Has anyone used ExpressSCH software to build schematics?

[Dave]

I am trying to learn to use this software, and have run into some
difficulty. After having built the schematic, I check it for netlist
errors, and it tells me that my transistors do not have their pins numbered
(each one, one at a time...). More than that, it doesn't seem to let me
number the pins. Wonderful. I'll go back and try rereading the help guide
and user manual, but was wondering if anyone else had successfully used this
software, or it's related product, ExpressPCB.

About to give up and check out Eagle, by CADSoft (sp?).

Thanks,

Dave

 

[Rich Webb]

On Sat, 3 Dec 2011 20:43:06 -0600, "Dave" <db5151@hotmail.com> wrote:

I am trying to learn to use this software, and have run into some
difficulty. After having built the schematic, I check it for netlist
errors, and it tells me that my transistors do not have their pins numbered
(each one, one at a time...). More than that, it doesn't seem to let me
number the pins. Wonderful. I'll go back and try rereading the help guide
and user manual, but was wondering if anyone else had successfully used this
software, or it's related product, ExpressPCB.

About to give up and check out Eagle, by CADSoft (sp?).

Also look at Kicad and gEDA. Each is free (libre and as in beer) and
each has active communities supporting them.

gEDA is available for Linux and Mac OSX platforms. There is no official
MS Windows build. From the download page readme, "if you want a Windows
version, please feel free to grab the sources and try to build one
yourself."

Kicad has official builds for Windows and Linux. I've been using it for
home/hobby projects as well as for "real" (for work) projects for
several years.

It includes editors for components (schematic capture symbols) and
modules (PCB parts footprints).

gEDA is at <http://www.gpleda.org/> and Kicad over at
<http://kicad.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page>

--
Rich Webb Norfolk, VA

 

On Sat, 3 Dec 2011 20:43:06 -0600, "Dave" <db5151@hotmail.com> wrote:

I am trying to learn to use this software, and have run into some
difficulty. After having built the schematic, I check it for netlist
errors, and it tells me that my transistors do not have their pins numbered
(each one, one at a time...). More than that, it doesn't seem to let me
number the pins. Wonderful. I'll go back and try rereading the help guide
and user manual, but was wondering if anyone else had successfully used this
software, or it's related product, ExpressPCB.

About to give up and check out Eagle, by CADSoft (sp?).

Thanks,

Dave

DipTrace has a free version that can handle 250 connections (500 if
you find a code on one if the experimenter forums.

It also can produce doubke-sided PC board files.

 

[JeffM]

Dave wrote:
I am trying to learn to use this software,
and have run into some difficulty.

Well, there's the mark of Good Software(tm). /sarcasm

That junk doesn't produce gerbers either;
you're tied to one vendor. 8-(

About to give up and check out Eagle, by CADSoft (sp?).

Cadsoft EAGLE (Easily Applicable Graphical Layout Editor)

Read this before going further with that lousy notion:
http://tinyurl.com/TheEAGLE-Virus

Before I'd advise you to give those asswipes any money,
I'd send you in this direction:
http://www.downseeker.com/download/256452/sprint-layout/

Rich Webb wrote:

Also look at Kicad and gEDA. Each is free (libre and as in beer)
and each has active communities supporting them.

Now we're talking!

The easiest way to test drive those:
http://google.com/search?q=%22.Fedora.Electronic.Lab%22
http://google.com/search?q=%22.Ubuntu.Electronics.Remix%22
Boot to the CD and run the entire OS from the plastic disk.
If it meets your needs, you *can* install the OS (dual-boot even).

You can also add packages to a basic Linux install.
http://packages.ubuntu.com/oneiric/electronics/#documentContent
Ubuntu has over 32,000 software packages gratis and libre,
just a few clicks away.
Fedora has over 20,000. Same deal.

 

[JeffM]

[Dipstick who uses an email address for a username] wrote:

DipTrace has a free version

....and it's worth every penny of that. /sarcasm

http://groups.google.com/group/sci.electronics.cad/browse_frm/thread/52009faec93768fb/f271b04533416ca8?q=can%27t-picture-that+zz-zz+*-bug-problems+DipTrace+*-you-have-nothing-else-to-stand-on+ww-ww+qq+not-a-nice-choice
http://tinyurl.com/DipTraceIsNotForSeriousWork

that can handle 250 connections

Ooooo. "Full-featured". /sarcasm

(500 if you find a code on one if the experimenter forums.

