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Wish list for next release

30 Jun 2011

celeritous

United States

We've been using DesignSpark for several weeks now, transitioning from Protel and building our own libraires. In the course of doing this I've run into a couple of little things I would like to suggest for future releases. 

1. In the component wizard, when designing a QFP package, the key dimensions are based on the tip-to-tip length of the leads rather than the body dimensions. I would like to see the body dimensions used as the primary dimensions and the lead length be a secondary definition. We define our QFP footprints by lead count, body size and lead pitch and normally design the footprint to accomodate the longest and shortest lead lengths found within that family. 

2. Dimensioning - The measure tool and grids are not a substitue for a basic dimensioning tool which allows one to directly place dimension lines for board mechanical dimensions. This was a basic feature of decade and a half old CAE tools. It was the final straw in our evaluation of Eagle that you had to buy a thrid party plug-in to get this basic feature. Instead of upgrading basic features like this, Eagle elects to protect the third party developers like Intuit does and focus instead on adding features to lock you into their selected board vendors. 

3. Inability to edit PCB lines or traces - We have noticed that there does not seem to be any way to edit lines or traces in the PCB or component editor. It would be nice to either be able to grab an endpoint and move it or edit the endpoint coordinates directly.

If we are missing something in these that is already a capability, please educate us, otherwise, consider it a wish list for future upgrades. 

Replies

Brom

United Kingdom
46 weeks ago

Hello Celeritous

Many thanks for your contact and inputs. let me try to address your questions below,

1) footprint wizard :  The  method of tip-to-tip and lead sizes was selected because this is the scheme used on the majority of datasheets. Making it use the other method may be possible,
but would require some code rework and would have to be logged as a wishlist enhancement request.

2) dimensioning :I understand what you are saying and we are continually looking to enhance Design Spark PCB. Dimensioning is something we could look to in future releases.

3) edit : I am not sure if I fully understand your question. Editing of lines and
traces is a fundamental feature of DesignSpark PCB. If you are looking for
typed entry of coordinates, then this is available through right-click and
'Type Offset' or 'Type Coordinate'.  

I hope I have helped to answer these questions and thank you for your valuable inputs.

Best regards

Ian

celeritous

United States
45 weeks ago

Many thanks Ian for the reply regarding our inital questions,

1. I think we have a little better understanding of how the designers approached the wizard and we have adapted to it. The IPC footprint calculator we use from Mentor/PCBMatrix has the tip end range but usually calculates and presents the recommended pad footprints on a pad length and center-to-center measurement of the pad basis. 

2. I think you understand what we would like here. 

3. We have been working with the "Edit Segment" command and it seems to do what we are looking for in terms of dragging the line end around after placement. In terms of editing the coordinate of the line after placement, when you click on the properties of a line it shows the length and endpoint coordinate but does not allow editing, which is something we used frequently in Protel. It may be there by another name and we just haven't found it yet. 

LStacey

United Kingdom
46 weeks ago

Thanks for this. I'll make sure it's put in front of the right people for you.