Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!purdue!decwrl!sun!pitstop!sundc!seismo!uunet!tektronix!percival!parsely!agora!billsey
From: billsey@agora.UUCP (Bill Seymour)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: CAD, PCB layout programs
Message-ID: <1395@agora.UUCP>
Date: 4 Mar 89 02:32:15 GMT
References: <5983@cbmvax.UUCP:
Distribution: na
Organization: Advanced Solutions, Hillsboro, OR
Lines: 44

From article <5983@cbmvax.UUCP:, by daveh@cbmvax.UUCP (Dave Haynie):
: in article <1370@agora.UUCP:, billsey@agora.UUCP (Bill Seymour) says:
: 
:: (BTW, Dave, if you are listening, you *can* create a 84 pin PLCC socket. 
:: Use the repeat function for all horizontal rows and start with a fresh data
:: library...)
: 
: Another something they should have put in the manuals!  And also, does that
: really give you a PLCC with the correct pinout?  It sounds like it would
: come out a bit strange.  In any event, it amounts to STATIC limits, which
: may be just fine for a PC, but have no place in an Amiga program.

	I certainly agree with you here! I can't think of many good reasons
why he would put any limit on device size/complexity, as long as there's memory
to support it. (BTW, the pinout is fine... You just have to add the pin
numbers manually on the side...) The impression I get from working with Pro-
Board from v.1.2 through v.2.0 is that the programmer doesn't understand the
Amiga file system very well, but is learning. His 'workarounds' for extra
speed could more easily be employed using buffered directories, rather than
those little custom file directory blocks. That would also allow for easier
merging of different data disks. He's doen a much better job there in Pro-Net.
	One thing I've asked him for (other than 8 mil traces and 6 layers...)
is the ability to merge Pro-Board device library files. I hate having to
recreate an eight pin circular mini DIN, just because I've already created a
part I don't want to loose... Maybe he'll have a utility in the next release.

: In talking with one of our Schema users here, it seems that Pro-Net compares
: pretty well.  Each has a feature or two the other doesn't.  The netlist 
: results can be compatible, in that Schema comes with some programs in BASIC
: that generate netlists in different formats, one of which is the Calay
: compatible format that Pro-Net generates.  

	There's no doubt the Pro-Net/Pro-Board combo is the best thing out for
the Amiga. It compares favorably with most I*M software I've seen in the
price range... But there is definate room for improvement...

: Dave Haynie  "The 32 Bit Guy"     Commodore-Amiga  "The Crew That Never Rests"
:    {uunet|pyramid|rutgers}!cbmvax!daveh      PLINK: D-DAVE H     BIX: hazy
:               Amiga -- It's not just a job, it's an obsession
-- 
     -Bill Seymour             ...tektronix!reed!percival!agora!billsey
                               ...tektronix!sequent!blowpig!billsey
     Creative Microsystems   Northwest Amiga Group    At Home Sometimes
     (503) 691-2552          (503) 656-7393 BBS       (503) 640-0842