Homebrew PCBs

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Bob Hyland, PMP" <BobHyland@A.
..> wrote:
>Does anyone know of a library for Eagle that includes the PIC16F7*7 
>devices?

Hey Bob,

Lately, I've just gotten in the habit of grabbing the generic DIL 
packages from the "ic-package" library in whatever pin config. that I 
need and making my own connections to that. I'll also use pin headers, 
sockets, or anything else that has the right footprint and pin 
spacing. You can also tie pins to ground planes or supply lines, or 
copy/rename library items and customize them graphically or designate 
the pins. Be warned- The create new item features in Eagle are useful 
and necessary, but extremely WEIRD and maybe not so intuitive (as are 
some of the group and copy functions). It's a wonderful program, but 
it may have been written by aliens (I know the manual was).

I also haven't been using the schematic much lately, but it would be 
useful as a circuit reference for anything complicated. I've been 
adding all my chips in the board app, then connecting all the wires, 
then dragging them all over the blank area around the board and 
rearranging or rotating them until I have the least amount of criss-
crossed lines. Then I move them into the board area and start trying 
to route. You usually still have to move some after that. You can also 
easily rotate with the right mouse button, while you're using the move 
tool. Unless I'm doing something wrong, moving them after you've got 
route lines happening can get really messy. It will keep the original 
lines and turns, and let them cross over themselves, add segments to 
them,etc. I usually rip up the routes beforehand for anything that 
needs moving.

                         Good Luck,
George

PS- There's a user library folder somewhere in the ftp at Cadsoft 
(maybe in user or pub). Could have your PIC, or another one with the 
same pinnings (Microchip usually has a few similar ones).