Re: gEDA-user: Silk text disappears when making a component

2008-03-30 Thread DJ Delorie

Elements do have silkscreen, though.  I suppose you could use that to
mark the top of the element with something.  PCB could, in theory,
explode any silk text into individual elementlines.  Ugly but
possible, with some coding.

Or we could have someone add ElementText() to the file format ;-)


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Re: gEDA-user: Silk text disappears when making a component

2008-03-30 Thread John Coppens
On Sun, 30 Mar 2008 20:30:58 -0400
DJ Delorie <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> Elements don't have a way of storing additional silkscreen text,
> sorry.

Thanks for the fast reply, DJ. I have a footprint for RJ45, but it can
be used for connector with top or bottom contacts. I wanted to make two
footprints each with an appropiate text, as I probably won't remember
after making a board. I'll put the text on the board manually.

Cheers
John


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gEDA-user: trailing -

2008-03-30 Thread Kai-Martin Knaak

After I edit a file with pcb and save, I get a backup with a "-" (dash) 
added to the name. Is this deliberate? Wouldn't a ~ (tilde) be more 
appropriate?

---<(kaimartin)>---
-- 
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Re: gEDA-user: Asking questions, obtaining answers ...

2008-03-30 Thread Stuart Brorson
>> My main concern is, that somebody will have to watch the launchpad thingy 
>> and answer all the newbie questions. Until there is a user base 
>> comparable with inkscape, this has to be done by developers and long time 
>> users. Is it realistic to do this kind of service in addition to the 
>> mailing lists, the wiki and the official manuals?

[]

> I guess if my goal were to be achieved through the use of "Answers",
> allowing more users to make first contact, then yes - there could be
> more work involved. If it were to become too much work, the stock
> response could resort to being "ask on the geda-user mailing list".

Actually, I'll probably just do a cut and paste job from the wiki for
most questions on launchpad.  I can also provide a link to the
appropriate answer on the wiki.  IMO, it's not a hassle at all.  On
the contrary -- it lowers the barrier to getting newbie questions
answered, which is good for everybody.

Thanks, Peter, for getting this set up!

Stuart


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Re: gEDA-user: Asking questions, obtaining answers ...

2008-03-30 Thread Peter Clifton
On Mon, 2008-03-31 at 01:07 +, Kai-Martin Knaak wrote:

> > If they are new signups to the
> > email list, they WILL ask the same questions over and over.
> 
> Well, isn't this the reason there are two mailing lists user- and 
> developer- ? They just happen to look the same because there are not so 
> many non developer users registered to the list.  

geda-user doesn't exist so people can avoid to RTFM, no.. I guess more
its to keep devel traffic from boring those who don't care - or to allow
it not to get swamped in active user traffic. In reality, neither are
much of a problem for us.

> 
> > Try this:
> > 
> > https://answers.launchpad.net/inkscape/+addquestion
> 
> I get "To continue, you must log in to Launchpad." plus a registration 
> form. After giving away my email address to yet another potential source 
> of spam I can type my question. Looks sleek :-)
> 
> My main concern is, that somebody will have to watch the launchpad thingy 
> and answer all the newbie questions. Until there is a user base 
> comparable with inkscape, this has to be done by developers and long time 
> users. Is it realistic to do this kind of service in addition to the 
> mailing lists, the wiki and the official manuals?

Its set to email the admins when anyone asks a question.. For now, at
least - that means I will answer questions.

wikis aren't for asking questions, but I do get your point about
collecting information together in one location though.

I guess if my goal were to be achieved through the use of "Answers",
allowing more users to make first contact, then yes - there could be
more work involved. If it were to become too much work, the stock
response could resort to being "ask on the geda-user mailing list".

-- 
Peter Clifton

Electrical Engineering Division,
Engineering Department,
University of Cambridge,
9, JJ Thomson Avenue,
Cambridge
CB3 0FA

Tel: +44 (0)7729 980173 - (No signal in the lab!)



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Re: gEDA-user: Hello, Bills missing transistors and Attribute questions

2008-03-30 Thread Kai-Martin Knaak
On Sun, 30 Mar 2008 23:49:38 +0100, Peter Clifton wrote:

> Bug report: The graphic for the GDS variant still shows ECB against it.

Just did a cvs commit for a fix.

---<(kaimartin)>---
-- 
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http://lilalaser.de/blog



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Re: gEDA-user: Asking questions, obtaining answers ...

2008-03-30 Thread Kai-Martin Knaak
On Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:31:07 +0100, Peter Clifton wrote:

>> How about a slight modification of the idea: Put a link to a web based
>> email form in the help menu. The email address would be hard wired to
>> the user mailing list. No changes to the existing infra structure.
> 
> Does the "right thing" happen the first time a user emails that address
> without being signed up to the mailing list? (Having signed up before my
> first posting, I don't know the answer myself).

