DipTrace 4.0 beta

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novarm44
DipTrace Lead Developer
Posts: 466
Joined: 08 Jun 2010, 23:24
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DipTrace 4.0 beta

#1 Post by novarm44 » 20 Feb 2020, 02:01

Hi All,

We have published version 4.0 beta today. You can download it at https://diptrace.com/download/download-diptrace/
This is Freeware version, but you can also request free temporary 4.0 license similar to your existing 3.x license.
If you ordered 3.x or upgrade to 3.x after May 31, 2019, you can get perpetual 4.x license without charge. Please send all requests to our support.
Trial version will be available with the next beta update (7-10 days).

This is not stable version and serious bugs are possible. We continually test it and fix issues, but please store your project and libraries before opening and saving them with beta-version.
Backward compatibility is partially possible with schematics (new pad shapes, new marking properties, etc. are not supported), but impossible with PCB files (there are too many changes in structure of PCB components).

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


Regards,
Stanislav Ruev
DipTrace Team

JohnC
Posts: 23
Joined: 31 Aug 2010, 15:37

Re: DipTrace 4.0 beta

#2 Post by JohnC » 20 Feb 2020, 04:16

Wow! I'm in, will wait for the ringing out of the details. I can see a large amount of work went into this upgrade. I won't open the champagne just yet. John C.

Tomg
Expert
Posts: 2028
Joined: 20 Jun 2015, 07:39

Re: DipTrace 4.0 beta

#3 Post by Tomg » 20 Feb 2020, 11:38

This is an excellent effort in the right direction; a vast improvement in usability. Thank you for all of the hard work.

Here are a few Beta-related oddities found in the first go-around that might be of interest to you...
1) When the measure tool is enabled in the Schematic Editor, the Hint Area does not display "Measure".
2) The Additional Fields window is not expandable in the Schematic or PCB Layout editors.
3) When setting a new angle on a locked component in the PCB Layout editor and then selecting [No] in the "The object is locked! Do you want to apply changes anyway?" warning dialog, the component remains rotated after the window closes - until you click somewhere in the Design Area.
4) The Top (copper) layer in the Pattern and PCB Layout editors obscures the Paste and Mask layers regardless of the Layer Order Priority settings.

Here are a couple of quick suggestions...
1) Perhaps in the next iteration of DipTrace it would be nice to have instructions in the Hint Area telling you what to do next, for example (and depending on the default setting), the Arc drawing tool. When first enabled the Hint Area should display something like "Click on the start point"; after doing so, the Hint Area should then display "Click on the end point"; and when that is done, the Hint Area should finally display "Click on the center/radius point to complete".

2) The ability to search individual Additional Fields needs to be implemented, along with the option to use a "*" wildcard search (or deliberately not use it for a more specific search).

Again, thank you very much for all of your hard work on the new usability improvements.
Tom

FDA
Posts: 44
Joined: 01 Nov 2017, 03:06

Re: DipTrace 4.0 beta

#4 Post by FDA » 20 Feb 2020, 20:04

Why does the hole erase the label?
http://server.spd.net.ru/IMG/2020-02-21_09-56-59.png

Where can I disable the display of these markers?
http://server.spd.net.ru/IMG/2020-02-21_09-56-39.png

Jack_M
Posts: 23
Joined: 31 Mar 2016, 20:38

Re: DipTrace 4.0 beta

#5 Post by Jack_M » 21 Feb 2020, 00:47

Installed and testing..
In Schematic, i'm liking a lot of the new features for drawing in schematic (snap, measurements while drawing the object). Nice to see that the search algorythm is finally non-blocking
A little quirk: the "Place Component" window needs to be resizable. And while we're at it, why not the "Display Pattern" subwindow, too?

Pretty much anything new in PCB editor is amazing

Definetly worth the wait.

