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Re: New Release 3.x or 4.0?

Posted: 02 Nov 2019, 09:34
by 0xdeadbeef
Any chance that quick'n'easy to do things requested since v2 like a "one click" gerber+drill export or storing/restoring export profiles will ever be done?
I made so many bug reports, requests and suggestions over the last six years and usually I was told something like "will be considered for the next release" and I don't think a single suggestion I made was ever implemented.
While I still like to use DipTrace, this way of totally ignoring user requests is ultimately frustrating. I'll probably still upgrade to v4 due to lack of affordable/usable alternatives, but it sickens me to know that nothing I or lots of other people requested in so many years will implemented in v4 as well. And honestly I'd be willing to bet that "push and shove" won't make it again, either. I'd be happy to be wrong, though.

Re: New Release 3.x or 4.0?

Posted: 04 Nov 2019, 11:09
by novarm44
Any chance that quick'n'easy to do things requested since v2 like a "one click" gerber+drill export or storing/restoring export profiles will ever be done?
I made so many bug reports, requests and suggestions over the last six years and usually I was told something like "will be considered for the next release" and I don't think a single suggestion I made was ever implemented.
While I still like to use DipTrace, this way of totally ignoring user requests is ultimately frustrating. I'll probably still upgrade to v4 due to lack of affordable/usable alternatives, but it sickens me to know that nothing I or lots of other people requested in so many years will implemented in v4 as well. And honestly I'd be willing to bet that "push and shove" won't make it again, either. I'd be happy to be wrong, though.
Push and Shove is on the way, it is quite complex to implement though.
Regarding bug-fixes: we are trying to fix all reported bugs, if anything is not fixed since v2 yet - please let me know.
Regarding features: ok, there are hundreds and hundreds of requests, and almost all we implement in new versions are user-requests. But some features are requested by single person, and others by many ones + some features may have conflict with others or can not be easily implemented with existing project structure or on existing stage + we have limited qualified resources. Qualified means not just hire programmers who do more and more things and make another peace of trash, but people who think on the project in-depth what and how to implement to keep it usable and add complex features. We are working hard, but I agree development speed may be faster. "Will be considered" is standard reply from support, it means they listened you, but this doesn't mean developers know about every single request. When there are several similar requests from different people, it is shown to project manager and then we see if it comply with overall project structure and decide how and when to implement it.

Re: New Release 3.x or 4.0?

Posted: 06 Jan 2020, 04:34
by xfer
0xdeadbeef wrote: 02 Nov 2019, 09:34 Any chance that quick'n'easy to do things requested since v2 like a "one click" gerber+drill export or storing/restoring export profiles will ever be done?
I made so many bug reports, requests and suggestions over the last six years and usually I was told something like "will be considered for the next release" and I don't think a single suggestion I made was ever implemented.
While I still like to use DipTrace, this way of totally ignoring user requests is ultimately frustrating. I'll probably still upgrade to v4 due to lack of affordable/usable alternatives, but it sickens me to know that nothing I or lots of other people requested in so many years will implemented in v4 as well. And honestly I'd be willing to bet that "push and shove" won't make it again, either. I'd be happy to be wrong, though.
I agree. Development on DipTrace seems to be dead. Actually, I would prefer to have bug fixes and some of the "convenience" features worked out to make manual routing better. Push-and-shove is OK, but not at the expense of having a stable and predictable EDA chain. For example, there are still problems with concurrence among the modules. Updating a pattern or component does not always get reflected back to schematic capture or the pcb editor. To me, fixing those annoyances would be better than adding "gee whiz" features.

Re: New Release 3.x or 4.0?

Posted: 08 Jan 2020, 11:47
by novarm44
I agree. Development on DipTrace seems to be dead. Actually, I would prefer to have bug fixes and some of the "convenience" features worked out to make manual routing better. Push-and-shove is OK, but not at the expense of having a stable and predictable EDA chain. For example, there are still problems with concurrence among the modules. Updating a pattern or component does not always get reflected back to schematic capture or the pcb editor. To me, fixing those annoyances would be better than adding "gee whiz" features.
Development is alive. Major update is on the way: main development line (36 new features) already completed - currently we test, polish and fix issues. The core and data structure has been redesigned so we still upgrade import/export features to let them work correctly with new design structure. Another major upgrade are new IPC-7351 libraries, first pre-beta version is ready and is already used for our internal needs, but still many polishing is necessary there.
Regarding modules and library update: Currently in DipTrace each file is independent and is not updated itself when you update related file. We plan to change this though (optionally and very accurate to avoid unexpected errors).

Re: New Release 3.x or 4.0?

Posted: 09 Jan 2020, 09:20
by SoundMod
Development is alive. Major update is on the way: main development line (36 new features) already completed - currently we test, polish and fix issues. The core and data structure has been redesigned so we still upgrade import/export features to let them work correctly with new design structure. Another major upgrade are new IPC-7351 libraries, first pre-beta version is ready and is already used for our internal needs, but still many polishing is necessary there.
Sounds really good to me ! I'm excited to know a bit more about those 36 new features (we already know about Push And Shove). But maybe we could know a bit more about the other features ?! ;)
Regarding modules and library update: Currently in DipTrace each file is independent and is not updated itself when you update related file. We plan to change this though (optionally and very accurate to avoid unexpected errors).
That's a great news.

Can't wait to see that update.

Re: New Release 3.x or 4.0?

