2.3.5 beta with STEP/IGES available

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novarm44
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2.3.5 beta with STEP/IGES available

#1 Post by novarm44 » 14 Jan 2014, 04:20

Hi All,

We have released the new beta version 2.3.5 today.

The main upgrade for us is switch from Delphi 5 to Delphi XE4, so all UI elements were redesigned and Unicode support has been added. We still have some questions regarding native 64-bit version, but hope to resolve them soon. STEP/IGES support was also the feature we tried to implement for a long time and now beta version of it is done. Models can now be loaded from both STEP and IGES, PCB can be exported as STEP. The limitation: all models during STEP export are represented by triangulations, we are now working on export with original STEP model primitives though.

Another upgrade we plan to include into 2.4 and which is not implemented yet is new library management system. Actually we already redesigned internal program structures and all libraries to comply with it, but the main feature with UI, filters, etc. is not ready yet. Redesigned library/component panel available in beta is intermediate version which have a new look, but old functionality, as we decided not to transfer old UI to new Delphi XE4.

Full list of new/updated features:
1. Redesigned UI to more modern style, software has been moved to the modern development platform.
2. Support of Unicode in all program objects files and UI elements.
3. Redesigned library/component displaying system (library toolbar removed, toolbar with components has been redesigned).
4. Updated title block editor.
5. Updated "Attached Pattern" tool. Similar windows in Schematic and Component Editor.
6. Updated editing of polygonal pads.
7. Updated import dialogs of third-party schematics and net-lists, remembering of attached patterns.
8. Redesigned component panel (in design area) for component and pattern editors.
9. Zooming/Panning with mouse scroll in all print/import/export windows with preview feature.
10. UI updates in other dialog windows.
11. STEP and IGES import of package 3D models.
12. STEP export of PCB 3D model.
13. Copper pour algorithm optimization (approx 3x-5x speed-up). Further speed-up and real-time update is on the way.
14. Correct side changing for groups in PCB.
15. Many 2.3.1 bugs have been found and fixed.

Download it at http://www.diptrace.com/downloads/download-diptrace/ - see bottom of the page.

john_p_wi
Posts: 5
Joined: 19 Nov 2013, 03:25

Re: 2.3.5 beta with STEP/IGES available

#2 Post by john_p_wi » 14 Jan 2014, 04:47

Thank you very much. Looking forward to the step 3D ability which should simplify things greatly.

Thanks!

microcore
Posts: 13
Joined: 23 May 2012, 17:47

Re: 2.3.5 beta with STEP/IGES available

#3 Post by microcore » 14 Jan 2014, 09:28

Norton Internet Security detect a tkxdestep.dll (Suspicious.Cloud.7.F) i don't know if is a false positive or real risk....

novarm44
DipTrace Lead Developer
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Re: 2.3.5 beta with STEP/IGES available

#4 Post by novarm44 » 14 Jan 2014, 10:09

microcore wrote:Norton Internet Security detect a tkxdestep.dll (Suspicious.Cloud.7.F) i don't know if is a false positive or real risk....
https://www.virustotal.com/en/file/8469 ... 389725874/ - already reported to Symantec

fdemir
Posts: 31
Joined: 15 Jun 2010, 04:47

Re: 2.3.5 beta with STEP/IGES available

#5 Post by fdemir » 14 Jan 2014, 11:05

Hi Stas.
What diffeneces will be between 2.3 beta and 2.4 offical release?

novarm44
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Re: 2.3.5 beta with STEP/IGES available

#6 Post by novarm44 » 14 Jan 2014, 18:41

fdemir wrote:Hi Stas.
What diffeneces will be between 2.3 beta and 2.4 offical release?
1. Library management system is the must.
2. Bug fixes.
3. Export of STEP models as is (primitives, not triangulation) if programmer complete that till 2.4
4. IPC-D-356 netlist export again if completed.
5. Probably a few features from common to-do list.

dtu2
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Joined: 20 Jan 2012, 03:50

Re: 2.3.5 beta with STEP/IGES available

#7 Post by dtu2 » 15 Jan 2014, 03:50

-- 15 Jan 2014, 09:17 --
novarm44 wrote:15. Many 2.3.1 bugs have been found and fixed.
Where is the list of bugs that have been found and fixed? How are we to know exactly which bugs have been found and fixed and which ones have not yet been addressed?

