QuickStart Board
DaveJenson
Posts: 375
I can't seem to find the DipTrace and Altium files mentioned on the QuickStart page.
DaveJenson
Posts: 375
Comments
The QuickStart board is currently available for pre-orders. As soon as it is available, the information will be posted to the QuickStart page as well.
Respectfully,
Edit : Looks like I found my answer in the 2nd tutorial for the QS - RTFM I guess
Will the design files be available in Eagle CAD format as well?
I've already asked this in the Prop forum but didn't get much of a response.
TonyD, the design's native files are easily interchangeable between DipTrace and Altium. If one of these programs can export to Eagle then we'll do it for our customers. If you could give us about a week or two we should be able to sort this out. I realize it seems like a long time, but we want to ensure that it's done correctly and that our team has adequate time to test this export.
Parallax chose DipTrace as the preferred open-source release platform several months ago. This doesn't mean that we won't export to Eagle if we can, only that DipTrace will be a guaranteed format.
I realize it's not the exact reply you wanted, but time will tell. I've put this task on David's to-do list.
Thanks,
Ken Gracey
If you make them available as Altium ASCII files they can probably be imported into Eagle. I'll definitely be able to import them into the Pulsonix software I use. They probably have to be ASCII files to import them into DipTrace, anyway.
You could send me a file for checking.
Okay. We'll certainly rely on our customers to see if they can import/export files in this way. We'll get this week behind us and David will begin sharing the files - I'll copy this thread to him so he can see your request for ASCII formats. Thanks for the help.
Ken Gracey
Where is the QuickStart page ?
Do you mean here ?
http://www.parallaxsemiconductor.com/products/quickstart
Import Accel/P-CAD Ascii Data ----------------------------- Report Written : 12/05/2011 09:53:24 Design Path : C:\Users\Leon\Desktop\P8X32A QuickStart Design Files Rev A3\QS.pcb Design Title : Created : 12/05/2011 09:53:21 Last Saved : Editing Time : 0 min Error (line 3414): Node 'R12.NO' not found in design. ---------------- End Of Report ----------------When I checked the PCB against the schematic using the Pulsonix Synchronise function, I got lots of discrepancies which update didn't fix:
Synchronise Designs Report -------------------------- Checking integrity of target design 'C:\Users\Leon\Desktop\P8X32A QuickStart Design Files Rev A3\PSX\QS.pcb' with master design 'C:\Users\Leon\Desktop\P8X32A QuickStart Design Files Rev A3\PSX\QS.sch'. The designs do not match. To bring them into line, you will need to press 'Update PCB' to make the following changes to the PCB design: Change Component C1 Part CAP_0603 to Part CAP_0603_0 Footprint RES_CAP_0603 Change Component C1 Footprint to RES_CAP_0603 Change Component C2 Part CAP_0603 to Part CAP_0603_0 Footprint RES_CAP_0603 Change Component C2 Footprint to RES_CAP_0603 Change Component C3 Part CAP_0603 to Part CAP_0603_0 Footprint RES_CAP_0603 Change Component C3 Footprint to RES_CAP_0603 Change Component C4 Part CAP_0603 to Part CAP_0603_0 Footprint RES_CAP_0603 Change Component C4 Footprint to RES_CAP_0603 Change Component C6 Part CAP_0603 to Part CAP_0603_0 Footprint RES_CAP_0603 Change Component C6 Footprint to RES_CAP_0603 Change Component C11 Part CAP_0603 to Part CAP_0603_0 Footprint RES_CAP_0603 Change Component C11 Footprint to RES_CAP_0603 Change Component C7 Part CAP_0603 to Part CAP_0603_0 Footprint RES_CAP_0603 