Electronics > DIPtrace

no ground reference – is this a joke?

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Simon:
I'm just trying to do my first schematic with diptrace. I can't find a ground symbol, is this some sort of joke? Locating parts is also "interesting". Is it just me or is this software that amateurish. The tutorial is written in poor English, my guess is Chinese.

Just a crumble from a new user.

Simon:
okay I found it eventually. But it is hidden somewhere in discrete components or something. If I understand correctly I cannot search all of the libraries for a component. I also don't get this thing where you are also choosing the PCB footprint. Surely this is subject to change, as the design progresses and you make decisions about its physical make up later on. Not having to choose to footprint at the same time would also eliminate zillions of components that you have to wade through to find anything.

Mechatrommer:
why dont you download all the video tutorial? and sit back relax while watching it. i have the same problem as yours about the built-in libraries. i built my own ;)

mukymuk:

--- Quote ---If I understand correctly I cannot search all of the libraries for a component
--- End quote ---

You can.  Hit the binoculars on the toolbar or Objects->Find Component.  The dialog has a "All libraries" option.

Even so, it's hard as hell to find what you need.  Novarm really needs to work on how they structure their libraries so it's easier to find parts.  Stuff needs to be grouped in multiple ways primarily by function--not by manufacturer--who cares, right?  And yes, ground and power need to be really obvious--probably on the toolbar.

That said, 90% of the time I don't find what I need in their library and end up making it from scratch.  I'd be willing to pay much more for a tool that made it easy to locate parts, datasheets, and create boms that could be submitted directly to the major distributors.  That's really the biggest time sink for me.


--- Quote ---I also don't get this thing where you are also choosing the PCB footprint.
--- End quote ---

It's possible to ignore the footprint and assign it later.  Generally, that's what I do unless I know for sure what I'll be using.

Simon:
well footprints should not enter into it until you are doing the pcb, that way when I want a resistor I put a resistor in, not have to figure out which of the 20 footprints of resistors I may need. I opened the pcb up: I had resistors 5x the size the a DIP8 and some smaller........ not clever.

I found kicad easier although I was hoping for a nicer package this time.

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