You get an email to confirm, that your email is valid. IMHO, this is the 
right thing. 


> The main benefit of an "answers" database type system, is that users can
> see existing questions before asking.

This already works with the current set-up. Type "geda launchpad" in a 
google window ;-) I'll admit that the launchpad solution is much more 
organized. 


> If they are new signups to the
> email list, they WILL ask the same questions over and over.

Well, isn't this the reason there are two mailing lists user- and 
developer- ? They just happen to look the same because there are not so 
many non developer users registered to the list.  


> Try this:
> 
> https://answers.launchpad.net/inkscape/+addquestion

I get "To continue, you must log in to Launchpad." plus a registration 
form. After giving away my email address to yet another potential source 
of spam I can type my question. Looks sleek :-)

My main concern is, that somebody will have to watch the launchpad thingy 
and answer all the newbie questions. Until there is a user base 
comparable with inkscape, this has to be done by developers and long time 
users. Is it realistic to do this kind of service in addition to the 
mailing lists, the wiki and the official manuals?

---<(kaimartin)>---
-- 
Kai-Martin Knaak
http://lilalaser.de/blog



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Re: gEDA-user: Silk text disappears when making a component

2008-03-30 Thread DJ Delorie

> But when I press 'Convert buffer into element', the text
> disappears. What am I doing wrong here?

Elements don't have a way of storing additional silkscreen text,
sorry.


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gEDA-user: Silk text disappears when making a component

2008-03-30 Thread John Coppens
Hello all,

I have a component, and wanted to add a warning text to the silkscreen
layer. I broke the component down, added the text and copied everything
to the buffer. All well till now. I can even past it back to the board.

But when I press 'Convert buffer into element', the text disappears. What
am I doing wrong here?

PCB version is 20080202, GTK GUI.

John


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Re: gEDA-user: Asking questions, obtaining answers ...

2008-03-30 Thread Peter Clifton
On Sun, 2008-03-30 at 19:31 -0400, Stuart Brorson wrote:
> >> FWIW, somebody already signed gEDA up for a Launchpad acct:
> >
> > Peter B and I keep it up to date. It was originally registered by one of
> > the gEDA users, but we (the gEDA developers) staged a coup. The reason
> > we cared, was that Launchpad provides a very neat mechanism for
> > translators to work in a less technical manner, allowing wider
> > contribution.
> 
> I just signed up as a developer & Peter B approved me.  Thanks!
> 
> >> Therefore, it's probably a simple matter of activating the "answers:
> >> thingie and embedding a link into each app.
> >
> > Yep.. just wanted to get a feel for whether people liked the idea or not
> > - both users and developers.
> 
> I think it's a great idea!  To me, it seems much more newbie friendly
> than the e-mail list.  Kinda like Ubuntu vs. my old SuSE box.  Welcome
> to the new face of Linux...


In the spirit of SPAM, I've just signed up the gEDA administrators group
to be an answer contact - so we get emailed if anyone asks a question.

If people in this group don't like that idea, or the traffic grows too
much, we can perhaps probably create another group for geda-questions or
similar.

NB.. AFAIK the answers app doesn't need switching on.. just no one has
used it yet. I'll keep any eye myself, as its not good for our image if
people do use it and questions go unanswered.


Best wishes,

-- 
Peter Clifton

Electrical Engineering Division,
Engineering Department,
University of Cambridge,
9, JJ Thomson Avenue,
Cambridge
CB3 0FA

Tel: +44 (0)7729 980173 - (No signal in the lab!)



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Re: gEDA-user: Asking questions, obtaining answers ...

2008-03-30 Thread Stuart Brorson
>> FWIW, somebody already signed gEDA up for a Launchpad acct:
>
> Peter B and I keep it up to date. It was originally registered by one of
> the gEDA users, but we (the gEDA developers) staged a coup. The reason
> we cared, was that Launchpad provides a very neat mechanism for
> translators to work in a less technical manner, allowing wider
> contribution.

I just signed up as a developer & Peter B approved me.  Thanks!

>> Therefore, it's probably a simple matter of activating the "answers:
>> thingie and embedding a link into each app.
>
> Yep.. just wanted to get a feel for whether people liked the idea or not
> - both users and developers.

I think it's a great idea!  To me, it seems much more newbie friendly
than the e-mail list.  Kinda like Ubuntu vs. my old SuSE box.  Welcome
to the new face of Linux...

Stuart


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Re: gEDA-user: Asking questions, obtaining answers ...

