> I was wondering if anyone knows of any semiconductor companies that > provide Protel ready models, footprints, and/or schemtic parts. If not, > does anyone know why? I've put inrequest after request to no avail to > folks like Texas instruments, Analog Devices, etc. > > Is Altium really such a tertiary player in the field that they are > considered someone to be ignored, or is the format just such a pain that > no-one wants to bother? > > Thanks, > > aj
Do *any* of the semiconductor companies put out symbol and/or footprint files for *any* of the CAD applications (for PCB design)? I gather that some companies provide SPICE files and/or 3D model files for at least some of their devices, but then standards have been defined for such files. OTOH, there are currently no standards (AFAIK) for specifying symbol and footprint files (for "direct" use by "all" CAD applications for PCB design). And how well known is Altium in the USA? It is not the only provider of CAD applications for PCB design, and any prominence which it has in that market has probably been building over an extended era, as opposed to having been prominent for some time. And Altium has never supported an ASCII format for PCB library files (and in spite of me requesting that for some time now), and it no longer supports an ASCII format for schematic library files either (though it did in previous versions up until Protel 99 SE). Hence the absence of support for ASCII format library files, and the absence of any "generic" standard for such files, means that any semiconductor company would *have* to have a licence for Altium Designer to be able to produce any library files. Altium has sometimes provided copies of their products to various educational institutions on either a free or discounted basis, but I am unaware of whether they have also done so with any semiconductor companies. And while acquiring a copy of Altium Designer at its standard price (to the extent that there actually is a standard price) wouldn't "break the bank" of any semiconductor company, it is not implausible that such companies think that if Altium wants them to create library files for their devices, then they should be provided with a copy of AD "on the house". My two cents worth anyhow, but I would be interested in hearing what anyone else has to say on this matter. Regards, Geoff Harland. [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]