Change Component C7 Footprint to RES_CAP_0603 Change Component C8 Part CAP_0603 to Part CAP_0603_0 Footprint RES_CAP_0603 Change Component C8 Footprint to RES_CAP_0603 Change Component C9 Part CAP_0603 to Part CAP_0603_0 Footprint RES_CAP_0603 Change Component C9 Footprint to RES_CAP_0603 Change Component C16 Part CAP_0603_1 to Part CAP_0603_0 Footprint RES_CAP_0603 Change Component C16 Footprint to RES_CAP_0603 Change Component C17 Part CAP_0603_1 to Part CAP_0603_0 Footprint RES_CAP_0603 Change Component C17 Footprint to RES_CAP_0603 Change Component C5 Part CAP_0603 to Part CAP_0603_0 Footprint RES_CAP_0603 Change Component C5 Footprint to RES_CAP_0603 Change Component C10 Part CAP_0603 to Part CAP_0603_0 Footprint RES_CAP_0603 Change Component C10 Footprint to RES_CAP_0603 Change Component C12 Part CAP_1210 to Part CAP_0603_0 Footprint RES_CAP_0603 Change Component C12 Footprint to RES_CAP_0603 Change Component C13 Part CAP_1210 to Part CAP_0603_0 Footprint RES_CAP_0603 Change Component C13 Footprint to RES_CAP_0603 Change Component D10 Part LED to Part LED_1 Footprint CD0603 Change Component D10 Footprint to CD0603 Change Component D9 Part LED to Part LED_1 Footprint CD0603 Change Component D9 Footprint to CD0603 Change Component D11 Part LED to Part LED_1 Footprint CD0603 Change Component D11 Footprint to CD0603 Change Component D1 Part LED to Part LED_2 Footprint CD0603 Change Component D1 Footprint to CD0603 Change Component D2 Part LED to Part LED_2 Footprint CD0603 Change Component D2 Footprint to CD0603 Change Component D3 Part LED to Part LED_2 Footprint CD0603 Change Component D3 Footprint to CD0603 Change Component D4 Part LED to Part LED_2 Footprint CD0603 Change Component D4 Footprint to CD0603 Change Component D5 Part LED to Part LED_2 Footprint CD0603 Change Component D5 Footprint to CD0603 Change Component D6 Part LED to Part LED_2 Footprint CD0603 Change Component D6 Footprint to CD0603 Change Component D7 Part LED to Part LED_2 Footprint CD0603 Change Component D7 Footprint to CD0603 Change Component D8 Part LED to Part LED_2 Footprint CD0603 Change Component D8 Footprint to CD0603 Change Component D12 Part CDBA120-G to Part CDBA120-G_3 Footprint DO-214 Change Component D12 Footprint to DO-214 Change Component S2 Part Touch Button to Part Touch Button_7 Footprint Touch Button .25 A Change Component S2 Footprint to Touch Button .25 A Change Component Q1 Part MMBT3904 to Part MMBT3904_8 Footprint SOT-23 Change Component Q1 Footprint to SOT-23 Change Component Q2 Part DMP2035U to Part DMP2035U_9 Footprint SOT-23 Change Component Q2 Footprint to SOT-23 Change Component R7 Part RES_0603 to Part RES_0603_10 Footprint RES_CAP_0603 Change Component R7 Footprint to RES_CAP_0603 Change Component R5 Part RES_0603 to Part RES_0603_10 Footprint RES_CAP_0603 Change Component R5 Footprint to RES_CAP_0603 Change Component R2 Part RES_0603 to Part RES_0603_10 Footprint RES_CAP_0603 Change Component R2 Footprint to RES_CAP_0603 Change Component R13 Part Preset Shunt to Part Preset Shunt_11 Footprint RES_CAP_0603 Change Component R13 Footprint to RES_CAP_0603 Change Component R14 Part RES_0603_1 to Part Preset Shunt_11 Footprint RES_CAP_0603 Change Component R14 Footprint to RES_CAP_0603 Change Component R6 Part RES_0603 to Part RES_0603_10 Footprint RES_CAP_0603 Change Component R6 Footprint to RES_CAP_0603 Change Component R4 Part RES_0603 to Part Preset Shunt_11 Footprint RES_CAP_0603 Change Component R4 Footprint to RES_CAP_0603 Change Component R1 Part RES_0603 to Part RES_0603_10 Footprint RES_CAP_0603 Change Component R1 Footprint