2008-03-30 Thread Peter Clifton
On Sun, 2008-03-30 at 22:56 +, Kai-Martin Knaak wrote:
> On Sun, 30 Mar 2008 17:55:46 -0400, Stuart Brorson wrote:

> How about a slight modification of the idea: Put a link to a web based 
> email form in the help menu. The email address would be hard wired to the 
> user mailing list. No changes to the existing infra structure. 

Does the "right thing" happen the first time a user emails that address
without being signed up to the mailing list? (Having signed up before my
first posting, I don't know the answer myself).

The main benefit of an "answers" database type system, is that users can
see existing questions before asking. If they are new signups to the
email list, they WILL ask the same questions over and over.

Try this:

https://answers.launchpad.net/inkscape/+addquestion

Type in the box, "Bitmap output antialiasing settings" (as an example
I've tested).

User will see their question may already have been answered - before
they are allowed to proceed asking a new one.


The searches for existing answers work without a launchpad account, but
you can't use the:

URL: https://answers.launchpad.net/inkscape/+addquestion
Try: https://answers.launchpad.net/inkscape/]


Best wishes,
-- 
Peter Clifton

Electrical Engineering Division,
Engineering Department,
University of Cambridge,
9, JJ Thomson Avenue,
Cambridge
CB3 0FA

Tel: +44 (0)7729 980173 - (No signal in the lab!)



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Re: gEDA-user: Asking questions, obtaining answers ...

2008-03-30 Thread Peter Clifton
On Sun, 2008-03-30 at 18:54 -0400, Stuart Brorson wrote:
> FWIW, somebody already signed gEDA up for a Launchpad acct:

Peter B and I keep it up to date. It was originally registered by one of
the gEDA users, but we (the gEDA developers) staged a coup. The reason
we cared, was that Launchpad provides a very neat mechanism for
translators to work in a less technical manner, allowing wider
contribution.

One of my TODO tasks is to merge and resolve any conflicts from the
changed translations in Launchpad and git. We have already gained some
support for Turkish, IIRC.

> Therefore, it's probably a simple matter of activating the "answers: 
> thingie and embedding a link into each app.

Yep.. just wanted to get a feel for whether people liked the idea or not
- both users and developers.

-- 
Peter Clifton

Electrical Engineering Division,
Engineering Department,
University of Cambridge,
9, JJ Thomson Avenue,
Cambridge
CB3 0FA

Tel: +44 (0)7729 980173 - (No signal in the lab!)



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Re: gEDA-user: Hello, Bills missing transistors and Attribute questions

2008-03-30 Thread Peter Clifton
On Sun, 2008-03-30 at 22:41 +, Kai-Martin Knaak wrote:
> On Sun, 30 Mar 2008 12:57:56 +0100, Peter Clifton wrote:
> 
> >> On the subject of pinnumber, what would a better approach be? Should I
> >> use values of 1, 2 and 3? Or would it be smarter to use values of E, B
> >> and C for my transistor symbol?
> > 
> > You can do either, so long as the pin names in PCB match the pinnumber
> > in gschem. pinnumber also works with letters - it just means that you'd
> > be making specific PCB footprints for all the TO92 pinout variants you
> > want to use.
> 
> You might want to take a look at my TO92 footprints in gedasymbols.org
> They were made to fit FETs (TO92_GDS.fp) or ordinary transistors:
> http://www.gedasymbols.org/user/kai_martin_knaak/footprints/generic/TO92_ECB.fp
> http://www.gedasymbols.org/user/kai_martin_knaak/footprints/generic/TO92_GDS.fp

Bug report: The graphic for the GDS variant still shows ECB against it.


There is an M4 macro which will generate TO92 footprints,
"footprint=TO92" should work, assuming you have M4 footprints installed
and working (default). TO92 doesn't list in the library browser though -
this is basically a bug.

The M4 footprint uses staggered through holes (triangle configuration)
rather than a straight line, but does unfortunately put silk on top of
the pads.

-- 
Peter Clifton

Electrical Engineering Division,
Engineering Department,
University of Cambridge,
9, JJ Thomson Avenue,
Cambridge
CB3 0FA

Tel: +44 (0)7729 980173 - (No signal in the lab!)



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Re: gEDA-user: Asking questions, obtaining answers ...

2008-03-30 Thread Kai-Martin Knaak
On Sun, 30 Mar 2008 17:55:46 -0400, Stuart Brorson wrote:

> For us, however, it may represent a lot of maintainence work.  We're a
> small project with a finite  number of developers whose time is already
> streched between family, work, other activities, and gEDA. 

The idea is to expand the community and broaden the pool of potential 
aides. The project might profit from more users like me -- I wouldn't 
call myself a developer, but gladly answer usage questions on the mailing 
list...


