Yes, I've seen support for many of the other "major" players from time to time, that is, when I've actually looked, as was the case yesterday after seeing a blurb about a new ADXL accelerometer and clicking aimlessly on the "Symbols and footprints" link. I do believe that at least at one time, Protel was becoming quite popular, enough so anyway that they were able to gobble up PCAD, so I presumed that they might be large enough to be seen by semiconductor companies as meritous enough to garner this kind of support...TI, Analog Devices, and many others provide EDA specific support...
Honestly, if by no other measure, I believe that Protel's insular methodology is typical of the industry, and so I doubt there will be any substantive push towards actual cad standardization in the near future for EDA parts, symbols, footprints, etc, even if it's a hot topic of academic conversation from time to time. I remember when it was "right around the corner"...back in the late 1990s... I agree, it's not in the interest of TI, Maxim, AD, Philips, etc. to have to invest $10K (US) to produce library files for Altium's benefit, and I'm surprised that Protel (and now Altium) hasn't gone a little further towards this end. One would think that the profits they've generated by doubling and then tripling the pricepoint for their EDA entry would easily absorb such a lost-leader to a literal handful of companies in payment for the long-term press they might receive as a result... (And I would not be at all surprised to learn that Orcad and the other HAVE implemented such investment strategies, to their long-term benefit) And I don't really think it's a "US" thing, either. Because we invented, pioneered, and most importantly, have stridently fostered the industry, the majority of major semiconductor mfgs are located here. That's a simple fact. And I highly doubt that only US citizens use Texas Instruments (for instance) parts in their designs. In fact, I would venture to say that most electronics engineers integrate at least some US semiconductor parts in their designs, regardless of what country they live in or to what end their regional biases lean, because the technological curve leans in their favor overall. All well-ifs aside... aj >-----Original Message----- >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Geoff Harland >Sent: Wednesday, April 05, 2006 8:19 PM >To: Protel EDA Discussion List >Subject: Re: [PEDA] Protel compatible manufacturer files > >> 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] > > This e-mail transmission and its attachments may contain information from Avtron Manufacturing, Inc. that is proprietary, privileged and/or confidential and is intended exclusively for the person(s) to whom it is addressed. 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