(PCB) 2001 Top Ten Issues
Hello All,
Cadence has reviewed the ICU PCB SIG Top Ten for 2000-2001
that was generated from users input and voted by the users
back in December 2000.
To recap we ended up with 14 top issues that were submitted.
Four Positive Shape related issues where combined into one
issue (1A,1B,1C and 1D)
These are the 14 issues in order of highest votes along with
Cadence Responses.
You can also review Cadence responses at the ICU Web Site.
http://www.cadenceusers.org
Just pick the PCB link at the bottom of the home page.
Order by most voted: 1A
Brief Description: Automatic Autovoid on all positive shapes
defined in database / subclass.
Detail Description: It should be possible to turn on or off
an automatic voiding that occurs directly after a move, spin,
mirror, copy or delete operation. Optionally it could also
be possible to manually start the execution of autovoid for
the whole database or for a whole subclass.
(after you have changed DRC values).
Order by most voted: 1B
Brief Description: Autovoid should delete voids when executed.
Detail Description: Voids created by autovoid shall be tagged
"created_by_autovoid" (a property?). Next time autovoid is
being executed all the existing voids created by autovoid
should automatically be deleted before new voids are generated.
Manually added voids (not by autovoid) shall not be affected.
Order by most voted: 1C
Brief Description: Edit shapes without unfilling them first.
Detail Description: Ability to edit shapes without unfilling
them first.
Order by most voted: 1D
Brief Description: Self Healing planes.
Detail Description: Mentor has an autorouter that voids the
plane as it is putting the via in this feature works
interactively and automatically. Would like allegro and
Specctra to have that type of functionality.
Cadence Response: We plan on rearchitecting the way shape are
edited and voided in Allegro. Plans include better shape editing,
shape plowing and a reduction in the need for autovoiding. This
project is currently scheduled for the 15.0 release, detailed
functional plans will be available later this year.
The positive shape editing project has two aspects, one dealing
with simplifying the shape editing process and other dealing
with automatic shape plowing and healing. Both pieces will be
developed simultaneously and are targeted for the 15.0 release.
Order by most voted: 2
Brief Description: Functional "UNDO" after command exit
with "DONE".
Detail Description: Unlimited oops. Allow UNDO command even
if the command has been exited with "Done," for several steps
back. This is currently possible only if you keep a copy of
*.brd from the session start, run a script, edit the script
to the command prior to the one you want to undo, and execute
the edited script on the original file.
Cadence Response: On the list for a future release.(Click for explanation)
Order by most voted: 3
Brief Description: Increase plotting capabilities on Windows
NT platform
Detail Description: Plotting on the Windows NT platform is
frustrating. I would like to see the following enhancements.
1. Mirroring plots
2. Scaling abilities
3. Plotting in gray tones
Cadence Response: Lots of work was done in 14.0/14.1 to improve
Allegro plotting, especially on the NT platform.
Order by most voted: 4
Brief Description: HP-IFF Export Function.
Detail Description: A .IFF export function for exporting the
Allegro/APD & Concept database to HP-IFF format.
Cadence Response: We support the import of .iff files, however
we have no current plans to implement an .iff export.
PCR has been submitted.
Order by most voted: 5
Brief Description: Exact line width with tolerance Drc.
Detail Description: The constraints / properties only give the
user the option for minimum line width which allows line width
larger than required. There should be an option to control the
exact line width and/or exact line width with a tolerance.
Cadence Response: Not currently planned.
PCR has been submitted.
Order by most voted: 6
Brief Description: Same Net DRC with separate set of rules -
Autovoid Improvement.
Detail Description: Create a separate set of DRC spacing rules
for Same Net DRC for each subclass. This could, for example,
be very useful when needing to control the size of voids
involved in a thermal-relief (positive shape). In boards with
high current and high voltage one often need to set the spacing
on these voids other than what the normal spacing rules defines.
Having this control one could more often use only the
autovoid result instead of first running autovoid and then
manually change to a different value for a lot of pins and
vias connecting a positive shape.
Cadence Response: Not currently planned.
PCR has been submitted.
Order by most voted: 7
Brief Description: Adobe PDF Output from Allegro
Detail Description: Output Adobe PDF from inside Allegro.
Cadence Response: It is possible to output a pdf file
on NT by using the Adobe distiller.
Order by most voted: 8
Brief Description: Change via's by pick
Detail Description: It would be great to be able to change
via's by picking them individually, instead of globally.
Cadence Response: This is an enhancement on Allegro 14.1.
From the Tools > Padstack > Replace Menu, a single via
replacement mode has been added to the mini-status window.
The use model for this enhancement will be to:
1. Select the via you want to replace, this fills in the 'old'
box in mini-status
2. Click the single via replacement box in the mini-status
window
3. Browse to the replacement via padstack, this fills in the
'new' box
4. Select 'Replace'
Order by most voted: 9
Brief Description: File Export of html, tiff, jpeg
Detail Description: For documentation purposes it should be
possible to export html, tiff or jpeg. The Export should
include 2 alternatives:
A) Export exactly what is visible inside a window defined by 2
mouse clicks.
B) Export only the elements that are selected through a
multiselection or window selection.
Cadence Response: On the list for a future release.(Click for explanation)
Order by most voted: 10
Brief Description: Need multiple drill hole charts.
Running drill legend should generate drill charts for Blind
/ Buried drills.
Detail Description: We need the capability of producing
multiple drill hole charts that would be on different
subclasses along with their respective figures. This is needed
for blind and buried via boards. The present solution of using
plot files is messy.
Cadence Response: On the list for a future release.(Click for explanation)
Explanation of Cadence Response "On the list for a future release."
Which release a particular feature is scheduled for depends on
a number of factors, including available resources, product
strategy, customer input, competitive issues, etc. During the
planning phase for a release engineering and product marketing
work through the list of target features and come up with those
we believe can be done within the time allocated for the release
and which will have the biggest positive impact on our customers.
Moving forward we should continue to work together to communicate
our product strategy and get your feedback on our roadmap.