This report is very important in so much that if we are using a work-aound in lieu of a bug and that bug has now been fixed, we can now stop using that work-aound.

Conversly, if a bug still has not been fixed, we will still have to use a work-around.

It's VERY IMPORTANT that you share this information with us.



Several other questions:

1.) Is this beta 100% compatible with existing files (patterns & component libraries, schematics & pcb files)?

2.) Will this beta alter any existing files (patterns & component libraries, schematics & pcb files) in such a way that would then make our existing work incompatible with earlier versions of Diptrace?

3.) Will this beta overwrite our currently installed version of Diptrace or can it be installed along side an existing installation of Diptrace? (This would allow a user to switch back and forth from a stable version to the beta providing the files are 100% compatible.)

Thanks.
Jeff

vetsen
Posts: 31
Joined: 03 Feb 2011, 16:44

Re: 2.3.5 beta with STEP/IGES available

#8 Post by vetsen » 15 Jan 2014, 07:35

4. IPC-D-356 netlist export again if completed.
Great news

Thanks,

Vetsen

novarm44
DipTrace Lead Developer
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Joined: 08 Jun 2010, 23:24
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Re: 2.3.5 beta with STEP/IGES available

#9 Post by novarm44 » 15 Jan 2014, 08:44

Conversly, if a bug still has not been fixed, we will still have to use a work-around.
ALL known and reported bugs (not feature requests or waysof work considered by users as bugs) have been fixed - all information is available in Mantis: http://www.novarm.com/mantis .
If bug/feature request is not fixed yet - it is red in Mantis or requesting more info/displaying our comments. All bugs reported by email/forum and bugs from our internal testing (including intermediate version issues) are in our internal Mantis project. It is not available for all users, but I can easily add you to it if you know Russian and can at least read it. If you didn't report a bug and no other guys or our testers report it - it is not fixed yet.

Please let me know what bug do you mean and I will let you know if we fixed it or not.
1.) Is this beta 100% compatible with existing files (patterns & component libraries, schematics & pcb files)?
All files are forward compatible, i.e. beta can read all existing files.
2.) Will this beta alter any existing files (patterns & component libraries, schematics & pcb files) in such a way that would then make our existing work incompatible with earlier versions of Diptrace?
Yes, if you overwrite binary file, previous version will not be able to read it. But you can easily return to previous version via DipTrace ASCII format which is backward compatible. The reason why binary file is not backward compatible is support of unicode - all strings have 2 bytes per sybmol now, in 2.3.1 - 1 byte per symbol.
3.) Will this beta overwrite our currently installed version of Diptrace or can it be installed along side an existing installation of Diptrace? (This would allow a user to switch back and forth from a stable version to the beta providing the files are 100% compatible.)
If you install it to separate folder - you can use both versions simultaneously, but libraries should be loaded from stable version (stable version can not read beta libraries). Also notice binary files saved with beta can not be opened by stable version directly.

uschott
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Re: 2.3.5 beta with STEP/IGES available

#10 Post by uschott » 15 Jan 2014, 11:11

I installed the new Beta version to C:\Program Files\DipTraceBeta

At start there are no Libs available. I have to change Library Setup from
C:\Program Files\DipTrace\Lib
to
C:\Program Files\DipTraceBeta\Lib

But be aware! Next time if you start your old Diptrace then Library path now points to DipTraceBeta Folder (!), so I must change Lib path back to old Diptrace Folder and vice versa.

Pay attention!

us

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