EAGLE FEATURE SURVEY

My top requests. I submitted only the first via the form... but here are the others, since I don't want to double-post:

#1 Request - SPEED!

• Problem: on a complex 300mm x 300mm panel, CAM processing of the gerbers takes around 15 minutes on an 8-core 3.6ghz machine. This makes the design process very slow when making revisions based on Gerber outputs
• Suggested Solution: Parallel processing for the CAM processor.
• Comment: From a programmer's perspective, this should be relatively painless, since the different CAM sections are not interdependant - they can be run in parallel without seriously changing the algortihm, eg. spawn new processes/threads for each section (*or even each aperature*!), then join back once all tasks complete. Currently, we have to open a few copies of Eagle.exe at the same time and run the CAM sections in parallel ourselves!

#2 Request - LIBRARY ENHACEMENT

• Problem:Loss of sync on library items if devices are renamed
• Suggested Solution: After a update library command, detect if parts are missing in currently linked libraries, and prompt to "relink missing devices"
• Comment: There is currently no solution to this problem, not even a ULP

#3 Request - ADVANCED COPY/PASTE SCHEMATIC *WITH* BOARD LAYOUT

• Problem: Copying and pasting schematic with the board layout requires too much manual intervention (opening/closing/renaming brd and sch files). The current best methods are prone to user error.
• Suggested Solution: A new option to group copy/paste BOTH schematic+board layout at the same time, with a selectable option to "create new net names to make the copy completely independant" (such that no air-wires exist)
• Comment: This would be incredibly useful for many of us trying to copy sections of existing designs for re-use. Currently, we have to disable forward/back annotation, then fix errors later. Sometimes, mistakes creep their way into our designs as a result, even if board consistency is re-achieved.

That's it... I know it's a lot of stuff, but I have faith in the Eagle development team!

Hope this makes it!

PS I forget to mention, for #1, parallel processing in other areas, such as ratsnest would be AMAZING as well. eg. Each layer's ratsnest should be calculated in parallel. Currently, this can take up to 30 seconds on a complex 300mm x 300mm design, making the routing process very slow.

Message was edited by: B Mac

Am 16.10.2012 17:04, schrieb Chuck Huber:

Alternatively or additionally, I would

like the ability to add text to a library package, and be able to smash

the package in the board and move the text (or circle) around in the

same manner that I can now smash and move >NAME and >VALUE.

This can already be done (NOT with a circle, but only with TEXT):

  - In the library, add a text that begins with a '>', e.g.,

    >MYATTRIBUTE.

  - In the library, use the ATTRIBUTE command to define a textual

    attribute with the above name (WITHOUT the '>') and give it a

    value of your choice (e.g., define an attribute with the name

    MYATTRIBUTE and the value MYVALUE).

  - That's it: In the above example, the word MYVALUE is displayed

    where you have positioned the >MYATTRIBUTE text. This attribute

    can be smashed as usual, repositioned, changed, etc.

Andreas Weidner

On 10/15/2012 06:08 PM, Jorge Garcia wrote:

 

Thanks to everyone who has participated. I'm going to let the survey

ride this week and then call it done. If you haven't filled out the

survey this is the last week to do so.

 

Thank you all for all of your input.

Jorge,

Here's something that has just hounded me in the past.  I would like the

ability to add some text (or a circle or such) to the board and have it

associated with a component so that when the component is moved, the

associated text moves with it.  Alternatively or additionally, I would

like the ability to add text to a library package, and be able to smash

the package in the board and move the text (or circle) around in the

same manner that I can now smash and move >NAME and >VALUE.  The

motivation for this is to better document the layout for the assembly

house.  For example, I'd like to place the numeral 1 outside and close

to pin 1 of an IC, and be able to move it slightly in the layout editor

so as not to interfere with nearby components.

Thanks,

    - Chuck

On 8/23/2012 6:38 PM, Jorge_Garcia wrote:

Hello fellow EAGLE users,

 

I've made a simple GoogleDocs Form as a type of survey and I would like to gather as much feedback as possible. The survey has only one question: What features would you like to see in future versions of EAGLE? Simply select the radio button of the feature you'd like to see, type in a few comments if you so desire and hit the submit button. That's it.

 

Here's the link for the form:

 

http://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEF4MWdPVXgxNjdHMk9aWE5wOTNyQmc6MQ

 

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reply to this thread.

 

Thanks in advance for your participation.

 

Best Regards,

Jorge Garcia

Cadsoft Support

 

Thanks to everyone who has participated. I'm going to let the survey

ride this week and then call it done. If you haven't filled out the

survey this is the last week to do so.

Thank you all for all of your input.

Best Regards,

Jorge Garcia

Cadsoft Support

I havnt been using it long enough to give much of a suggestion but I

would point out that 2 of us in the last couple of weeks have made

comments about the library search functions.