> However,maintaining a BBS means administering the box or finding
> hosting.  

I could install a message board on one of my webspaces. Shared hosting 
has become pretty cheap these days. However, I don't like a separate www 
forum for users, if only because of all the maintenance issues you 
mentioned. 

How about a slight modification of the idea: Put a link to a web based 
email form in the help menu. The email address would be hard wired to the 
user mailing list. No changes to the existing infra structure. 

---<(kaimartin)>---
-- 
Kai-Martin Knaak
http://lilalaser.de/blog



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Re: gEDA-user: Asking questions, obtaining answers ...

2008-03-30 Thread Stuart Brorson
FWIW, somebody already signed gEDA up for a Launchpad acct:

https://launchpad.net/geda

Therefore, it's probably a simple matter of activating the "answers: 
thingie and embedding a link into each app.

Stuart



On Sun, 30 Mar 2008, Peter Clifton wrote:

> At the risk of being accused a Canonical / Launchpad fan-boy, if this
> were an idea we wanted to implement, I'd take a fair bit of convincing
> that we didn't just want to use Launchpad answers...
>
>
> On Sun, 2008-03-30 at 17:55 -0400, Stuart Brorson wrote:
>> The idea is twofold:
>>
>> 1.  Create a web-based "support bulletin board".  This would be a lot
>> like the e-mail list, except that you wouldn't need to subscribe or
>> read your e-mail.
>
> Launchpad answers does require a launchpad account, and reading your
> email is a good way to know the question has had a response. Ok, there
> is still some barrier to entry.
>
>> 2.  Put a link into each program's help menu item which would open a
>> browser up on the support bulletin board page.
>
> Thats the basic idea.
>
>> My thought:  In principle, a great idea.  Indeed, lots of commercial
>> software products include stuff like this.
>>
>> For us, however, it may represent a lot of maintainence work.  We're a
>> small project with a finite  number of developers whose time is
>> already streched between family, work, other activities, and gEDA.
>> However, maintaining a BBS means administering the box or finding
>> hosting.  Next, somebody must diligently watch the BBS and remove
>> spam, flames, and off-topic junk.  Oh, and answer questions too.
>
>
> Using an existing service does take away the pain of writing /
> maintaining the web-app code.
>
>> Hm I'm sorry that sounds so negative.  Is there a way to make
>> the support site self-service, like the wiki?  After all, we already
>> link to the wiki from within gschem.
>
>
> For many projects I've come across, there are good users out there who
> will monitor the the answers pages and help those in need of help.
>
> If it worked, the community has a good opportunity to grow around this.
> If not, it would be at least some of the pain you describe. The primary
> concern I had that if it were to turn out the idea doesn't work, we've
> deployed "n" copies of gEDA irrevocably with a given web-address in it.
>
> We could, I guess, use a re-direct page on one of our servers, so if the
> idea didn't fly we could replace the page with "Sorry, answers facility
> closed, please see the geda-user mailing list".
>
> The web-access logs a redirect page may provide interesting statistics
> on the size of our user-base (without needing to make gEDA evil and
> phone home). We can probably bet many users will click the menu item
> even if they don't end up asking a question.
>
> -- 
> Peter Clifton
>
> Electrical Engineering Division,
> Engineering Department,
> University of Cambridge,
> 9, JJ Thomson Avenue,
> Cambridge
> CB3 0FA
>
> Tel: +44 (0)7729 980173 - (No signal in the lab!)
>
>
>
> ___
> geda-user mailing list
> geda-user@moria.seul.org
> http://www.seul.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/geda-user
>


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Re: gEDA-user: Asking questions, obtaining answers ...

2008-03-30 Thread Stuart Brorson
> At the risk of being accused a Canonical / Launchpad fan-boy, if this
> were an idea we wanted to implement, I'd take a fair bit of convincing
> that we didn't just want to use Launchpad answers...

H.   OK, I just looked into Launchpad.  Looks intriguing.

> For many projects I've come across, there are good users out there who
> will monitor the the answers pages and help those in need of help.

Folks already do that on the e-mail list.  Therefore, folks will also
do it on Launchpad.   I agree.

> If it worked, the community has a good opportunity to grow around this.

I like it..

I'll continue reading up on Launch pad.  You may be convincing me.

Stuart


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Re: gEDA-user: Asking questions, obtaining answers ...

2008-03-30 Thread Peter Clifton
At the risk of being accused a Canonical / Launchpad fan-boy, if this
were an idea we wanted to implement, I'd take a fair bit of convincing
that we didn't just want to use Launchpad answers...


