There are so many issues with this software that I do not know where to begin.

1. Finding information on how to use a simple tool like the differential pair directive is almost impossible - your website usually just sends me to a page that basically says "yes" that is a feature and nothing about how to use it in my designs.

2. The grid alignment in the schematic capture side of the tool is extremely annoying. I create symbols on a particular grid size that matches the grid size of my schematics but they rarely, if ever, line up correctly.

3. There must be a setting somewhere in the pcb tool that merges a signal's trace segments into a single segment if they are travelling along the same vector.

4. Why is there way to insert a trace length matching rule?

Mark, thanks for the reasoning and I can appreciate that file compatibility is essential if taking existing designs to modify. I would just like to clarify that schematics (.schdoc), symbol libraries (.schlib) and footprint libraries (.pcblib) are directly compatible between CS and AD. The PCB files are slightly more tricky but current AD versions can import CS PCB files (.cspcbdoc) and if you save the design in V5 binary format from AD this can be imported into CS. Agreed that it is not 100% friction free but at least there is the option to interchange files.

My reason for not moving to Circuit Studio. OK, here goes:

I am a contract Electrical Engineer. I have a side company that I started to do side work developing circuits, laying out boards and optionally  delivering products. So lets face it; in the industry, there are two major players now, Altium and Cadence. Although Eagle and KiCad are fine products, the industry just doesn't take them seriously. To get started, I purchased 2 seats of Orcad/Allegro for an amazingly low cost. Two seats for about $1200 perpetual licenses including dongles with optional maintenance. I prefer dongles so I can install on multiple computers and just use one (two) at a time with the dongles.

I would absolutely LOVE to get a seat of Altium Designer also, because that would open me up to supporting companies who use Altium internally and I personally like the Altium flow and GUI better than Cadence tools. However, the price I was quoted was absolutely OUTRAGEOUS, $9650. WAY too much for a one person side shop like me. When I saw that Altium had a low cost Circuit Studio deal, I got pretty excited. Even though it's not full Altium Designer, the CS feature list vs. Designer was acceptable to me.I don't need all the features just like I don't need all the high end Allegro features.

Then I found out that the project files are incompatible and anything created in Designer could not be modified in CS. Since many of my contract projects will begin with projects that are already started in Designer, Circuit Studio does me no good. That is ONE BIG advantage to ORCAD/ALLEGRO. All the source files are compatible across all version, just the feature use is limited to the particular license on the computer that you are using at the time. So that Altium flaw is a deal breaker for me.

I honestly can't understand how Altium can justify such a price structure. Cadence is offering deals that even serious hobbyists can afford, while Altium Designer has priced itself outrageously and denied themselves the small business startup audience.

Thanks for the many replies on teardrops and why they are considered important for your designs, I have placed a ticket with Altium to request this feature be included in a future version. No promises but if you don't ask you don't get...

Hello Peter,

teardrop generation is really important, especially since the production

process was switched to lead-free solder many years ago. The ROHS

materials require higher temperatures inside the re-flow furnace causing

mechanical tension on the PCB. That leads to frequent cut-offs of traces

from smaller vias.

High density designs face a significant failure rate without teardrops.

My old Protel-99SE which I use since 1999 has it, and I add teardrops

for nearly every design.

best regards - Rüdiger Becker

Am 06.11.2017 um 16:40 schrieb e14softwareuk:

 

  element14 Community

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My flex circuit designs require tear dropping, which was standard in Protel99 but missing in CS. In some cases, I add teardops to footprints. Otherwise, I add them manually, using the 'any angle' setting for trace routing. You also need to disable the 'remove redundant traces' feature from your routing preferences. Fortunately, I don't have large numbers of pads to teardrop.

I don't think teardrop generation is supported. Are you sure it is essential as I don't recall seeing them on a majority of commercial boards.

Does CircuitStudio allow to generate Teardrops? I didn't find this feature, but it is really essential for PCB production quality and yield. By the way, Eagle has it...

Good

Congratulations to all the winners! I have moved to the Altium CS by some months... I am sure you will enjoy the prize !

Enrico