Engineer (and Creator) has many advanced features which both improve functionality and design efficiency as required by professional and advanced users. These advanced features, although prevalent in the tools for PCB layout process are implemented across the complete process, from the design management to the manufacturing. In this video, we present some of the key Design Management tools as discussed below.
Note that in this document, if the feature is also available in Creator it is identified by [Creator and Engineer].
Project Tools:
Backups. [Creator and Engineer]
Advanced users require a secure backup to cope with unexpected eventualities. Engineer provides just that by saving time stamped designs. This caters for mishaps and ‘rewinding’ to an earlier version of the design should you wish to continue from an earlier step.
The minimum work time between backups and the idle time before stopping work provides some intelligence to the frequency of saving a backup.
Additional Save Options:
Save New Version. [Creator and Engineer]
Available from the project tab, this provides options to configure the project and file names and destination. Illustrated incrementing the version number and saving to the same project folder.
After this step, the Ver 2 project gains the design focus for further design work.
Save Copy As. [Creator and Engineer]
Available from the schematic and PCB editors, this allows a copy of any current file to be saved without changing the focus from the current file. This is useful for Version control or exploring and alternative development path.
Improved Open Files Dialog. [Creator and Engineer]
The File Open dialog provides access to recent Projects, Designs and Library items.
The Browse button enables you to search with the standard Open dialog.
This dialog includes the ability to ‘pin’ items to the top of the list for faster access.
Dual Screen Support. [Creator and Engineer]
Easily configure DSPCB to work across multiple displays for optimum working. Very useful when working from a laptop with a second display by using the larger display for the PCB layout.
Library:
Components form the core of a design and Engineer provides the following features.
SnapMagic/SnapEDA [Creator and Engineer]
Integrated tool bar providing quick access to many components and easy download to your library or ‘drag and drop’ on to your design which also saves the component to the library.
Simply search, select from the results and drag and drop onto your design.
Save Project to Library [Engineer]
Available from the Project and Design tabs the ‘Save Project to Library’ option allows the easy creation of the design specific library. This is useful for future designs, where you can select the same component which you may also have in stock.
The process can optionally add the mapping to the folder as an active library.
Export and Import Library File.[Creator and Engineer]
This is a very useful method of creating a reference copy of a library as .ELT file type; as a backup copy, sharing with other team members, or a library of your stocked or allocated manufacturing components.
Import is achieved using Add File. A report allows you to select the library destinations and shows which components and symbols are available to be added, along with the Status as to whether there is already a copy in the destination library, you then have the option to decide which component and symbols will be added.
Variants. Produce a single design populated with all component options, then define a variant with specific PCB component population, for example a microcontroller with an optional external crystal. The PCB will be a common unit, but the BOM and Pick and Place file will be variant specific.
Component Colours [Engineer]
Selected components can have their own specific colours defined in the schematic or PCB design. This can be for any purpose you require such as to improve visibility of groups or function.
Additional Reports
Reports form an essential part of design checking and documentation process. For your professional and advanced requirements, you have the following additional reports available:
Comments