(PCB) 2000 Top Issues
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Subject: Voting results - ICU PCB SIG Top Ten 2000
Hello All,
As promised Cadence has responded to the 13 issues we submitted after the
1999 International Cadence Users Conference. The below issues were submitted to Cadence on November 22,
1999 and responses were received on May 1, 2000. Here are their responses:
Item 1
UNDO/REDO back to last save. Like Concept
Cadence Response: Planned for a future release (after 14.0)
Item 2
The functions of the mouse buttons in Allegro are different than previous
versions and ConceptHDL. This is causing
problems for users of both Allegro and ConceptHDL. Mouse buttons functionality
should be the same in all PE products.
(same button for strokes, same button & direction for panning)
Cadence Response: Planned for a future release (after 14.0)
Item 3
Auto-adopt the layer for cline. While in Add Connect, automatically
change active layer to the layer the route you select is on, instead of turning into a null net. Too much of a hassle
having to go to the ministatus to change layers.
B) Make layer switching easier. Should
be able to switch layers without going to "Option". i.e. A way to toggle
through the route layers.
Cadence Response: A) Done in 14.0
Cadence Response: B) Planned for a future release (after 14.0)
Item 4
A) DRC enhancement - Support ability to check for airgap and creepage distance
and take into consideration any figure on layer NCROUTE_PATH (predefined by Cadence) for creepage measurement.
B) On high voltage boards we need to have two different DRC classes one
for "STRIKE" and one for "CREEP".
C) When using CREEP DRC have the program take in consideration any slots
you have added in calculating the creep distance.
Cadence Response: Not in the current plan.
Item 5
When moving placed components allow mirror. Mirror & rotate are together only when placing unplaced components. Once the component is placed the mirror command is no longer in the right
button pulldown. Only the rotate. You should be able to move/rotate/mirror when moving a component.
Cadence Response: The following can be done in 14.0 by using the new place manual command which
allows already placed parts to be picked up move, rotated and mirrored.
Item 6
While in "place by Ref Des" leave window and filter up and keep
track of current location in list. (Also submitted last year)
Cadence Response: Done in 14.0
Item 7
Fix the problem introduced in pe13 that requires an user to move the cursor
outside the Allegro window then back in after performing certain functions in order to get control of the keyboard and
function keys back.
Cadence Response: Done in 14.0, hot-fix being created for 13.6
Item 8
Automatic hole schedules
Cadence Response: Planned for a future release (after 14.0)
Item 9
Rules between Allegro and Concept not consistent / poor integration
Cadence Response: Need more details and/or test cases to determine the problem here.
Item 10
Allow Physical properties on pin to pin on a net. Sometimes you need to define different widths to the same net. i.e. The current carrying track would use a wider
track than the track that is used to "sense" the net.
Cadence Response: Not in the current plan.
Issue already being worked on by Cadence: (Cadence to verify)
Item 11
Have to use a full-featured allegro to create library parts. The allegro_symbol
command is no longer part of the software. In order to run allegro without checking an Allegro Designer / Expert license
you must execute the command "allegro" and specify a file with the .dra extension. When you need to bring up another
symbol you need to exit Allegro and run the command again. If you do a File > Open it will check an Allegro Designer
/ Expert license even if you are opening a file with the .dra extension.
Cadence Response: Done in 13.6
Item 12
DRC checking of negative planes. Check anti-pads and thermals for starved
areas.
Cadence Response: Done in 14.0
Item 13
A more useful way of entering constraints on nets for Specctra. A spreadsheet
for instance, that the engineer could fill in and then Specctra would be able to use.
Cadence Response: In 14.0, Constraint Manager is spreadsheet-like, and constraints will get passed
on to SPECCTRA.
Any questions or comments let me know,
Michael Catrambone
3Com Carrier Systems
ICU PCB SIG Chair
