New electronic design and layout software

[Simon Clark]

Hi,

I know that there are many cheap and cheerful electronic design
products out there as well as some very capable and expensive ones,
but it has often seemed to me that the cheap software is often too
cheap and not very useable whilst the capable software is often way
too expensive for many professionals let alone enthusiasts and
students.

As a result, I have been working on a product for a number of years
that I hope will bridge the gap between these two extremes. It's
nearly ready for mainstream release right now, well I believe it is,
but I would really value input from people that have used these
products before, such as members of this group.

Already this is a very capable and mature product and it has been
successfully used to design and layout many single and multi-layer
boards. You can download the beta from my website www.otl.co.uk right
now and in return for your valuable input (as well as free use during
the beta test program) I will offer a substantial discount when the
software is finally released.

Kind Regards,
Simon Clark

 

[Seg]

On Wed, 10 Mar 2004 11:00:38 -0800, Simon Clark wrote:

Hi,

I know that there are many cheap and cheerful electronic design
products out there as well as some very capable and expensive ones,
but it has often seemed to me that the cheap software is often too
cheap and not very useable whilst the capable software is often way
too expensive for many professionals let alone enthusiasts and
students.

As a result, I have been working on a product for a number of years
that I hope will bridge the gap between these two extremes. It's
nearly ready for mainstream release right now, well I believe it is,
but I would really value input from people that have used these
products before, such as members of this group.

Already this is a very capable and mature product and it has been
successfully used to design and layout many single and multi-layer
boards. You can download the beta from my website www.otl.co.uk right
now and in return for your valuable input (as well as free use during
the beta test program) I will offer a substantial discount when the
software is finally released.

Kind Regards,
Simon Clark

No linux version!... Shame on you. I'll have to stick to Vutrax.

Wonder if it would run under wine?

 

[Paul Burke]

Simon Clark wrote:

You can download the beta from my website www.otl.co.uk right
now and in return for your valuable input (as well as free use during
the beta test program) I will offer a substantial discount when the
software is finally released.

Not on your bleeding nelly. You want us to REGISTER to do your testing
for free? Sod off.

Paul Burke

 

[Apollo]

"Paul Burke" <paul@scazon.com> wrote

Simon Clark wrote:
You can download the beta from my website www.otl.co.uk right
now and in return for your valuable input (as well as free use during
the beta test program) I will offer a substantial discount when the
software is finally released.

Not on your bleeding nelly. You want us to REGISTER to do your testing
for free? Sod off.

Paul Burke

Hmmm... he only seems to want your name and email address -
that seems to be as much as you provided in posting this
usenet article. I will have a look at the SW, probably.

 

[Don Prescott]

Hi Simon

Downloaded your beta and had a look. It's obviously some way off
being ready yet.

OK, my opinion as a previous user of PADs, Protel, Easy-PC and now a
user of Pulsonix - It really depends what you're trying to do here.
If it's the creation of a hobbyist product as a pastime pursuit for
you, then good on you. If it's to try and start a business in PCB
layout software then I would think again. There's a several good
products out there competing in a small and overcrowded market. The
law of the EDA jungle is only the fittest will survive. A one man
start-up is unlikely to make it in such a mature market unless you
come-up with something quite remarkable that nobody else has thought
of.

Last year the UK company Quickroute went out of business - with a
similar product. The UK AutoTRAX product, from another one man
operation, is still really only at beta standard after a couple of
years on the market, spending a bomb on advertising it as "free", and
is now trying to survive on a near give-away price. From what I see,
very few if any commercial companies use it.

You have two main classes of user for such a product - enthusiast and
professional. The enthusiast/hobbyist will tolerate a lot of
wrinkles; the professional will be far less sympathetic. They are
only interested in getting commercial quality designs out on time.

Ask yourself why would a customer spend say Ł50 on my product when he
can get capable and supported tools such as Eagle or the excellent
Easy-PC for Windows for around Ł100 upwards...??

Best of luck anyway....

Don Prescott

 

[John Jardine]

Simon Clark <simonclark@otl.co.uk> wrote in message
news:26212dec.0403101100.1f389f8a@posting.google.com...

Hi,

I know that there are many cheap and cheerful electronic design
products out there as well as some very capable and expensive ones,
but it has often seemed to me that the cheap software is often too
cheap and not very useable whilst the capable software is often way
too expensive for many professionals let alone enthusiasts and
students.

As a result, I have been working on a product for a number of years
that I hope will bridge the gap between these two extremes. It's
nearly ready for mainstream release right now, well I believe it is,
but I would really value input from people that have used these
products before, such as members of this group.

Already this is a very capable and mature product and it has been
successfully used to design and layout many single and multi-layer
boards. You can download the beta from my website www.otl.co.uk right
now and in return for your valuable input (as well as free use during
the beta test program) I will offer a substantial discount when the
software is finally released.