On Sun, 2008-03-30 at 17:55 -0400, Stuart Brorson wrote:
> The idea is twofold:
> 
> 1.  Create a web-based "support bulletin board".  This would be a lot
> like the e-mail list, except that you wouldn't need to subscribe or
> read your e-mail.

Launchpad answers does require a launchpad account, and reading your
email is a good way to know the question has had a response. Ok, there
is still some barrier to entry.

> 2.  Put a link into each program's help menu item which would open a
> browser up on the support bulletin board page.

Thats the basic idea.

> My thought:  In principle, a great idea.  Indeed, lots of commercial
> software products include stuff like this.
> 
> For us, however, it may represent a lot of maintainence work.  We're a
> small project with a finite  number of developers whose time is 
> already streched between family, work, other activities, and gEDA.
> However, maintaining a BBS means administering the box or finding
> hosting.  Next, somebody must diligently watch the BBS and remove
> spam, flames, and off-topic junk.  Oh, and answer questions too.


Using an existing service does take away the pain of writing /
maintaining the web-app code.

> Hm I'm sorry that sounds so negative.  Is there a way to make
> the support site self-service, like the wiki?  After all, we already
> link to the wiki from within gschem.


For many projects I've come across, there are good users out there who
will monitor the the answers pages and help those in need of help.

If it worked, the community has a good opportunity to grow around this.
If not, it would be at least some of the pain you describe. The primary
concern I had that if it were to turn out the idea doesn't work, we've
deployed "n" copies of gEDA irrevocably with a given web-address in it.

We could, I guess, use a re-direct page on one of our servers, so if the
idea didn't fly we could replace the page with "Sorry, answers facility
closed, please see the geda-user mailing list".

The web-access logs a redirect page may provide interesting statistics
on the size of our user-base (without needing to make gEDA evil and
phone home). We can probably bet many users will click the menu item
even if they don't end up asking a question.

-- 
Peter Clifton

Electrical Engineering Division,
Engineering Department,
University of Cambridge,
9, JJ Thomson Avenue,
Cambridge
CB3 0FA

Tel: +44 (0)7729 980173 - (No signal in the lab!)



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Re: gEDA-user: Hello, Bills missing transistors and Attribute questions

2008-03-30 Thread Kai-Martin Knaak
On Sun, 30 Mar 2008 12:57:56 +0100, Peter Clifton wrote:

>> On the subject of pinnumber, what would a better approach be? Should I
>> use values of 1, 2 and 3? Or would it be smarter to use values of E, B
>> and C for my transistor symbol?
> 
> You can do either, so long as the pin names in PCB match the pinnumber
> in gschem. pinnumber also works with letters - it just means that you'd
> be making specific PCB footprints for all the TO92 pinout variants you
> want to use.

You might want to take a look at my TO92 footprints in gedasymbols.org
They were made to fit FETs (TO92_GDS.fp) or ordinary transistors:
http://www.gedasymbols.org/user/kai_martin_knaak/footprints/generic/TO92_ECB.fp
http://www.gedasymbols.org/user/kai_martin_knaak/footprints/generic/TO92_GDS.fp
I just included these footprints in my current project. Bit they have
not yet been produced in an actual pcb. So you should double check for errors.

---<(kaimartin)>---
PS: Leventes TO92 footprint looks like TO18 to me
http://www.gedasymbols.org/user/levente_kovacs/footprints/TO92.fp

-- 
Kai-Martin Knaak
http://lilalaser.de/blog



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Re: gEDA-user: Asking questions, obtaining answers ...

2008-03-30 Thread Stuart Brorson

The idea is twofold:

1.  Create a web-based "support bulletin board".  This would be a lot
like the e-mail list, except that you wouldn't need to subscribe or
read your e-mail.

2.  Put a link into each program's help menu item which would open a
browser up on the support bulletin board page.

My thought:  In principle, a great idea.  Indeed, lots of commercial
software products include stuff like this.

For us, however, it may represent a lot of maintainence work.  We're a
small project with a finite  number of developers whose time is 
already streched between family, work, other activities, and gEDA.

However, maintaining a BBS means administering the box or finding
hosting.  Next, somebody must diligently watch the BBS and remove
spam, flames, and off-topic junk.  Oh, and answer questions too.

Hm I'm sorry that sounds so negative.  Is there a way to make
the support site self-service, like the wiki?  After all, we already
link to the wiki from within gschem.

Stuart




On Sun, 30 Mar 2008, Peter Clifton wrote:


Hi guys,


I just came across this blog post from an Inkscape developer:

http://bryceharrington.org/drupal/inkscape-answers

??Bryce is also a Canonical employee, so there may be some Launchpad
bias, but I think the idea is neat.