to RES_CAP_0603 Change Component R15 Part RES_0603_1 to Part Preset Shunt_11 Footprint RES_CAP_0603 Change Component R15 Footprint to RES_CAP_0603 Change Component S3 Part Touch Button to Part Touch Button_7 Footprint Touch Button .25 A Change Component S3 Footprint to Touch Button .25 A Change Component S4 Part Touch Button to Part Touch Button_7 Footprint Touch Button .25 A Change Component S4 Footprint to Touch Button .25 A Change Component S5 Part Touch Button to Part Touch Button_7 Footprint Touch Button .25 A Change Component S5 Footprint to Touch Button .25 A Change Component S6 Part Touch Button to Part Touch Button_7 Footprint Touch Button .25 A Change Component S6 Footprint to Touch Button .25 A Change Component S7 Part Touch Button to Part Touch Button_7 Footprint Touch Button .25 A Change Component S7 Footprint to Touch Button .25 A Change Component S8 Part Touch Button to Part Touch Button_7 Footprint Touch Button .25 A Change Component S8 Footprint to Touch Button .25 A Change Component S9 Part Touch Button to Part Touch Button_7 Footprint Touch Button .25 A Change Component S9 Footprint to Touch Button .25 A Change Component S1 Part Pushbutton to Part Pushbutton_15 Footprint TL1015BF160QG Change Component S1 Footprint to TL1015BF160QG Change Component U1 Part P8X32A to Part P8X32A_16 Footprint QFN44_0.8 Change Component U1 Footprint to QFN44_0.8 Change Component U3 Part FT232RL to Part FT232RL_18 Footprint TSOP-28/10x6 Change Component U3 Footprint to TSOP-28/10x6 Change Component J2 Part USB Mini_B Socket to Part USB Mini_B Socket_19 Footprint USB_Mini_B Change Component J2 Footprint to USB_Mini_B Change Component U4 Part 74LVC126A to Part 74LVC126A_20 Footprint TSOP-14/5x6/H5.1 Change Component U4 Footprint to TSOP-14/5x6/H5.1 Change Component J1 Part SM Hdr, 2x20, 0.1 to Part SM Hdr, 2x20, 0.1_21 Footprint NPTC202KFM Change Component J1 Footprint to NPTC202KFM Change Component U5 Part 74HC541 to Part 74HC541_22 Footprint TSOP-20/6x6/X1.6 Change Component U5 Footprint to TSOP-20/6x6/X1.6 Change Component J3 Part 2x20 Socket to Part 2x20 Socket_23 Footprint 2x40 Socket Change Component J3 Footprint to 2x40 Socket Change Component VR1 Part AP1117 to Part AP1117_24 Footprint SOT-223/X1.05 Change Component VR1 Footprint to SOT-223/X1.05 Change Component X1 Part CRYSTAL HC49 to Part CRYSTAL HC49_25 Footprint HC49 Change Component X1 Footprint to HC49 Change Component X2 Part CRYSTALTC26V to Part CRYSTAL HC49_25 Footprint HC49 Change Component X2 Footprint to HC49 Change Component R3 Part RES_0603 to Part RES_0603_10 Footprint RES_CAP_0603 Change Component R3 Footprint to RES_CAP_0603 Add Pad R12.NO to Net Vss ---------------- End Of Report ----------------The last item is that missing node from the first report.
I think I'll need to fix those discrepancies manually, by changing those parts to ones in the Pulsonix library. If DipTrace had a library export feature that would make things much easier, I can import Eagle libraries into Pulsonix.
I installed the new beta, but the results are even worse. All the connections between the Prop and J1/J3 are missing. It looks like direct connections between pins are OK, but stubs with the same net name don't get converted and connected.
You could download the Pulsonix demo and try it for yourself:
http://www.pulsonix.com/index.asp
It's limited to 100 pins, but I think that you should be able to load the files and see what is going on. You won't be able to save them, though.
If you have P-CAD, you could check if that imports them correctly, in which case I can get Pulsonix to fix their software.