Kind Regards,
Simon Clark

Yet another damded PCB programme I've downloaded at 3k bytes/sec on dialup,
only to discover it only works on stuff after windows 98.
One day I may learn how to read the bumph on the download page :-(

 

[Stephan Rose]

On Fri, 12 Mar 2004 02:51:41 -0000, "John Jardine"
<john@jjdesigns.fsnet.co.uk> wrote:

Simon Clark <simonclark@otl.co.uk> wrote in message
news:26212dec.0403101100.1f389f8a@posting.google.com...
Hi,

I know that there are many cheap and cheerful electronic design
products out there as well as some very capable and expensive ones,
but it has often seemed to me that the cheap software is often too
cheap and not very useable whilst the capable software is often way
too expensive for many professionals let alone enthusiasts and
students.

As a result, I have been working on a product for a number of years
that I hope will bridge the gap between these two extremes. It's
nearly ready for mainstream release right now, well I believe it is,
but I would really value input from people that have used these
products before, such as members of this group.

Already this is a very capable and mature product and it has been
successfully used to design and layout many single and multi-layer
boards. You can download the beta from my website www.otl.co.uk right
now and in return for your valuable input (as well as free use during
the beta test program) I will offer a substantial discount when the
software is finally released.

Kind Regards,
Simon Clark

Yet another damded PCB programme I've downloaded at 3k bytes/sec on dialup,
only to discover it only works on stuff after windows 98.
One day I may learn how to read the bumph on the download page :-(

Try mine

a mere 2 megs.....90% of which is the installer package

and it will run on win98 or above....

Though of course it's just the 1st portion of it in beta. (basic
library editor). Rest is still to come soon....

Stephan

 

[Paul Burridge]

On Fri, 12 Mar 2004 02:51:41 -0000, "John Jardine"
<john@jjdesigns.fsnet.co.uk> wrote:

Yet another damded PCB programme I've downloaded at 3k bytes/sec on dialup,
only to discover it only works on stuff after windows 98.

Don't be tempted to 'upgrade' to anything post '98, John. Anything
other than a clean new installation and up-to-date drivers creates
horrible problems. :-(
--

The BBC: Licensed at public expense to spread lies.

 

[Fred Bartoli]

"Paul Burridge" <pb@osiris1.notthisbit.co.uk> a écrit dans le message news:
1j2350d5gjofhl6g1batdt7gavcukd2skf@4ax.com...

On Fri, 12 Mar 2004 02:51:41 -0000, "John Jardine"
john@jjdesigns.fsnet.co.uk> wrote:

Yet another damded PCB programme I've downloaded at 3k bytes/sec on
dialup,
only to discover it only works on stuff after windows 98.

Don't be tempted to 'upgrade' to anything post '98, John. Anything
other than a clean new installation and up-to-date drivers creates
horrible problems. :-(
--

Well, I don't like M$ very much and I don't want to defend them in any way
but I use it alot.
W2K proves to be decently (by MS standards) stable, much much more than W98.
I used both, and in a pretty heavy manner.

I think you can't base your judgement upon your experience, which is (from
reading many of your posts) mixing OS versions and old drivers and making a
big salad with all that. This is a sure receipt for disaster.
Don't blame on M$ but on you who call for the result.

After all, would you expect to drive for a long time your brand new car
equipped with 50 years old wheels ?


Fred.

 

[Leon Heller]

"Paul Burridge" <pb@osiris1.notthisbit.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1j2350d5gjofhl6g1batdt7gavcukd2skf@4ax.com...

On Fri, 12 Mar 2004 02:51:41 -0000, "John Jardine"
john@jjdesigns.fsnet.co.uk> wrote:

Yet another damded PCB programme I've downloaded at 3k bytes/sec on
dialup,
only to discover it only works on stuff after windows 98.

Don't be tempted to 'upgrade' to anything post '98, John. Anything
other than a clean new installation and up-to-date drivers creates
horrible problems. :-(

I've just installed XP Home, not an upgrade. Initially it was very flaky but
after downloading all the updates (it kept crashing even while downloading
them so I had to do it a few at a time) it seems to be very stable. Despite
my antipathy to M$ I'm quite impressed. Broadband Internet access is much
faster than WinME, for some reason.

Leon

 

[Simon Clark]

Don,

I take your points very seriously and agree with you.

I would really appreciate however knowing what caused you to
come to the conclusion that it's 'obviously some way off being
ready yet'. I have been using it on projects over a number of
years now and can very quickly take them through to manufacture.

What is fundamentally missing or wrong with it in your opinion
compared to any similar product such as the ones you mentioned?

I have always thought of performance EDA as a product that 'does
what it says on the tin'. It's really easy to use for schematic
capture and layout. It has super fast look up/place and edit
features and it's output (printed/Gerber) is 1st class.

