Downgrading brd/sch from V5 -> V4

James Morrison schrieb:

Hi Richard,

 

Would it not be possible to include "Save As..." with an option to store in

an older file formats (3.5, 4.0, 4.1)?  Almost every program I know allows

for this.  Even Microsoft, the king of forced upgrades for little value has

this feature.  Given the code exists already it doesn't appear to be

technically infeasible.  I suppose it would increase the code size somewhat

but it can't be that different.  Even if it was would it matter?

One the one hand I support your point. Of course it would be nice

to have the possibility to design a board in EAGLE 5 and save it

in EAGLE 4.1 data format, or as you propose even in 4.0 or 3.5.

So far so good. To have such an option would be very nice.....

...but what if the quality of the board in EAGLE 4.1 or 4.0

is not the same as in EAGLE 5?

Let's take ARCs, for example:

Now they can have signals, in EAGLE 4.0 they can't. Suddenly

you will get lots of DRC errors, RATSNEST tells you something

about unrouted airwires. Or for example a polygon: It can have

a round shape. This is not possible in EAGLE 4. It can't be

displayed anymore in the layout.

Or an example from version 5 to 4.1:

Define attibutes for your components. All this information would

be lost... Yes I know, we could write it in a layer as simple

text, so not everything would lost.

Or, for example, make a partlist with a bom.ulp that exports

attributes. The partlist made with EAGLE 4.1 of the same board/

schematic would be different. Again arcs: Now the can have

rounded ends and Gerber export uses an aperture that has

the same diameter as the arc's width. Go back to EAGLE 4.1 and

you will have arcs with flat ends. Gerber will use a fine

width for emulating the arcs. In the worst case the arc is not

visible on your board.

And now let's assume your partner (the one with EAGLE 4.1)

changes something in the board and you want to load it again

EAGLE 5. I think I can foresee that this might end up in a kind

of desaster. Not in all cases, sure. I admitt, I am painting

black here. But I know Murphys law....

Wouldn't a customer expect that the conversion in the older data

format is without loss withour changes in his design?

Ich think he would, and I think he is right with his expectation.

But I see a lot of obstacles and traps for such a function.

Nevertheless I will discuss your proposal with our development

people.

--

Mit freundlichen Gruessen / Best regards

Richard Hammerl

  CadSoft Support -- hotline@cadsoft.de

  FAQ: http://www.cadsoft.de/faq.htm

James Morrison schrieb:

Hi Richard,

 

Would it not be possible to include "Save As..." with an option to store in

an older file formats (3.5, 4.0, 4.1)?  Almost every program I know allows

for this.  Even Microsoft, the king of forced upgrades for little value has

this feature.  Given the code exists already it doesn't appear to be

technically infeasible.  I suppose it would increase the code size somewhat

but it can't be that different.  Even if it was would it matter?

One the one hand I support your point. Of course it would be nice

to have the possibility to design a board in EAGLE 5 and save it

in EAGLE 4.1 data format, or as you propose even in 4.0 or 3.5.

So far so good. To have such an option would be very nice.....

...but what if the quality of the board in EAGLE 4.1 or 4.0

is not the same as in EAGLE 5?

Let's take ARCs, for example:

Now they can have signals, in EAGLE 4.0 they can't. Suddenly

you will get lots of DRC errors, RATSNEST tells you something

about unrouted airwires. Or for example a polygon: It can have

a round shape. This is not possible in EAGLE 4. It can't be

displayed anymore in the layout.

Or an example from version 5 to 4.1:

Define attibutes for your components. All this information would

be lost... Yes I know, we could write it in a layer as simple

text, so not everything would lost.

Or, for example, make a partlist with a bom.ulp that exports

attributes. The partlist made with EAGLE 4.1 of the same board/

schematic would be different. Again arcs: Now the can have

rounded ends and Gerber export uses an aperture that has

the same diameter as the arc's width. Go back to EAGLE 4.1 and

you will have arcs with flat ends. Gerber will use a fine

width for emulating the arcs. In the worst case the arc is not

visible on your board.

And now let's assume your partner (the one with EAGLE 4.1)

changes something in the board and you want to load it again

EAGLE 5. I think I can foresee that this might end up in a kind

of desaster. Not in all cases, sure. I admitt, I am painting

black here. But I know Murphys law....

Wouldn't a customer expect that the conversion in the older data

format is without loss withour changes in his design?

Ich think he would, and I think he is right with his expectation.

But I see a lot of obstacles and traps for such a function.

Nevertheless I will discuss your proposal with our development

people.

--

Mit freundlichen Gruessen / Best regards

Richard Hammerl

  CadSoft Support -- hotline@cadsoft.de

  FAQ: http://www.cadsoft.de/faq.htm