My own concern was the ability to do a full SQL type search on the

whole library without losing the "in use" list.

If its based on mySQL it should be easy enough and cheap enough

to implement I expect.

Just out of interest I imported a schematic from easyPC this

week and it very nearly did a good job. It needed quite a bit of tidying

up but it was still quicker than starting from scratch - that was a

suprise I didnt expect.

Am 2012-10-10 00:07, schrieb shabaz:

I've use a fair few CAD packages. EAGLE has limitations, but I keep coming back to it, because for what it is, it is powerful and, importantly, fast to use. I absolutely love the autorouting features on other platforms, but EAGLE is feature rich in other ways.

 

One of the greatest benefits to EAGLE is that it is speedy to use - I can very quickly put together a circuit (admittedly the autorouter is slow). However, what takes up most of the time? Parts creation. Honestly, who is happy using pre-created symbols? I wouldn't trust anyones symbols. I create my own for maybe 50-60% of components, to be sure they are the way I want them.

Here are some suggestions for speeding up parts creation:

1. Have some profiles for common shapes (SIL, DIL, 4-sided) and allow the user to pick a pad or SMD, and enter in sufficient dimensions until EAGLE decides it can calculate all remaining dimensions. Datasheets tend to represent measurements in a few different methods, so it would need some intelligence. Some datasheets don't show the landing pattern, but they show the device pins. For that scenario, the profiles should allow the user to enter device pin dimensioning, and then later select pad size, and then allow it to automatically center them under the device pins or to have an offset from center. This is simple stuff, but requires users to perform mental arithmetic for a minute or two (and then double-check!) per device. It all adds up. Save my time and EAGLE becomes so much more valuable (time is everyones most expensive resource).

 

Ability to have vias even in SMD pads - this is electrically essential in some RF designs.

Abilty to have some nice 'snaps' like Powerpoint 2010, which can automatically centre objects to other objects - this is way more advanced than simple grid snap which never meets anyones needed. I want to be able to automatically center drill holes or board connectors to align with others on the board. If need be, allow the user to

place some temporary sketch lines for alignment if you can't implement the Powerpoint 2010 method.

 

The measurement method is dire (I know someone else mentioned that above too). I don't want to change grid size just to perform an accurate measurement. It should automatically snap to the edge and center of pads and to the center and edges of drill holes.

 

Does the latest version of EAGLE support shaped pads? If so, then great. It is needed for modern parts.

 

Incorporate some new features in the PCB design, such as a layer that allows you to 'draw' lines of small holes for perforating boards so they can be snapped apart. Have more than 16 colours.

Automatically place text '>NAME' and '>VALUE' as soon as I click to create a package or symbol, and save me 30 seconds of my time - this is really obvious stuff and saves time (I can then move the text to where I want it).

 

Ignore the person criticizing cloud and tablets - it's just a matter of time. Implement that right, and all of a sudden you don't need to maintain multiple builds for Linux, Windows and Mac, and people can work on the move, and you make more revenue.

 

The scripting is incredible - one of the best features (if not THE best feature) of EAGLE. Keep that up for all new features!

 

I'd also like to see some better vector fonts with curves! - we have powerful PCs, and we don't need to be restricted to such simplistic fonts. That could be a task for a student to implement, if you purchase the rights to some nice fonts. But it should support more than just 127 characters, and should allow underline and overline.

 

I support all those points with shaped pads and the library editor

features giving highest value for me too.

Also the limited colour palette hurts often.

Regards, Stefan

I've use a fair few CAD packages. EAGLE has limitations, but I keep coming back to it, because for what it is, it is powerful and, importantly, fast to use. I absolutely love the autorouting features on other platforms, but EAGLE is feature rich in other ways.

One of the greatest benefits to EAGLE is that it is speedy to use - I can very quickly put together a circuit (admittedly the autorouter is slow). However, what takes up most of the time? Parts creation. Honestly, who is happy using pre-created symbols? I wouldn't trust anyones symbols. I create my own for maybe 50-60% of components, to be sure they are the way I want them.

Here are some suggestions for speeding up parts creation:

1. Have some profiles for common shapes (SIL, DIL, 4-sided) and allow the user to pick a pad or SMD, and enter in sufficient dimensions until EAGLE decides it can calculate all remaining dimensions. Datasheets tend to represent measurements in a few different methods, so it would need some intelligence. Some datasheets don't show the landing pattern, but they show the device pins. For that scenario, the profiles should allow the user to enter device pin dimensioning, and then later select pad size, and then allow it to automatically center them under the device pins or to have an offset from center. This is simple stuff, but requires users to perform mental arithmetic for a minute or two (and then double-check!) per device. It all adds up. Save my time and EAGLE becomes so much more valuable (time is everyones most expensive resource).

Ability to have vias even in SMD pads - this is electrically essential in some RF designs.