I started writing this product about 10 years ago because I
disliked the user interfaces and clunkiness of everything else
out there that I could afford. In that time, EDA products have
come and gone but none seem to have learned from the failings
of their predecessors. My experience suggests that even the
most expensive products out there today lack the ease of use
that mainstream tool vendors offer their users.

Yes, I want both the hobbyist and professional to be able to
use and afford performance EDA. It's true; I am hoping that guys
like you will help me find bugs and iron out problems but I can
assure you that it's been developed and regression tested constantly
over the years and although there will be bugs in it, I don't
believe that there is anything that stops it from being used to
produce professional result.

Thanks for your comments; I do appreciate the time you've taken.

Best regards,
Simon Clark



DMBPrescott@aol.com (Don Prescott) wrote in message news:<7fb54666.0403110315.38238d69@posting.google.com>...

Hi Simon

Downloaded your beta and had a look. It's obviously some way off
being ready yet.

OK, my opinion as a previous user of PADs, Protel, Easy-PC and now a
user of Pulsonix - It really depends what you're trying to do here.
If it's the creation of a hobbyist product as a pastime pursuit for
you, then good on you. If it's to try and start a business in PCB
layout software then I would think again. There's a several good
products out there competing in a small and overcrowded market. The
law of the EDA jungle is only the fittest will survive. A one man
start-up is unlikely to make it in such a mature market unless you
come-up with something quite remarkable that nobody else has thought
of.

Last year the UK company Quickroute went out of business - with a
similar product. The UK AutoTRAX product, from another one man
operation, is still really only at beta standard after a couple of
years on the market, spending a bomb on advertising it as "free", and
is now trying to survive on a near give-away price. From what I see,
very few if any commercial companies use it.

You have two main classes of user for such a product - enthusiast and
professional. The enthusiast/hobbyist will tolerate a lot of
wrinkles; the professional will be far less sympathetic. They are
only interested in getting commercial quality designs out on time.

Ask yourself why would a customer spend say Ł50 on my product when he
can get capable and supported tools such as Eagle or the excellent
Easy-PC for Windows for around Ł100 upwards...??

Best of luck anyway....

Don Prescott

 

[David Brown]

"Fred Bartoli"
<fred._canxxxel_this_bartoli@RemoveThatAlso_free.fr_AndThisToo> wrote in
message news:40519c8d$0$288$626a14ce@news.free.fr...

"Paul Burridge" <pb@osiris1.notthisbit.co.uk> a écrit dans le message
news:
1j2350d5gjofhl6g1batdt7gavcukd2skf@4ax.com...
On Fri, 12 Mar 2004 02:51:41 -0000, "John Jardine"
john@jjdesigns.fsnet.co.uk> wrote:

Yet another damded PCB programme I've downloaded at 3k bytes/sec on
dialup,
only to discover it only works on stuff after windows 98.

Don't be tempted to 'upgrade' to anything post '98, John. Anything
other than a clean new installation and up-to-date drivers creates
horrible problems. :-(
--


Well, I don't like M$ very much and I don't want to defend them in any way
but I use it alot.
W2K proves to be decently (by MS standards) stable, much much more than
W98.
I used both, and in a pretty heavy manner.

I think you can't base your judgement upon your experience, which is (from
reading many of your posts) mixing OS versions and old drivers and making
a
big salad with all that. This is a sure receipt for disaster.
Don't blame on M$ but on you who call for the result.

After all, would you expect to drive for a long time your brand new car
equipped with 50 years old wheels ?

I think his point was that you shouldn't upgrade, but do a clean install.
W2K is far better than Win98 in almost every way, but avoid any attempt to
upgrade windows forks while keeping old settings...

 

[Kevin Aylward]

Simon Clark wrote:

Don,

I take your points very seriously and agree with you.

I would really appreciate however knowing what caused you to
come to the conclusion that it's 'obviously some way off being
ready yet'. I have been using it on projects over a number of
years now and can very quickly take them through to manufacture.

What is fundamentally missing or wrong with it in your opinion
compared to any similar product such as the ones you mentioned?

I have always thought of performance EDA as a product that 'does
what it says on the tin'. It's really easy to use for schematic
capture and layout. It has super fast look up/place and edit
features and it's output (printed/Gerber) is 1st class.

I started writing this product about 10 years ago because I
disliked the user interfaces and clunkiness of everything else
out there that I could afford. In that time, EDA products have
come and gone but none seem to have learned from the failings
of their predecessors. My experience suggests that even the
most expensive products out there today lack the ease of use
that mainstream tool vendors offer their users.

