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Help - I think I just messed up my whole project - Circuit Studio

awardautomation

I have spent weeks getting the schematic and layout just right.

I have manufactured the first board.

Now i want to create a new version that I will make changes to.

I right clicked on the project and selected Save As and re-named it.

Then I realized the source documents are linked and not saved as unique copies, so I right clicked on them and selected save-as from the menu, and removed the old version from the new folder.
Now if I try to make changes, when I click Update PCB document, it swaps every single component with a new version of the same component, but off board, as if it was the first layout. Ie. my carefully adjusted layout is ruined!
What have I done wrong and how do I get my layout back without re-doing it completely?

  • 0

    If you can go look at your deleted documents folder and pull them back out if you can.  Also do a search of the programs directory structure, sometimes they put older files in a separate folder just in case this accident occurs.

     

    Lesson 1, ALWAYS make backups, even if you have to do it by hand using different filenames.

     

    I have seen problems like this with poorly written software.  You can be TOO efficient in keeping only the most recent copy, but I have found that there is both safety and unmined ideas hidden in each iteration.

     

    DAB

  • 0

    Sorry to hear that. Maybe you can copy sch and pcb files in different folder. Than make a new project in that folder and include your existent sch and pcb files. Maybe this will be enough.

    Than in PCB under Tools ribbon you have component links. Please check it and correct if necessary.

    Another option: with PCB open, HOME ribbon, PROJECT you have update schematic command.

    In your working folder you have History folder. You have your older versions of schematics and pcbs there.

     

    Good luck!

  • 0 in reply to DAB

    Thanks for the reply DAB, but oddly enough that is exactly what I was trying to do.
    Normally if I manufacture anything, when I want to make the next version, I use saveAs to create a copy so the previous version is kept safe.
    Unfortunately Circuit Studio is so poorly written that the SaveAs command corrupts the old version.
    Please be aware and use windows explorer to copy the whole folder somewhere safe.

  • 0 in reply to awardautomation

    Yes, I ran into that issue a bunch of years ago.

    Having worked with computers for 40 years I have a simple motto.  "A fool and his data are soon parted!"

     

    Trust but verify.

     

    DAB

  • 0

    Sorry to learn of your issues. The "save as" does indeed only save a copy of the relevant document, the top level project file is just a reference to the other files that make up the design (take a look, it is just a text file).

     

    You may be able to recover using the Project (button) > Local History options, the backup files are saved in the History folder within your current design folder.

     

    Arguably the simplest way to create a copy of your existing project to work on for the next generation version is to copy and paste the whole folder, e.g. MyProjectV1 is copied as MyProjectV2. Unless you have selected otherwise document references should be relative so working on the new folder version should be all new copies of the documents. Check the *.PrjPcb file to see what documents make up your design and what file paths are used.

  • 0 in reply to songshome

    Thanks Aleksander for your tip about the component links...

    I was able see easily from there what links were broken, then I updated the schematic from the PCB instead of the other way around. That way my schematic was modified to match the layout, leaving the layout untouched. This saved me hours!

     

    Just for anyone reading this post:

     

    From the PCB editor select:

    • Tools ribbon -> Component links (here you can see how the schematic components link to pcb components, and adjust)
    • Home ribbon -> Project -> Update Schematics in yourPcbProject.Prjpcb