We could similarly provide a more direct link to human help from gschem
and other gEDA tools, from the help menu.

I realise we currently have links to the wiki / FAQ, but feel there is a
high barrier to entry for a new user to sign up to a mailing list for an
answer to what might be a simple question, even if they can't find the
answer in the FAQ.

I'm very keen that we should encourage new users to join the gEDA
community, and think this may be a good way to get them thinking more
about gEDA as something they aren't "alone" in using.

Any thoughts?

--
Peter Clifton

Electrical Engineering Division,
Engineering Department,
University of Cambridge,
9, JJ Thomson Avenue,
Cambridge
CB3 0FA

Tel: +44 (0)7729 980173 - (No signal in the lab!)



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Re: gEDA-user: Asking questions, obtaining answers ...

2008-03-30 Thread Peter Clifton
On Sun, 2008-03-30 at 22:44 +0100, Peter Clifton wrote:
> Hi guys,

> I'm very keen that we should encourage new users to join the gEDA
> community, and think this may be a good way to get them thinking more
> about gEDA as something they aren't "alone" in using.

Missed some informational links about launchpad's answer tracker - as
food for thought (even if we didn't want to use launchpad for this).

https://answers.launchpad.net/+about
https://answers.launchpad.net/+tour
https://answers.launchpad.net/+faq


> Any thoughts?
> 
-- 
Peter Clifton

Electrical Engineering Division,
Engineering Department,
University of Cambridge,
9, JJ Thomson Avenue,
Cambridge
CB3 0FA

Tel: +44 (0)7729 980173 - (No signal in the lab!)



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gEDA-user: Asking questions, obtaining answers ...

2008-03-30 Thread Peter Clifton
Hi guys,

I just came across this blog post from an Inkscape developer:

http://bryceharrington.org/drupal/inkscape-answers

Bryce is also a Canonical employee, so there may be some Launchpad
bias, but I think the idea is neat. 


We could similarly provide a more direct link to human help from gschem
and other gEDA tools, from the help menu.

I realise we currently have links to the wiki / FAQ, but feel there is a
high barrier to entry for a new user to sign up to a mailing list for an
answer to what might be a simple question, even if they can't find the
answer in the FAQ.

I'm very keen that we should encourage new users to join the gEDA
community, and think this may be a good way to get them thinking more
about gEDA as something they aren't "alone" in using.

Any thoughts?

-- 
Peter Clifton

Electrical Engineering Division,
Engineering Department,
University of Cambridge,
9, JJ Thomson Avenue,
Cambridge
CB3 0FA

Tel: +44 (0)7729 980173 - (No signal in the lab!)



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Re: gEDA-user: gschem: How to overwrite invisible attributes?

2008-03-30 Thread Werner Hoch
Hi Stefan,

On Sonntag, 30. März 2008, Stefan Salewski wrote:
> there exists symbols with net attributes which are not
> visible/accessible when symbol is inserted in a schematic, for
> example
>
> net=Vcc:14

You can promote the net attributes when the symbol is placed into the 
schematic.

Add the net attribute to the always-promote-attributes list in an gafrc 
configuration file.

[EMAIL PROTECTED]:~/oss/geda/gaf/gschem>cat gafrc
(always-promote-attributes "footprint device value model-name net")


> Problem: I am using many different positive supply voltages, i.e. 5V
> and 3.3V. I want that this symbol has 3.3V supply, but I have no Vcc
> defined (or maybe Vcc is defined to be +5V).
>
> Can I simple add a new attribute to the symbol to overwrite the
> invisible/hidden "net=Vcc:14" for pin 14 with something like "net=
> +3.3V:14" ?
>
> I think that I have read that this overwriting of attributes shall
> work -- but I can't find it again.

I at least think the same. Maybe someone else has a link to the docs.

Regards
Werner


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Re: gEDA-user: gschem: How to overwrite invisible attributes?

2008-03-30 Thread Stefan Salewski
>Why not just remove the hidden nets from the symbols? With mulitple
>values of Vcc (or GND) the hidden nets create a lot of hidden problems.

Indeed, for symbols created by myself I do not use net attributes for
power supply. I prefer to use visible power pins or to divide larger
symbols into one separate power symbol.

But there are some existing gschem-symbols with these net-attributes...

OK, maybe I should make a local copy and remove the hidden nets.

Best regards

Stefan Salewski




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Re: gEDA-user: gschem: How to overwrite invisible attributes?

