for all programs - groups and lists of libraries are available in Component and Pattern Editors as well;
- Dynamic update of library groups, group content, active library/component between programs;
- Library groups and libraries are visible in all dialogs where libraries are used (library setup is used, no more add/delete buttons and separate lists);
- Filter feature with customizable number of parameters (search by current library, group or all libraries is available).
2. IPC-D-356A Netlist Export.
3. BSDL Pinlist Import in Component Editor.
4. Importing/Exporting STEP/IGES package models as STEP primitives (not triangles).
5. Printing multipage schematic as single document.
6. Updating all copper pours command in PCB Layout.
This is pre-release version and its features are the same as official 2.4 will have.
Download it at http://www.diptrace.com/downloads/download-diptrace/ - see bottom of the page.
We have published DipTrace version 2.4 beta today.
Main innovation is completely new library management system (see below). It is still not completed and should include categories (3 levels, already done, but not in UI yet) and fast search in filter (these features will not be in 2.4, but in one of minor updates). Also 2.4 beta doesn't support low vertical resolution for its new component/pattern panel - we will make automatic panel reconfiguration in final verson. All new features if compate to 2.3.5 beta:
1. New library management system:
- Library Groups;
- Standard and user libraries are separated to different groups, standard libraries can not be changed by user;
- Project libraries and design cache;
- The same system for all programs - groups and lists of libraries are available in Component and Pattern Editors as well;
- Dynamic update of library groups, group content, active library/component between programs;
- Library groups and libraries are visible in all dialogs where libraries are used (library setup is used, no more add/delete buttons and separate lists);
- Filter feature with customizable number of parameters (search by current library, group or all libraries is available).
2. IPC-D-356A Netlist Export.
3. BSDL Pinlist Import in Component Editor.
4. Importing/Exporting STEP/IGES package models as STEP primitives (not triangles).
5. Printing multipage schematic as single document.
6. Updating all copper pours command in PCB Layout.
This is pre-release version and its features are the same as official 2.4 will have.
Download it at http://www.diptrace.com/downloads/download-diptrace/ - see bottom of the page.
Re: DipTrace 2.4 beta
Yee haw! Thanks for this.novarm44 wrote:6. Updating all copper pours command in PCB Layout.
Re: DipTrace 2.4 beta
In 2.4, PCB editor, it seems no longer possible to replace pattern of a component, only to replace component itself.
You can see in screenshot these points;
* We are in PCB
* I have right clicked on object
* Only replace component is visible, not replace pattern
Or am I making a mistake somewhere?
You can see in screenshot these points;
* We are in PCB
* I have right clicked on object
* Only replace component is visible, not replace pattern
Or am I making a mistake somewhere?
- Attachments
-
- avio-s38.jpeg (196.38 KiB) Viewed 925 times
Re: DipTrace 2.4 beta
Changing a pattern from PCB is not feasible, as long as I can not Back Annotate the new pattern in a proper way to the corresponding Schematic. This neither works for me in stabil v2.3.1.0 nor does it work in 2.4 beta. Back annotate the refdes and value works fine (in 2.4 beta), but the footprint pattern remains still on the old value stored in Schematic and next time when I do a Renew Design from Schematic by RefDes, I get my old pattern in PCB.
If you want to try it out, take a look at the attached pattern in schematic ->
Previous Pattern: ____
New Pattern: ____
The Pattern didn't change. I was fooled.
Have to make the changes for pcb in schematic then Renew Design from Schematic.
Nevertheless, I like Diptrace. Hope some day the program will get a full back annotation.
Thanks for the new beta. Playing around with it. No problem to install it beside old v2.3.1.0 (have deinstalled the previous beta; no problem with that too).
us
If you want to try it out, take a look at the attached pattern in schematic ->
Previous Pattern: ____
New Pattern: ____
The Pattern didn't change. I was fooled.
Have to make the changes for pcb in schematic then Renew Design from Schematic.
Nevertheless, I like Diptrace. Hope some day the program will get a full back annotation.
Thanks for the new beta. Playing around with it. No problem to install it beside old v2.3.1.0 (have deinstalled the previous beta; no problem with that too).
us
Re: DipTrace 2.4 beta
The component editor and pattern editor clearly need some kind of "reload library" button to make for recent changes. Currently there is no visible way of updating the pattern in any of them.
There is a quirk, however, which actually reloads a single pattern: select it and switch to some other component from another library, then select the correct pattern again.
Leaving aside this "dynamic update" thingy, I've had a very positive experience with the library system (Design Cache in particular), so I'm looking forward to try 2.4 with all its goodness.
As a sidenote, I do not understand the notion of having separate settings for net classes and trace templates. Wouldn't things be a little bit less confusing if there were just "Trace classes", and one could cycle through them with a hotkey during trace routing or assign them to nets? And, as we have almost passed the 2.4 milestone, there is another old thing going on:
There is a quirk, however, which actually reloads a single pattern: select it and switch to some other component from another library, then select the correct pattern again.