Where did you get the PCAD-ASCII files - is there a link, or can ou upload them ?
Please create a .pdf version.
http://www.leonheller.com/QuickStart
Adobe, PDF, Acrobat, et al. -- copyright, trademarks, licensing; they aren't on the Open Source (working for free) Bus.
[We don't have to star-out "heck", do we?
I swear I remember seeing the whole thing in .pdf somewhere.
Guess someone should bug Diptrace about upgrading their tool.
http://www.leonheller.com/QuickStart
I said something a bit ruder than "heck".
Other PCB packages, such as the Pulsonix software I use, can output PDFs.
They must be paying Adobe to do so.
I do not believe so.
Open Office and a number of other Open Source programs can output to PDF.
See how absurd it is?
See how absurd it is?"
Nobody around here has given a monkey's about the English and/or their absurdities for 235 years.
Additionally, "Open Office and a number of other Open Source programs can output to PDF."
Wow, there's an "open and shut case."
Look, if you want a dust-up, let's take it someplace else.
PE - According to The arbiter of truth (a/k/a wikipedia):
"Originally a proprietary format, PDF was officially released as an open standard on July 1, 2008, and published by the International Organization for Standardization as ISO 32000-1:2008."
Maybe DipTrace aren't into it, maybe they're not "hep" to 'open standard'.
"Wiki" open standard, et al., and open a can of worms.
Looks like a lot of fun till Mr. Happy gets caught in a wringer.
Openly murky.
My point was nothing personal and nothing much to do with English as such. I may as well said "Mongolian" if you happened to be writing in Monogolian and I happened to understand it.
It has always seemed absurd that we have these formats for exchanging information in digital form and we end up having to buy licences to use them.
PDF is a good example a Portable Document Format that you have to pay to use. Crazy.
We are are talking about communications between humans. All be it via computers in this case. Humans should no more have to licence such languages than they do their natural languages.
Luckily the world has been moving that way for some time now.
Regarding the Open Office outputting PDF being an open and shut case. I believe it almost is. Open Office would not implement such a thing if it were a standard that needed paying for to use.
As for the poor old English. There is no such thing. Despite calling myself an English man my passport disagrees. Thers is no mention of England or bing an English citizen in the entire document. In fact the only country named in there is Ireland. How absurd is that?
The sooner England gets independence the better.
Extensions to PDF do cost money, and personally, I think that's why Adobe let go of core 2D bitmap and vector PDF. I was personally involved with a CAD document viewer for commercial use that wrote both of those with no license back to Adobe.
What happened is PDF ended up *everywhere* which was good for Adobe, and everyone using PDF. 3D PDF today is headed down the same road, though it currently does require a license. It's still in development too. Adobe sees a lot of synergy between PDF and their other authoring tools. Opening the format essentially snuffed out competing formats. Adobe still has many licenses out there for more advanced authoring tools. Those are going nowhere, due to other things like color management, which really isn't part of the free PDF format.
@Heater, completely agreed.
I suspect the Diptrace authors realize that any number of "print to PDF" tools will get their users output, and are probably focusing on where their efforts add value. That is usually how that kind of thing goes. These days, not directly outputting PDF isn't that significant of a limitation. The one exception is vector PDF. Print driver type solutions generally include a lot of vectors and do not perform advanced functions like culling and optimization, both of which can very seriously improve size / performance on high detail or large image data-sets. (the viewer project was coupled with a engineering drawing output server that did both of those things, generating extremely small PDF's, better optimized than the Adobe tools, for "over the web" type viewing of engineering drawings and technical illustrations.
Larger projects could benefit from that, but I've not seen anything published here that would be worth that level of investment. (not devaluing the projects, just noting their overall size in relation to what direct output to PDF can provide, seeing no real value there performance wise, that's all!)
I guess it's a good opportunity for leveraged marketing
Only problem is that lots of potential customers targeted by Parallax Semiconductor do not have the flexibility to just download diptrace on their workstations. It's an I.T. thang. Typical corporate in-security hangup.