Homebrew PCBs

Stefan,
Yes, I have my own custom libraries, first in EAGLE and then imported
seamlessly into DipTrace.  In Target, I could get Properties to come
up, but editing the component value didn't seem to "stick".  The value
remained unchanged on the schematic layout editor. There are a lot of
check box items in Properties, but I left those at default, because I
really hadn't been able to get concise direction as to what the do. 
EAGLE is pretty inscrutable like that as well, compared to DipTrace,
which explains most everything very clearly in the tutorial.  With
EAGLE, I've essentially had to start writing my own tutorials, based
on information gleaned from various sites (and this group, it goes
without saying).

The making of a new part from "something similar" is exactly where I
got hung up in Target, an experience I'd yet to have in any of the
other software suites. It *has* to be something basic that I'm not
understanding, even after reading your response on that topic.  Maybe
it is the lack of the "a" with an umlaut key in English.

One interesting thing I noticed is, unlike EAGLE, where Packages for a
TO-92, for example, have TO92-BCE, TO92-EBC and TO92-CEB for example,
the view of the component in the library shows 1-2-3 for the pins, as
does EAGLE, on the symbol.  When making a component from scratch,
obviously these have to be correlated in EAGLE or any software.  It
was reassuring to see the Target 3001! components being downloaded and
showing up with the correct 1-2-3 pin assignments (correct, that is,
after putting them on the schematic and observing and verifying the
corresponding EBC pins).  

Since I've workd with EAGLE for quite awhile, I've not been too hung
up on the three part, Symbol-Package-Device creation process, even
though with DipTrace it's a 2-part process.  I like DipTrace's method
of auto-generating the sequence of rows of pads for IC's, which you
predefine, whereas in EAGLE, I believe you have to run a ULP to do that.

I agree that double-clicking for property assignments is much better
than EAGLE's Icon menu, optional text menu, drop-down menu, or command
 line for most work.  But then, some folks run Photoshop practically
mouseless.  I'll play with the program a bit more, and see what I can
discover, based on your comments.

Regards,
Ted

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "Stefan Trethan"
<stefan_trethan@...> wrote:
>
> On Tue, 05 Dec 2006 18:36:16 +0100, Ted Bruce KX4OM <kilocycles@...>  
> wrote:
> 
> > Well, I tried Target 3001! for a few hours.  It does come with a
> > limited number of basic components, as advertised, but the ability to
> > connect to the internet while inside the schematic editor's Add
> > Component function and download a transistor or whatever to the
> > library is interesting.  I was successful on many searches.  I
> > couldn't find the SA612 mixer chip, but I did find it's obsolete NE602
> > predecessor.  No 2N5109, but I found the 2N3866 (RF transistors).
> 
> I found with any layout software i need to maintain my own libraries.
> It only takes a couple minutes to make a new component from something  
> similar.
> 
> > I added a few components to the schematic, and switched to the board,
> > and it was blank.  Surprising, because the one-click switch as in
> > EAGLE is an advertised feature.  Maybe the "wiring" has to be
> > completed first.
> 
> You need to tick a box to automatically place parts as you go, in the  
> layout.
> I prefer not to use the feature because sometimes i want to change  
> footprints.
> But it does work.
> 
> > Also, I could not figure out a way to simply change the value of a
> > resistor, or any other component on the schematic.
> 
> Just double click on it, ideally the cross shaped "handle", not the
text  
> (the selections properties determine if clicking anywhere on it works  
> too). If you have selected it, you can also press ä on the german  
> keyboard, i do hope they changed that to something else in the
> english version or you might have a problem there. ;-) Now that
would be  
> really stupid, there must surely be another key.
> 
> 
> > The Help contents
> > didn't give any easy-to-find clues.  Maybe that can't be done easily
> > as in EAGLE and DipTrace because Target 3001! also does simulation,
> > and the integrity of the component must be maintained.
> 
> Course it can be done easily, the sim used the value you give it, no  
> problem there.
> 
> > I saw enough of it to say "I don't like it".  For those who say that
> > EAGLE is non-intuitive (including me, but I've gotten used to it), I'd
> > say this program goes an order of magnitude beyond that
> > characterization.  Even for native German-speakers, I would think.
> > Those descriptions of components in the library web downloads are in
> > German, by the way.
> 
> It is a bit strange at first, in places. But it's only a matter of
getting  
> used to it.
> 
> When i looked at the english version, the translations were quite
bad in  
> many places. I don't know why they don't do something 'bout that.
> 
> 
> Anyway, i use it almost every day and it's quite allright. A few
things  
> are a bit "special", but at least there are almost no errors now, you  
> should've seen it 5 years ago.
> I said that before, but the difference between orcad and target is
that in  
> orcad you can do all things in many different ways. In target there is  
> usually just one way to do it efficiently, and before you figured
that out  
> it's no fun, but once you know your way around it's efficient.
> 
> What i hated most about eagle is that all things seemed to be done
via a  
> very huge menu on the left side. At least in target i can click on
things  
> to get an editing dialog.
> 
> 
> ST
>