Leaving aside this "dynamic update" thingy, I've had a very positive experience with the library system (Design Cache in particular), so I'm looking forward to try 2.4 with all its goodness.
As a sidenote, I do not understand the notion of having separate settings for net classes and trace templates. Wouldn't things be a little bit less confusing if there were just "Trace classes", and one could cycle through them with a hotkey during trace routing or assign them to nets? And, as we have almost passed the 2.4 milestone, there is another old thing going on:
Well, it drifts a bit off topic.Alex wrote:Differential routing and high-speed features have high priority for us. We plan to implement these for the next version after 2.4.
Spice signal assignments disappear
I haven't used Spice-related features in previous versions, so I'm not sure if this is a new or old bug. But it seems to be reproducible.
Open this sample schematic, select any component, and pick Spice Settings from the right-click menu. Note that the pins have signal assignments.
Click OK to dismiss the settings window, then pick Spice Settings again from the right-click menu. Note that signal assignments have disappeared.
Another apparent bug: If you do File -> Export -> Spice Netlist, you'll see a spurious phantom model in the output, ModelName. Only the diodes in this schematic have models, and their models are set to QuadSchottky. I'm not sure where the ModelName model is coming from.
Open this sample schematic, select any component, and pick Spice Settings from the right-click menu. Note that the pins have signal assignments.
Click OK to dismiss the settings window, then pick Spice Settings again from the right-click menu. Note that signal assignments have disappeared.
Another apparent bug: If you do File -> Export -> Spice Netlist, you'll see a spurious phantom model in the output, ModelName. Only the diodes in this schematic have models, and their models are set to QuadSchottky. I'm not sure where the ModelName model is coming from.
Re: DipTrace 2.4 beta
We have updated 2.4 beta today. 64 bit installer is available too. Many bugs have been found and fixed + we have added support of low vertical resolution for library panel (if main window height is smaller then particular value, it hides symbol/pattern preview and shows it as popup when you click symbol/pattern).
Please download it here:
32 bit: http://www.diptrace.com/downloads/dipfree_beta.exe
64 bit: http://www.diptrace.com/downloads/dipfree_beta64.exe (it is still 32 bit program, but 64 bit installer, which works correctly with rights and user accounts on 64 bit system).
Dynamic update of patterns inside component libraries when you update pattern libraries is not supported, but we will think how to implement that feature (not in 2.4 yet).
Currently we continue to test and fix bugs, then I hope we will publish 2.4 official release within next week.
Regards,
Stanislav Ruev
DipTrace Team
Please download it here:
32 bit: http://www.diptrace.com/downloads/dipfree_beta.exe
64 bit: http://www.diptrace.com/downloads/dipfree_beta64.exe (it is still 32 bit program, but 64 bit installer, which works correctly with rights and user accounts on 64 bit system).
Dynamic update of patterns inside component libraries when you update pattern libraries is not supported, but we will think how to implement that feature (not in 2.4 yet).
Currently we continue to test and fix bugs, then I hope we will publish 2.4 official release within next week.
Regards,
Stanislav Ruev
DipTrace Team
Re: DipTrace 2.4 beta
But "Pad properties" ana "placement setup" dialog box in 2.4 has light gray color instead of white. This is more comfortable for eyes.I think this light gray color should use on all other dialog box. Especially if use black color theme, white color dialog box effecting my eyes.
If attached pattern dialog box not maximized, "Ok" and "Cancel" buttons behind task bar. Same thing happens 3D preview dialog box when not maximized.
Re: DipTrace 2.4 beta
> Currently we continue to test and fix bugs, ...
What has happened with the search? Every time I click on 'find component' in schematic or pcb there is no more search dialog. Now there poped up only the filter dialog???
"Filter - Not Applied"
Apply Filter - Cancel Filter
There is no more search possible.
In Component and Pattern editor the search dialog appears as normal.
What has happened with the search? Every time I click on 'find component' in schematic or pcb there is no more search dialog. Now there poped up only the filter dialog???
"Filter - Not Applied"
Apply Filter - Cancel Filter
There is no more search possible.
In Component and Pattern editor the search dialog appears as normal.
Re: DipTrace 2.4 beta
Filter has the same functionality as search (just select apply filter to library group or all libraries).There is no more search possible.
In Component and Pattern editor the search dialog appears as normal.
Actually search feature in component and pattern editors is just a bit different UI to the same filter object. Filter itself is not applied in library editors as it displays content from different libraries in main component list and editing/saving library in such conditions may make a mess.
This is standard Windows 7 color scheme - if you see dialog boxes in Windows, they have the same white color for page tabs. We can change that though if many people don't like it.In 2.4 beta dialog box has a lot of white color. This is not confortable for eyes. I think. Please picture above.
But "Pad properties" ana "placement setup" dialog box in 2.4 has light gray color instead of white. This is more comfortable for eyes.I think this light gray color should use on all other dialog box. Especially if use black color theme, white color dialog box effecting my eyes.