Version 26 Highlights
Version 26 Highlights
Easy-PC extends its manufacturing reach even further in this years release with the introduction of the industry standard IPC-2581 output plus many new design rule checks (DRC) and design for manufacture (DFM) checks. The emphasis has been to introduce new features that provide more in-depth checks and verify your designs so that they are manufacture-ready at the final process. This year, 26 additional features have been added, all requested by our valued users:
- IPC-2581 Manufacturing Output
- New DRC and DFM Checks
- IDF Export – New Output Options
- Design Ruler Enhancements
- Goto Bar Find Multiple Items
- Apply Layout Pattern - use Schematic Sheet
- Improved Toggle Layers dialog
- Goto - Text and Values
- Invert Selection
- Active Hyperlinks in Add Component dialog
- Plus more exciting features summarised here...
- Read the V26 Supplement here and view all the technical details...
How to Upgrade...
Upgrade any Windows version of Easy-PC to the latest release. View the current price list and see what special offers we have running.
Update your current Easy-PC by Contacting us.
If you would prefer to try the features before you buy, you can download the Easy-PC 27 trial version from here.
IPC-2581 Output
With Version 26, Easy-PC steps its technology forward again with the introduction of the IPC-2581 export. This export is a
new modern format being quickly adopted within the manufacturing industry as a replacement and alternative for Gerber and
ODB++. As a self-contained format, there are virtually no setup charges or additional ‘knowledge’ files to send
with it. The dialog allows very focused exporting of your design data with switches to restrict the design IP being released,
such as Neutral Net Names and BOM data.
The IPC-2581 export is also available within the Panel Editor with an additional switch to output a single instance of the
PCB design to minimise the exported file size.
New DRC/DFM Checks
New checks have been added to enhance the Design Rules Checking for various design rules and Design For Manufacturing (DFM). When run, these checks will validate your design so that you have an additional level of confidence when sending it to manufacture.
Minimum Solder Mask Width
Minimum Solder Mask Width enables a check to be carried out ensuring that slivers of solder mask are not produced.
Minimum Solder Mask To Track
The Solder Mask To Track check ensures there is a minimum distance between a track and a solder mask opening (not including the opening for the tracks start and end nodes if they exist).
Modified Pour Areas
The Modified Pour Areas check ensures that existing areas that have been poured haven’t been modified.
Minimum Text Size
During manufacturing, text on copper or silkscreen layers that is to small can cause problems. The Minimum Text Size check enables a minimum text size to be defined and checked against.
Ignore Same Component Error
Where components use a smaller pad to pad spacing that is generally used in the design, typically on fine pitch SM components, the new Ignore Same Component Errors rule means the pad spacing rule will be ignored. It is assumed that during component creation, the pad spacing is correct and according to the manufacturer’s datasheet.
DRC In Named Area
DRC can be selected to only check in a Named Area so that separate areas of the design can be focused on.
DRC In Schematic - Ignore Unconnected Gates
Within the Schematic Editor, the ERC option will now be more refined when checking Unconnected Gates so that additional named pins of the same type will be ignored.
IDF Export – New Output Options (Cost option)
The IDF 3.0 export is valuable as a mechanical CAD format where your PCB should be visualised within a case or enclosure. The IDF Export feature is a cost option for Easy-PC.
Exclude Component Values
When exporting IDF, in order to preserve your intellectual property when using external manufacturing facilities, a new check box item has been added which will remove crucial IP from the export; Exclude Component Values means that the no design items can be identified by their values.
Remove illegal characters from Component Names
For some systems, the use of some special characters is not allowed. The new Remove illegal characters from Component Names check box enables illegal characters to be substituted for an underscore.
Ruler Enhancements
Ruler Size
Ruler stops add visual guide lines to the design which can be used as guides or used for items to snap to. To improve the visibility of Rulers on high-resolution monitors, such as those using 4K, the Ruler Bar Size can be increased up to 3.0 times larger. It can also be made smaller if required to become less intrusive.
Ruler Colours
The Ruler background colour can be changed when item snapping is enabled and disabled to your own setting to improve visibility.
Ruler Visibility During Movement
Ruler lines are now visible when repositioning them, meaning they can be placed more accurately.
Highlight Items in GoTo Bar
A new context menu command on the Goto Bar displays the selection of items in the design which can then be highlighted back in the Bar where it will show the relevant item. For example, if you select two Nets in the design, they will both be highlighted in the Goto Bar enabling you to identify them.
Apply Layout Pattern using Schematic Sheet
When using the Apply Layout Pattern to replicate existing designs or patterns, the pattern chosen can now be from a Schematic sheet, and/or to a Schematic Sheet. This further refines the ‘grouping’ to specific Schematic Sheets where intricate circuitry can be copied.
Improved Toggle Layers dialog
The Layer Toggles dialog has been rewritten to make use of a controls-based interface rather than being texturally driven. By making the selection process graphical, it means layer commands can be added or removed using simple selection. This also means layer names are presented to you rather than remembering them.
Once defined, Toggle Layers can be used during your design process to quickly switch or toggle layer visibility or sets of layers on or off. Once assigned to a shortcut key, this streamlines your design work for maximum efficiency.
Goto Text
Goto Bar - Text
The Goto Bar has been enhanced to now allow the finding of text. Plain Text can be found across the design or across Project when multiple Schematic sheets exist. Component Names and Values can also be found and selected.
Invert Selection
This new feature is part of the Selection mechanism and enables you to select the items not selected. If you have items all of the same type selected, the selection will invert all items of that type. If you have different types selected, all unselected items will be selected. This is useful if you need to apply an option to all other items, such as auto-mitre for example.
Active Hyperlinks for Add Component
The Add Component dialog and Add Component Browser bar both benefit with the addition of active visible hyperlinks. When Values are defined as hyperlinks on a component in the library, these are then visible and highlighted as active once browsed to on Component addition dialogs. Double-clicking on one of the these links will run the hyperlink to its active location.
Additional V26 Features
- Cancel Move After Paste
- Interactive Mitre/Fillet Any Angle in PCB
- Exclude Off Board Items option for 3D View
- Navigate to Folder feature in Document Properties dialog
- Plotting & Printing - Move plots up and down in the Plot List
- Library Manager Report - Mark Missing Symbols
- Library Manager Report - Only Show Errors
- Library Editor - Synchronise Library Names
- Inherited Net Name and Bus Name from Bus
- Track Editing - Finish Track on Start Pad not allowed
- Grid Visibility Check box on Layers Bar
- Updated Change Layer Span dialog
- Updated Change Layer and Track Layer dialogs
- Add Teardrop to Selected Pad only
- BOM - Timestamp in report
- BOM - Cost Value Precision points
- BOM creation - Multi-select Value Names
- Fully Supported under Windows 10 and 11
- Continued use with the Component Search Engine
- Access to the online Gerber file viewer facility
- Benefit from our FREE technical support service
- Read the V26 Supplement here for all the technical details...