Hello Harry, To be complete, I would like to add the following: If you tick the box "Include Unconnected Pads on Internal Layers" upon export an ODB-set, you get all the internal pads. A bit too many in fact, because there are so many unneccesary pads in planes. In DXP2004, it was the only way to go. In AD6, this problem is gone, BUT it came back as soon as I did an Embedded Array!! Also here, tick that box and you get ALL internal pads, but I don't like it, my boards are very dense. And the Embedded Array was what I was waiting for to work perfectly (I never got it working properly in DXP2004).
Best regards, Ton ----- Original Message ----- From: "Harry Selfridge" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Protel EDA Discussion List" <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, March 20, 2006 7:02 PM Subject: Re: [PEDA] Here is the Snake Oil, straight from the snake's mouth. > Brad, > > I wouldn't question Ton's claim; however, if you do a forum search using > "ODB++", you will find a different user's posting in October 2005 claiming > that he uses AD2004 ODB++ output exclusively to get 'perfect' boards from > his fab. With regard to missing vias, I found only Ton's recent post in > the past couple of weeks (which seems to be related to using a new feature > added in AD6 before generating ODB++ output). Based on forum postings, > others among the thousands of users don't seem to be having Ton's problem. > > I believe that ODB++ as an example of serious AD6 shortcoming was a poor > choice. I could go on to discuss the lack of standardization of ODB++ > thanks to Valor. Their free reader won't read an ODB++ file generated by > Gerbtool or CAM350 half of the time (and vice-versa). It is a poorly > supported "standard" in the industry that has to be used with extreme > caution. Trying to achieve compatibility with Valor's proprietary > format-turned-standard is just like trying to get compatibility with > Autodesk's proprietary .DWG formats - lots of folks try, but things don't > always work (see www.opendesign.com ). Personally, I would never depend > on > ODB++ to transmit fab data - first: because when it works it contains all > of the design intelligence, and second: because of the shaky support for > the file format thanks to Valor's closed fist on the file structure. > > "Significant" AD6 bugs in my world would be those that prevent, or slow, > my > production of useful hardware (the purpose of the software). I haven't > seen any of those recently. There are glitches and omissions in the > software that would make it nicer to use, but they aren't 'show stoppers'. > > Grump and complain as much as you like, I'll just keep cranking out paying > designs using AD6. Altium has earned the dollars I have spent with them > over the years, and THAT is the bottom line for me. For me, Altium/Protel > software and support has just gotten better over the years. It's still > the > best cost-to-value EDA package out there as far as I'm concerned. > > Sincerely, > H. Selfridge > VP Engineering > Encore Engineering Services and Products > Anaheim, CA 92801 > > > > > At 09:05 AM 3/20/06, you wrote: >>Harry, >> I failed to type "upgrade support", implying the typically >> included first year Software Assurance. >> >> As for the bugs and your comments. I don't believe that >> perfect, bugless, software is a reality but there are just too many >> significant bugs in Altium's releases. I figured the internal pads >> missing from ODB++ output is just the best example of that which I have >> seen recently. Your comments also show why BETA testing is not a suitable >> means to catch bugs, nothing says that any particular BETA test or BETA >> tester will actual try or use any particular feature, that is for ALPHA >> testing to confirm for all product features. No if, ands or buts about >> it. >> >> Then of course there is Ton's claim that he had reported it >> Altium well prior to AD6.0. So is it a feature (ODB++ support) or is it a >> boondoggle money grab? In my books, if you sell a feature then it had >> better be usable by the majority of typical users. Missing internal pads >> don't pass that case. >> >>Sincerely, >>Brad Velander >>Senior PCB Designer >>Northern Airborne Technology >>#14 - 1925 Kirschner Road, >>Kelowna, BC, V1Y 4N7. >>tel (250) 763-2329 ext. 225 >>fax (250) 762-3374 >> >> >> >>-----Original Message----- >>From: Harry Selfridge [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >>Sent: Friday, March 17, 2006 8:26 PM >>To: Protel EDA Discussion List >>Subject: Re: [PEDA] Here is the Snake Oil, straight from the snake's >>mouth. >> >> >>How did you conclude that the software is being sold without >>support? You don't need "Software Assurance" to post on the forum >>and get help straight from the Altium programmers, and you don't need >>it to get the patches which are automatic via the web (or can also be >>manually downloaded and installed if desired). The CEO of the >>company has personally gone on written record that patches would >>continue to be provided as part of the purchase price of the program, >>and would not be subject to separate charges. You don't have to buy >>"Software Assurance" unless you want it - I didn't choose to buy it >>when I sent in my purchase order for AD6 in December 2005. >> >> >> >>____________________________________________________________ >>You are subscribed to the PEDA discussion forum >> >>To Post messages: >>mailto:[email protected] >> >>Unsubscribe and Other Options: >>http://techservinc.com/mailman/listinfo/peda_techservinc.com >> >>Browse or Search Old Archives (2001-2004): >>http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] >> >>Browse or Search Current Archives (2004-Current): >>http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] > > > > ____________________________________________________________ > You are subscribed to the PEDA discussion forum > > To Post messages: > mailto:[email protected] > > Unsubscribe and Other Options: > http://techservinc.com/mailman/listinfo/peda_techservinc.com > > Browse or Search Old Archives (2001-2004): > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] > > Browse or Search Current Archives (2004-Current): > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] > > ____________________________________________________________ You are subscribed to the PEDA discussion forum To Post messages: mailto:[email protected] Unsubscribe and Other Options: http://techservinc.com/mailman/listinfo/peda_techservinc.com Browse or Search Old Archives (2001-2004): http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] Browse or Search Current Archives (2004-Current): http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]
