OK, so this is the result of someone at Autodesk not really understanding
how EAGLE really works....
The new routing tool has some use. Backspace to delete the last segment of
manually routed trace is great (something Altium has had and I missed when
in EAGLE).
And being able to use the space bar to switch layers, instead of the
middle-mouse button (which still works), is really handy when there are
only 2 routing layers.
BUT....
I loaded in a 2-layer board from an older version and started randomly
ripping up and routing with EAGLE v8 Free version. I couldn't figure out
why it kept complaining about trying to put traces on the bottom layer,
complaining that I was exceeding the license limits.
I think figured it out: When it tries to switch layers from top to bottom
it changes to Layer 2! It should be changing to Layer 16 which is always
the bottom. Trying to change layers to 16 while the routing tool is active
won't work.
If I stop routing and explicitly change layer to 16 with command line, then
I can route on the bottom layer. So good idea, just didn't quite get it
nailed.
For bonus points, check out suggestion about setting active routing layers
which would help even more.
Cheers,
James.
--
James Morrison ~~~ Stratford Digital
http://www.stratforddigital.ca
--
EAGLE support forums at http://www.eaglecentral.ca :: Where the EAGLE community meets.