Gratis and libre apps beat the hell out of crippleware/trialware.

No DRM. No artificial restrictions. No proprietary file formats.
No stupid games at all.

It also can produce doubke-sided PC board files.

Out of the box, gEDA does 8 layers.

DJ Delorie (a gEDA developer)
has given examples hereabouts of just how versatile gEDA is:
http://groups.google.com/group/sci.electronics.cad/msg/48de1eeeb67614b2?q=recompile+zz+*-*-*-*-*-56-layer-*+zz-zz+qq+MAX_LAYER+zz-zz+qq-qq+zz+*-*-just-works

I can't find it now, but he also (again, just showing off)
had it configured to produce a 64ft x 64ft board.

Open Source Software is tweakable to produce what **you** want.
Try any of that with your closed-source junk
--even *after* you pay to get it uncrippled.

 

[Dave]

"Dave" <db5151@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:cYydnUmtA66jQ0fTnZ2dnUVZ_qadnZ2d@posted.internetamerica...

I am trying to learn to use this software, and have run into some
difficulty. After having built the schematic, I check it for netlist
errors, and it tells me that my transistors do not have their pins numbered
(each one, one at a time...). More than that, it doesn't seem to let me
number the pins. Wonderful. I'll go back and try rereading the help guide
and user manual, but was wondering if anyone else had successfully used
this software, or it's related product, ExpressPCB.

About to give up and check out Eagle, by CADSoft (sp?).

Thanks,

Dave

Hey all, Thanks for the feedback and input, but I was just doing something
wrong. Sent a note to support@ExpressPCB.com and got my answer back within
four hours. On a Sunday. And the asnwer was simple, would have known it
right off if I had read the user manual.

I'm sticking with this product for the moment, as it is also free, and when
I get through designing the schematic and PCB, I can email them the details
and they will build the board for me (if I want to do that, and I may.)
Might not be the cheapest way to proceed, but it seems reasonable at this
point. Or I can do my own board, just for the fun of it.

Anyway, I appreciate the input, but think I am staying put for the moment.

Dave

 

[Dave]

"Dave" <db5151@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:h8qdnV1jFv-bt0PTnZ2dnUVZ_rOdnZ2d@posted.internetamerica...

"Dave" <db5151@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:cYydnUmtA66jQ0fTnZ2dnUVZ_qadnZ2d@posted.internetamerica...
I am trying to learn to use this software, and have run into some
difficulty. After having built the schematic, I check it for netlist
errors, and it tells me that my transistors do not have their pins
numbered (each one, one at a time...). More than that, it doesn't seem to
let me number the pins. Wonderful. I'll go back and try rereading the
help guide and user manual, but was wondering if anyone else had
successfully used this software, or it's related product, ExpressPCB.

About to give up and check out Eagle, by CADSoft (sp?).

Thanks,

Dave



Hey all, Thanks for the feedback and input, but I was just doing
something wrong. Sent a note to support@ExpressPCB.com and got my answer
back within four hours. On a Sunday. And the asnwer was simple, would
have known it right off if I had read the user manual.

I'm sticking with this product for the moment, as it is also free, and
when I get through designing the schematic and PCB, I can email them the
details and they will build the board for me (if I want to do that, and I
may.) Might not be the cheapest way to proceed, but it seems reasonable at
this point. Or I can do my own board, just for the fun of it.

Anyway, I appreciate the input, but think I am staying put for the moment.

Dave

PS I don't have anything to do with this group, other than being a
satisfied user (so far.)

Dave

 

[JeffM]

Dave wrote:

I'm sticking with this product for the moment, as it is also free,

Not by my definition of "free"; I define free as giving freedom.

As already mentioned, that crap ties you to a single fab house.

and when I get through designing the schematic and PCB,
I can email them the details and they will build the board for me

aka "vendor lock-in".

Some people are so easily impressed.
You need to research the concept of "Gerbers".

(if I want to do that, and I may.)

That's THE ENTIRE POINT of the "free" (cr)app.

Or I can do my own board, just for the fun of it.

Have you tried to actually **print** from your junkware?

I suggest you research that as well--before you go any further.
http://groups.google.com/group/sci.electronics.design/msg/bef53e60787db493?q=*-*-*-limitations+zz+KiCAD+Printing+lock-in.ware+*-*-*-gerbers+gEDA