2008-03-30 Thread John Luciani
On Sun, Mar 30, 2008 at 2:41 PM, Stefan Salewski <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Hello,
>
>  there exists symbols with net attributes which are not
>  visible/accessible when symbol is inserted in a schematic, for example
>
>  net=Vcc:14
>
>  Problem: I am using many different positive supply voltages, i.e. 5V and
>  3.3V. I want that this symbol has 3.3V supply, but I have no Vcc defined
>  (or maybe Vcc is defined to be +5V).
>
>  Can I simple add a new attribute to the symbol to overwrite the
>  invisible/hidden "net=Vcc:14" for pin 14 with something like "net=
>  +3.3V:14" ?
>
>  I think that I have read that this overwriting of attributes shall work
>  -- but I can't find it again.

Why not just remove the hidden nets from the symbols? With mulitple
values of Vcc (or GND) the hidden nets create a lot of hidden problems.

(* jcl *)

P.S. I have a script that removes the hidden nets and generates
appropriate power symbols.

-- 
http://www.luciani.org


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gEDA-user: gschem: How to overwrite invisible attributes?

2008-03-30 Thread Stefan Salewski
Hello,

there exists symbols with net attributes which are not
visible/accessible when symbol is inserted in a schematic, for example

net=Vcc:14

Problem: I am using many different positive supply voltages, i.e. 5V and
3.3V. I want that this symbol has 3.3V supply, but I have no Vcc defined
(or maybe Vcc is defined to be +5V). 

Can I simple add a new attribute to the symbol to overwrite the
invisible/hidden "net=Vcc:14" for pin 14 with something like "net=
+3.3V:14" ?

I think that I have read that this overwriting of attributes shall work
-- but I can't find it again.

Best regards

Stefan Salewski




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Re: gEDA-user: Hello, Bills missing transistors and Attribute questions

2008-03-30 Thread Peter Clifton
On Sun, 2008-03-30 at 04:01 -0700, Mark wrote:

> My names Mark and I am from Malaysia. Im a newbie and
> recent convert to the world of gEDA and have been
> really struggling trying to understand it all!

Hello, and welcome...

> The first thing is that when one looks thru Bill
> Wilson's really helpful gsch2pcb_Tutorial, there is a
> link to a library of transistor symbols and elements
> that Bill created. The URL is in the "Custom File
> Elements" section of the document:
> http://www.geda.seul.org/docs/current/tutorials/gsch2pcb/gsch2pcb-libs-20040110.tar.gz
> 
> Unfortunately it leads to an object not found page.
> Would anyone have a copy of this library? 

I don't unfortunately, perhaps someone else will be able to help though.

> So, if I have a BC550 NPN GENERAL PURPOSE TRANSISTOR,
> what are the preferred values to give:
> 
> Device=?
> Description=?
> 
> My guess is that:
> 
> Device=NPN TRANSISTOR
> Description= BC550 NPN GENERAL PURPOSE TRANSISTOR
> 
> Would this be correct or would you suggest some other
> values?

Those sounds good to me. As a general rule though, these are for your
benefit. This said, SPICE or gnucap backends may attach meaning to the
Device= attribute. In the existing symbols, see mostly:

device=NPN_TRANSISTOR

There is also device=SPICE-NPN

(Note its "device" not "Device", similarly "description").

Also might be of interest, is the attribute:

"documentation=" If you set the attribute to a URL, then you can
access that URL in a web-browser from the menu
"Hierarchy->Documentation" when you have a pacticular component
selected.

> My next problem is with the pins. I think what is most
> important is that the pin numbers of the symbol pins
> match the physical pin numbers of the particular
> transistor when placed inside the PCB. Difficult with
> TO92 as there are lots of em ;)

Yes, a common problem. Also, rather surprisingly I can't find a TO92
package in PCB. My suggestion would be (if you're targeting PCB for
board design), to find the right footprint in PCB and match your
pinnumbers in your specific symbol.

Al Davis or Start Brorson may be able to answer more about the
requirements for using gnucap or some SPICE variant to simulate your
design.

You might take a look at:

http://www.brorson.com/gEDA/
http://www.brorson.com/gEDA/SPICE/


> As you know... these small package transistors have
> specific manufacturer numbered legs. In the case of my
> BC550, I have a Leg #1 (Collector), Leg #2 (Base) and
> Leg #3(Emitter).
> 
> Does it matter say if pinseq=1 is where transistor Leg
>  #2 goes? Can we attach any Leg # to any pinseq#?

pinseq defines the output ordering for the spice backend. (And allows us
to reference specific pins which might have different pinnumbers when
using "slotted" components (e.g. one opamp symbol for all opamps in a
chip with 2 or 4 inside).

For SPICE, the order you _need_ pinseq incrementing is:

collector (pinseq=1), base (pinseq=2) , emitter (pinseq=3). If you were
modelling a transistor in an IC design, you could also hook up to the
silicon substrate of the transistor with pinseq=4.