Posted: 09 Jan 2020, 19:44
by novarm44
Sounds really good to me ! I'm excited to know a bit more about those 36 new features (we already know about Push And Shove). But maybe we could know a bit more about the other features ?!
Push and Shove is not there yet (it is in process and is not ready to be included into release). We have the list, but it is not grouped yet (for internal use), I will try to prepare it for you (first part of it was already published here).

Re: New Release 3.x or 4.0?

Posted: 10 Jan 2020, 03:46
by novarm44
Spent 2 hours today to organize list to readable view (probably not full yet as I still found new items in our records). All these features already done and partially debugged. Main development process had been finished and now we test/fix bugs. Imports/Exports are still in process of upgrade.

1. RoundRect and D-shape pads.
2. Pad shape can be shifted from pad hole center.
3. Rotating pads to any angle without changing to polygon.
4. Rotating component to any angle without changing it.
5. Pad terminals.
6. Segmented paste mask, solder mask by paste mask.
7. Solder mask and paste mask of pads is visible in design area and can be printed.
8. Fiducial object in PCB and pattern editor.
9. Pattern Editor has layer panel similar to PCB layout.
10. Both Pattern Editor and PCB Layout layer panels has configurable layer order and visibility.
11. Courtyard layer, DRC do not allow courtyard region to be overlayed (touch is allowed).
12. Component outline layer (3D model can be built by component outline).
13. Silk to Pad clearance in DRC configurable.
14. Remove silk from pads/holes/mask wizard in Pattern Editor.
15. Place outline wizard in Pattern Editor.
16. IPC-7351 standard pattern type:
- pattern is generated automatically by IPC-7351 generator integrated into Pattern editor
( see video below for details)
- 3D model is generated automatically
17. Similar pad numbers are allowed (in this case pads are connected together inside pattern, @ symbol at the end of number allows to avoid warning).
18. Two types of internal component connections are possible:
- one of pads should be connected or internal connection can be used as jumper for the net.
- all pads should be connected.
19. 3 ways to build and edit arcs and arcs in board outline (3 points, center-radius-angles, start-end-radius).
20. Updated properties dialogs for all shapes (now can be edited by dimensions).
21. Obround shapes instead of ellipses in all programs.
22. Snap to other objects key points when building/editing shapes, board and coper pour.
23. Multi-line text.
24. Text and pictures can be rotated to any angle.
25. Pictures are now vectorized and saved together with design file.
26. It is possible to cut text or picture/logo at the copper pour.
27. Anchor point + Left-Center-Right, Top-Center-Bottom alignment is used for text, markings, pictures and while editing shapes.
28. New Component marking system in Schematic and PCB Layout:
- any number of markings can be displayed (display property is available for each field, including additional).
- free angle and alignment
- separate marking settings for assembly layer in PCB
- custom marking font by the component
- text with parameter property placed in pattern/component editor is counted as pattern marking (PCB/Schematic do not add additional text).
- font settings an be applied to markings placed in Component/Pattern Editor
- move tool (F10) allows to move/rotate any text object inside component directly in Schematic/PCB.
29. Pattern origin is shown as cross + circle (options) and can be displayed by layers.
30. Cut right corner of the shapes.
31. Filter can be stopped on any search stage, results are displayed in real-time while searching components.
32. Component properties dialog is redesigned to allow display and edit all additional fields at once.
33. Name description, unique name and manufacturer fields has been added to pattern.
34. Groups in Component and Pattern Editors. Similar to Schematic and PCB.
35. Measure tool in Schematic and Component Editor.
36. 3 ways of building 3D model of the pattern (by file, by component outline and by IPC-7351 standard).
37. Free resizing of all library/component list and additional fields in Component/Pattern Editors.
38. Pattern shape precision has been improved, recounting pattern shapes by borders when you change number of pads/dimensions in Pattern Editor.
39. Any set of shapes can be converted to board outline (you can place arcs, lines, poly-lines as you wish, connect their ends and convert all to board outline).
40. Pad to copper pour thermals are rotated to pad/component angle.
41. Selecting object and opening its submenu from design manager in Schematic and PCB (right click on the item in design manager).
42. UI has been optimized for 4k monitors.
43. New IPC-7351 libraries.
44. Properties dialog windows may change locked objects after confirmation.
45. Updating PCB from Schematic keeps locked components non-existent in Schematic (option).
46. Exporting all Gerber and Drill files into zip archive with single click.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PejMVcZk5E

Re: New Release 3.x or 4.0?

Posted: 10 Jan 2020, 04:11
by SoundMod
AMAZING! Guys you did an great job with that list of improvement ! :o 8-)

This will greatly improve the productivity. I'm just excited to get my hands on that upgrade :D

However I have a question about feature 5. Pad terminal. Does it means pads for castellated PCB ?

Re: New Release 3.x or 4.0?

Posted: 10 Jan 2020, 04:46
by novarm44
Shifted pad shape can be used for castellated PCB. Pad terminal is package pin touch shape. On the picture below there is castellated hole and how it looks in pad properties (see offset from hole center) and pad terminal for one of standard IPC-7351 patterns and dialog to edit it

Re: New Release 3.x or 4.0?

Posted: 10 Jan 2020, 04:57
by mgriebling
novarm44 wrote: 10 Jan 2020, 03:46 Spent 2 hours today to organize list to readable view (probably not full yet as I still found new items in our records). All these features already done and partially debugged. Main development process had been finished and now we test/fix bugs. Imports/Exports are still in process of upgrade.
Excellent, creating new footprints/3D models have been a real pain in past.
Really nice to have IPC-7351 standard parts generated automatically.