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Latest Releases

Version 1.50 (March 6, 2008)

DirectX/OpenGL support (faster drawing on large Schematics/PCBs)
Vector font
Panelizing
Copper pour island removal (internal, unconnected).
"Snap copper pour to board outline" option.
"Black and White only" print option.
Selecting/Deselecting objects by type, layer, etc.
Displaying hidden wires in schematic.
Connect shape to net in PCB Layout (DRC, copper pours, etc.)
Copy/Paste shortcuts in component/pattern editor component properties panel.
Change incorrect polygonal pads automatically.
Traces box in DXF export dialog box.
"Fill closed areas" option for DXF import (+using embedded polygons as cutouts).
Shift to make shapes orthogonally.
Converting cutout shapes to board outline option.
Bulk connection for pads/vias in PCB Layout.
Correct trace/connection alignment for center-free polygonal pads
Forbid jumpers under components option for auto-router.
Hide table borders option.
Redesigned grid view for small scale.
"Different grid step for Y" option.
Highlight optimization (reducing CPU time).
Row number and total quantity in BOM.
Forcing correct extension while saving files.
"Do not display hint" option.
Scaling schematic and titles to page while printing.
Multiple edge passes option in DXF Export.
Changing width of components/patterns panel.
"Disable automatic wire routing" option in Schematic.
9000+ new components.

Version 1.40 (May 23, 2007)

Component placement by list, arrangement in PCB Layout
Auto-placement
Spice options in Schematic and component editor, exporting net-list for LT Spice.
File formats extending (floating point values are more accurate, etc)
Library path in component/pattern properties, automatic update
Custom colors for printing
Creating traces and wires from empty area
Route/Unroute traces for selected components
Create list of additional fields in PCB Layout or Schematic
Unlimited number of grids
Assembly options
Snap components to grid by origin
SMD pads on both sides for the same component
Pattern can have Mask, Paste, Assy shapes on both sides
Top side is invisible while editing inner layer
Changing pattern name in schematic without attaching pattern (for net-lists).
Changing default line width for shapes in PCB and Schematic
Selecting traces separately in PCB Layout
Selecting of visible objects only for box selection
Menu (Warning) when trying to change net structure
Displaying net names above the wires
Export All option in Gerber dialog box
DRC - control min ring size and max drill size
Automatic Text flip for Bottom side option
Import Schematics and PCBs from Eagle
String Grids can be edited directly (additional fields, pin numbers, etc).
Export Drill files for through and blind holes separately
OrCad TAP drill files export
Updating PCB from related schematic in one click (+ key shortcut)

Version 1.30 (October 25, 2006)

Customizing colors (black background, etc.)
Layer changing in copper pour sub-menu.
Zoom extents/center tool for print preview.
Gerber import.
Electra/Specctra Integration (DSN export, SES import). Electra is available from DipTrace web-site.
Netlist Export in Schematic (Tango, PADS, Accel, Allegro, P-CAD, etc.)
Netlist Import in PCB.
Unlimited user defined fields for components and patterns (texts or links).
Exporting Schematic to DXF.
Titles were added to DXF export in PCB.
DipTrace ASCII format (import/export in all programs).
Component rotation by a desired (non-90) angle.
Moving selected objects using arrow keys.
Double click to open object properties.
Using mouse wheel for zooming and scrolling project.
Lock/Unlock objects.
Enter to OK / Esc to Cancel in dialog boxes.
Separate "Via" object in PCB layout (Static Via).
Editing Paste/Mask layers separately (shapes, custom settings for pads).
Shift for orthogonal moving, esc to cancel moving.
Both component and marking highlight while move mouse over component or marking in F10 mode.
Keyboard shortcuts to change layers.
"Traces" box in Gerber export.
Changing board outline width (Line Width dialog box).
Board cutouts (shape property).
Trace length measurement.
Using "Ctrl+1..0" to change layers in PCB Layout.
Up/Down keys to switch between pins in pin manager (Component Editor).
Blind/buried pads/static vias.
Many minor improvements.