> On the subject of pinnumber, what would a better
> approach be? Should I use values of 1, 2 and 3? Or
> would it be smarter to use values of E, B and C for my
> transistor symbol?

You can do either, so long as the pin names in PCB match the pinnumber
in gschem. pinnumber also works with letters - it just means that you'd
be making specific PCB footprints for all the TO92 pinout variants you
want to use.

> On the subject of pintype for transistors, what should
> I be using? pas? I am uncertain how open collector and
> emmiter fit into the picture here. As I might wish to
> one day run spice... I would really appreciate some
> info on what values I should be setting for the E, B &
> C legs on my transistors.

pas sounds good to me, but its probably not generally appropriate. Those
values are only used by the design rule checker, and appear to be much
more geared to digital logic - where there are clear power, input,
output pins etc.. The purpose would be to check (for example) there
aren't two outputs connected together, or inputs which aren't driven.

> For pinlabel, would it be correct to say that I do not
> need to include this attribute unless I am connecting
> a particular transistor leg to another schematic
> somewhere else? Or do I need to include this
> attribute. If so.. what would I label them for the E,
> B & C legs on my transistors?

I'd add it if it improves clarity. I generally use them to show the
signal names of signals on more complex chips. Eg. "IRQ" "D0" "A12",
etc..

> Well guys... thank so much for your time going thru
> this. Really appreciate it!

No problem, we hope you enjoy using gEDA - any further queries, just ask
here.

Best wishes,

-- 
Peter Clifton

Electrical Engineering Division,
Engineering Department,
University of Cambridge,
9, JJ Thomson Avenue,
Cambridge
CB3 0FA

Tel: +44 (0)7729 980173 - (No signal in the la

gEDA-user: Hello, Bills missing transistors and Attribute questions

2008-03-30 Thread Mark
Hi Everyone

Thanks so much for looking!

My names Mark and I am from Malaysia. Im a newbie and
recent convert to the world of gEDA and have been
really struggling trying to understand it all! I must
have put in about 2 solid weeks of reading most of the
gschem documentation. Slowly slowly I am figuring it
out! I think one of the big problems is more that I am
from a mechanical background and have little to non
experience with EDA.

Having said that, I really like the interface of
gschem and hope to be able to get to use it well!
Anyhows I am writing in to you all with the hope
that some kind souls could help with a few things...

The first thing is that when one looks thru Bill
Wilson's really helpful gsch2pcb_Tutorial, there is a
link to a library of transistor symbols and elements
that Bill created. The URL is in the "Custom File
Elements" section of the document:
http://www.geda.seul.org/docs/current/tutorials/gsch2pcb/gsch2pcb-libs-20040110.tar.gz

Unfortunately it leads to an object not found page.
Would anyone have a copy of this library? 

This library is of particular interest to me as Bill
discusses the problems of correlating all the various
TO92 pin outs in gschem with PCB.

My next question is about the Symbol Attributes.

Lets say I wish to make a symbol for a BC550
transistor. As I would be using this particular device
a lot, I would like to make this symbol as correctly
as I can.

So, if I have a BC550 NPN GENERAL PURPOSE TRANSISTOR,
what are the preferred values to give:

Device=?
Description=?

My guess is that:

Device=NPN TRANSISTOR
Description= BC550 NPN GENERAL PURPOSE TRANSISTOR

Would this be correct or would you suggest some other
values?


My next problem is with the pins. I think what is most
important is that the pin numbers of the symbol pins
match the physical pin numbers of the particular
transistor when placed inside the PCB. Difficult with
TO92 as there are lots of em ;)

As you know... these small package transistors have
specific manufacturer numbered legs. In the case of my
BC550, I have a Leg #1 (Collector), Leg #2 (Base) and
Leg #3(Emitter).

Does it matter say if pinseq=1 is where transistor Leg
 #2 goes? Can we attach any Leg # to any pinseq#?

On the subject of pinnumber, what would a better
approach be? Should I use values of 1, 2 and 3? Or
would it be smarter to use values of E, B and C for my
transistor symbol?

On the subject of pintype for transistors, what should
I be using? pas? I am uncertain how open collector and
emmiter fit into the picture here. As I might wish to
one day run spice... I would really appreciate some
info on what values I should be setting for the E, B &
C legs on my transistors.

For pinlabel, would it be correct to say that I do not
need to include this attribute unless I am connecting
a particular transistor leg to another schematic
somewhere else? Or do I need to include this
attribute. If so.. what would I label them for the E,
B & C legs on my transistors?

Well guys... thank so much for your time going thru
this. Really appreciate it!

Regards

Mark















  

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