Abilty to have some nice 'snaps' like Powerpoint 2010, which can automatically centre objects to other objects - this is way more advanced than simple grid snap which never meets anyones needed. I want to be able to automatically center drill holes or board connectors to align with others on the board. If need be, allow the user to

place some temporary sketch lines for alignment if you can't implement the Powerpoint 2010 method.

The measurement method is dire (I know someone else mentioned that above too). I don't want to change grid size just to perform an accurate measurement. It should automatically snap to the edge and center of pads and to the center and edges of drill holes.

Does the latest version of EAGLE support shaped pads? If so, then great. It is needed for modern parts.

Incorporate some new features in the PCB design, such as a layer that allows you to 'draw' lines of small holes for perforating boards so they can be snapped apart. Have more than 16 colours.

Automatically place text '>NAME' and '>VALUE' as soon as I click to create a package or symbol, and save me 30 seconds of my time - this is really obvious stuff and saves time (I can then move the text to where I want it).

Ignore the person criticizing cloud and tablets - it's just a matter of time. Implement that right, and all of a sudden you don't need to maintain multiple builds for Linux, Windows and Mac, and people can work on the move, and you make more revenue.

The scripting is incredible - one of the best features (if not THE best feature) of EAGLE. Keep that up for all new features!

I'd also like to see some better vector fonts with curves! - we have powerful PCs, and we don't need to be restricted to such simplistic fonts. That could be a task for a student to implement, if you purchase the rights to some nice fonts. But it should support more than just 127 characters, and should allow underline and overline.

I need a few more responses, I'm almost at the two hundred response mark. If I could get that I would be satisfied with the survey and start processing the info.

Come one EAGLE community show me some love, end my marketing pain

Best Regards,

Jorge Garcia

Cadsoft Support

Am 07.09.2012 14:40, schrieb Olin Lathrop:

Maybe you need to be more careful about giving symbols useful names?

Yes. BUT:

  1. Since some of my libraries are 18 years old, and you COULD not

     give symbols useful names then (8 character limit), there is a

     lot of historical rubbish still around. And with, e.g., a

     nearly unlimited supply of OP symbols - with/without compensation,

     with/without offset, with/without shutdown, one/two/three

     output pins etc. - naming them with 8 characters IS a trifle

     difficult. And renaming ALL my symbols created in 18 years is

     QUITE a lot of work...

  2. I often do not want to reinvent the wheel, so want to search

     for a symbol that already looks NEARLY as needed, copy it and

     patch it accordingly. Saves LOTS of time. A preview would be

     GORGEOUS. OK, this would not be in the ADD dialog, but somewhere

     else, but still previews are nice.

  3. And obviously, the previews would behave as everywhere else

     in EAGLE, and NOT break the workflow. NO preview broke the

     workflow so far, so trust CadSoft not to screw everything up.

Andreas Weidner

On 9/7/2012 12:02 PM, Andrew Forrest wrote:

First on a Mac using Safari I can only choose one button. Not really a

problem because the biggest problem for me, by far, is the auto-router.

Other things may be awkward but I can get round or by them. The auto

router works OK on two layer boards with through hole components. On

surface mount multilayer boards it is almost useless. It will sometimes

not use a layer at all.

 

For many circuits there are benefits to hand routing, especially as the

frequency goes up, but for hundreds of I/O ports on a relatively slow

micro-controller, hand routing is tedious and difficult in the extreme.

 

Someone mentioned this would need a lot of code. I think they are

missing the point. What the auto-router needs is a good algorithm that

treats layers as equals when routing. Most people have computers with

multiple fast cores. There is potential for a giant leap in router

performance.

 

      Andrew

 

PS as a benefit it would not require practically any interface changes

so those steeped in the program would have no problems.

Hi Andrew,

I hope you're doing well. There's a couple of things that can be done to

guide the AUTOROUTER to do what you want to do. For example a common

task that people like to automate is via drops to a ground or power

plane. The general idea is that you route a short distance from the SMD

pad and then drop a via to the power layer.

The autorouter can do that for you without issue here's the setup:

1. In the command line type AUTO GND VCC ... and press enter. Since you

only want to drop to the power planes only those signals should be

routed by specifying them before hand the autorouter will only route

those nets.

2. In the route and bus tabs set the maximum number of vias value to

9999. This tells EAGLE to use as many vias as necessary to route the

net, if you use the defaults that's when you see EAGLE start routing

between components instead of dropping straight down.

3. Disable the optimize runs, the purpose of the optimize runs is to

minimize the number of vias which is not what you want for this application.

If you run it with those parameters you'll find that it does a pretty

good job of dropping straight to your power planes.

This is not to take away from the suggestion, my purpose here is just to

allow you to make better use of what's available now.

hth,

Jorge Garcia

Cadsoft Support