Tomg
Expert
Posts: 2028
Joined: 20 Jun 2015, 07:39

Re: DipTrace 4.0 beta

#6 Post by Tomg » 21 Feb 2020, 08:44

A Beta-related change...
In the Pattern Editor, if the cursor is active in the library lists then using the [Home] hotkey for Zoom Extents will return the cursor to the top of the library list, instead of ignoring the lists and acting on the Design Area as is the case in version 3.3.1.3. This can be a little cumbersome and annoying when scrolling through a library list while at the same time trying to resize the display to see all of the currently-selected pattern. Perhaps you could assign, for example, the hotkey combination Ctrl + [Home] for returning the cursor to the top of the list. This would retain the original, independent function of the Zoom Extents hotkey.
Tom

User avatar
KevinA
Posts: 639
Joined: 18 Dec 2015, 08:35

Re: DipTrace 4.0 beta

#7 Post by KevinA » 21 Feb 2020, 09:41

Jack_M wrote: 21 Feb 2020, 00:47 Installed and testing..
In Schematic, i'm liking a lot of the new features for drawing in schematic (snap, measurements while drawing the object). Nice to see that the search algorythm is finally non-blocking
A little quirk: the "Place Component" window needs to be resizable. And while we're at it, why not the "Display Pattern" subwindow, too?

Pretty much anything new in PCB editor is amazing

Definetly worth the wait.
Why not allow us to tear the pallet off and move it to a different monitor?

User avatar
KevinA
Posts: 639
Joined: 18 Dec 2015, 08:35

Re: DipTrace 4.0 beta

#8 Post by KevinA » 21 Feb 2020, 09:47

Some directions on the 'create' IPC-7351 Pattern
I tried for awhile then went outside and shoveled snow.
Notice the OK is gray'ed, nothing I did would change it...
Gray
Gray
ok-gray.jpg (243.7 KiB) Viewed 8943 times
What Parameter?
What Parameter?
para.jpg (249.41 KiB) Viewed 8943 times

Serg
Technical Support
Posts: 519
Joined: 09 Jun 2010, 01:12

Re: DipTrace 4.0 beta

#9 Post by Serg » 21 Feb 2020, 10:35

If you use Unique Name as Pattern Name you need to choose a Manufacturer from drop-down list.

novarm44
DipTrace Lead Developer
Posts: 466
Joined: 08 Jun 2010, 23:24
Contact:

Re: DipTrace 4.0 beta

#10 Post by novarm44 » 22 Feb 2020, 04:03

FDA wrote: 20 Feb 2020, 20:04 Why does the hole erase the label?
http://server.spd.net.ru/IMG/2020-02-21_09-56-59.png
The hole erasing label because now label is part of the component. In 3.x it was separate text. We will fix this.
Where can I disable the display of these markers?
http://server.spd.net.ru/IMG/2020-02-21_09-56-39.png
These are component origins by IPC-7351 standard. You can hide them by selecting components, right click, Origin. We will also reconsider settings by default for them (currently it is displayed if origin is not in the center).
Tomg wrote: 20 Feb 2020, 11:38 Here are a few Beta-related oddities found in the first go-around that might be of interest to you...
1) When the measure tool is enabled in the Schematic Editor, the Hint Area does not display "Measure".
2) The Additional Fields window is not expandable in the Schematic or PCB Layout editors.
3) When setting a new angle on a locked component in the PCB Layout editor and then selecting [No] in the "The object is locked! Do you want to apply changes anyway?" warning dialog, the component remains rotated after the window closes - until you click somewhere in the Design Area.
4) The Top (copper) layer in the Pattern and PCB Layout editors obscures the Paste and Mask layers regardless of the Layer Order Priority settings.

Here are a couple of quick suggestions...
1) Perhaps in the next iteration of DipTrace it would be nice to have instructions in the Hint Area telling you what to do next, for example (and depending on the default setting), the Arc drawing tool. When first enabled the Hint Area should display something like "Click on the start point"; after doing so, the Hint Area should then display "Click on the end point"; and when that is done, the Hint Area should finally display "Click on the center/radius point to complete".

2) The ability to search individual Additional Fields needs to be implemented, along with the option to use a "*" wildcard search (or deliberately not use it for a more specific search).
I will investigate and correct these step-by-step.
4. In quick tests paste mask and solder mask is always on the top of copper of their pads, traces and copper pours, but I will investigate this more in-depth.
KevinA wrote: 21 Feb 2020, 09:41 Why not allow us to tear the pallet off and move it to a different monitor?
To be honest I don't know how to do this with delphi without designing separate forms and redesigning UI.
Seems standard toolbar/panel properties doesn't allow this - should check this more in-depth, but probably not in upcoming version (quick solution may break UI completely)

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