Version 1.23 (April 4, 2006)

Custom thermals for pads.
Sorting in Component and Pattern Editors.
"Zoom Extents" tool in Schematic and PCB.
Separate scale and position for Schematic pages.
Checking net connectivity in PCB Layout.
"Save to File" button in schematic comparison dialog box.
"Paste sub-menu" by right click in design area.
Text vectorization for gerber was improved.
Unlimited zoom in Gerber and N/C drill preview.
Separate selection of each wire of net or bus in Schematic.
Moving vias and "add node" features were improved.
Renaming and Deleting nets in connection manager.
Pop-Up menu when trying to merge nets in PCB.
Returning origin to default position feature.
Editing wire nodes in Schematic was improved.
Printing negative in PCB Layout.
"R" or "Space" to rotate part text while moving (F10).
"Apply to" options for pad properties dialog box.
Selection of overlapping objects by repeated clicks.
Import P-CAD PDIF in Schematic and PCB.
Import Eagle Script and P-CAD ASCII library formats.

Version 1.22.r2 (January 26, 2006)

Gerber - clearing commands (pad/via holes) were merged into single layer, saving drill symbols comment.
Customizable origin in all programs, part/pattern origin.
Placement components/patterns by coordinates, X and Y in properties.
Copper pour to MtHole rule check was corrected.
"Paste Mask for SMD pads only" option for gerber export.
Saving silk font in pcb and schematic files.
Use design origin in Gerber, DXF, N/C Drill, Pick and Place.
Exporting BOM to file.
Saving tables to file (Text or Excel CSV).
Editing text in scale and grid boxes.
Inserting/Deleting points in polylines/polygons/copper pour.
Mirror feature focus was corrected.
Manual routing was improved, free angle mode, hot keys.
Number of holes and holes by size were added to "Design Information" in PCB Layout.
"Hide Wire" feature in Schematic (net submenu).

Version 1.22.r1 (December 23, 2005)

Assymmetric polygonal pads rotating was corrected.
Esc button can be used to turn on default mode.
Working with layers in Component and Pattern Editors was improved.
Design/Schematic Info in PCB Layout and Schematics.
Working with Jumper Wires and Layers for nets was improved.
Clearing pad/via holes in Gerber.
Autorouter was improved.
Replacing components of defined type in Schematic and PCB Layout.
Pin sub-menu/Net properties item in Schematic.
DRC was improved (check copper pours, jumpers; list of errors with error localization; templates)

Version 1.22 (November 25, 2005)

"Hide Pads in Layer" global command for selected components.
Show/Hide pin numbers for custom parts in Schematic.
"Cancel" option while closing the program if project is not saved.
Layer priority directions in the autorouter.
Drill G-code for Mach 2/3 export.
Pattern preview before part placement in Schematic.
Electrical type for pins.
Electrical Rule Check in Schematic.
Bill of Materials feature was improved.
Updated libraries.

Version 1.21.r6 (October 26, 2005)

DXF Import in Pattern Editor and PCB Layout
Round board outlines
"Group/Ungroup pattern" feature in PCB Layout allows you to create/edit patterns without using pattern editor.
Find object (part or net) on the design feature.
Moving "out of grid" parts and patterns was corrected.
Rotating raster images feature was improved.
Using custom net clearance in the copper pours.
"Hide connections" option for the pads connected by copper pour.
Hide connections for custom nets, connections optimization and "routed only" mode.
"Hide pad shape" in custom signal/plane layer.
Picture resolution in the Preview/Save dialog box.
Update design from Schematic by hidden id (component to component) or by RefDes.
Check similar pad numbers while converting Schematic to PCB.
Back annotate function (Apply PCB RefDes, Type and Value back to Schematic parts).
Save settings on a per-layer basis for gerber export.
600% and 800% values were added to standard scales.

Mar 6, 2008 — version 1.50

Jan 10, 2008 — ver. 1.50 beta

May 23, 2007 — version 1.40

Apr 28, 2007 — ver. 1.40 beta

Oct 25, 2006 — version 1.30

Apr 4, 2006 — version 1.23

DipTrace breaks the traditional mold for schematic capture and layout CAD software by being super-intuitive and simple to learn, while still providing all the capabilities of design packages costing 10 times as much.

Jim Carstensen
Director of Engineering
Alcorn McBride, Inc.

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