Its interesting that every one says things like this, but they still
have the un friendly bit anyway

I have only had a little skim so far, but it has some immediate very
irritating quirks. What's with the help window always on top deal.
arhh.....says he as finger nails go down the blackboard. One wants to
be able to click back and forth from schematic to the help. You also
need to get the help to be context sensitive into whatever dialog is in
view.

I couldn't figure out how to simply edit an existing symbol. What's
wrong with a simple right click on the part in the library with "Edit
Symbol" on it? The only way I managed to get the symbol editor up was to
create a new one. What about a double click on the components to pop up
its properties etc.., All standard windows standards.

Help Window state is not saved. e.g. evertime the help restarts, it
comes up with its default (and crap) size and position. what about save
grid on/off state?

Wires need rubberbanding.

How do you change and see the net names?

Oh cut out the tips. I have yet to know of *anyone* who wants these daft
things popping up, ever.

I personally find all these little blemishes a right annoyance. It puts
me off trying to look any deeper.

Kevin Aylward
salesEXTRACT@anasoft.co.uk
http://www.anasoft.co.uk
SuperSpice, a very affordable Mixed-Mode
Windows Simulator with Schematic Capture,
Waveform Display, FFT's and Filter Design.

http://www.anasoft.co.uk/NewBeginning.mp3

"quotes with no meaning, are meaningless" - Kevin Aylward.

 

[Leon Heller]

"Simon Clark" <simonclark@otl.co.uk> wrote in message
news:26212dec.0403101100.1f389f8a@posting.google.com...

Hi,

I know that there are many cheap and cheerful electronic design
products out there as well as some very capable and expensive ones,
but it has often seemed to me that the cheap software is often too
cheap and not very useable whilst the capable software is often way
too expensive for many professionals let alone enthusiasts and
students.

As a result, I have been working on a product for a number of years
that I hope will bridge the gap between these two extremes. It's
nearly ready for mainstream release right now, well I believe it is,
but I would really value input from people that have used these
products before, such as members of this group.

Already this is a very capable and mature product and it has been
successfully used to design and layout many single and multi-layer
boards. You can download the beta from my website www.otl.co.uk right
now and in return for your valuable input (as well as free use during
the beta test program) I will offer a substantial discount when the
software is finally released.

I had a quick play with the package and found it quite unintuitive and
difficult to use, like Eagle. I suppose I'm spoilt, having used EasyPC and
now Pulsonix for many years.

Leon

 

[Mike Shonle]

I agree, it's not ready for prime time --

I kept crashing it by pressing 'escape' (usually the 'mode cancel' key).
In addition, after placing some components and running wires between them, I
was dismayed to find that moving the parts didn't keep the wires connected.
Then I tried moving a wire and was confused and amused that each segment
would detach itself from the adjacent segments instead of stretching when
moved!

-Mike


"Simon Clark" <simonclark@otl.co.uk> wrote in message
news:26212dec.0403101100.1f389f8a@posting.google.com...

Hi,

I know that there are many cheap and cheerful electronic design
products out there as well as some very capable and expensive ones,
but it has often seemed to me that the cheap software is often too
cheap and not very useable whilst the capable software is often way
too expensive for many professionals let alone enthusiasts and
students.

As a result, I have been working on a product for a number of years
that I hope will bridge the gap between these two extremes. It's
nearly ready for mainstream release right now, well I believe it is,
but I would really value input from people that have used these
products before, such as members of this group.

Already this is a very capable and mature product and it has been
successfully used to design and layout many single and multi-layer
boards. You can download the beta from my website www.otl.co.uk right
now and in return for your valuable input (as well as free use during
the beta test program) I will offer a substantial discount when the
software is finally released.

Kind Regards,
Simon Clark

 

[John Jardine]

Paul Burridge <pb@osiris1.notthisbit.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1j2350d5gjofhl6g1batdt7gavcukd2skf@4ax.com...

On Fri, 12 Mar 2004 02:51:41 -0000, "John Jardine"
john@jjdesigns.fsnet.co.uk> wrote:

Yet another damded PCB programme I've downloaded at 3k bytes/sec on
dialup,
only to discover it only works on stuff after windows 98.

Don't be tempted to 'upgrade' to anything post '98, John. Anything
other than a clean new installation and up-to-date drivers creates
horrible problems. :-(
--

The BBC: Licensed at public expense to spread lies.

I think this identifies the problem I have with the MS stuff. Over the years
I've taken a simplistic view that I should need *no* knowledge of the OS. It
should just be there as a background utility programme that takes care of
running the keyboard, discs, screen, time sharing, etc. A newer, fancier
windows OS programme should (in my warped thinking!) just require inserting
the disc and pressing the 'install' button. Hey presto, jobs a good 'un!.
Unfortunately I find the windows OS is constantly in my face. From the time
I'm attempting to switch the PC on/off through to the lockouts, Bsods etc
when I'm trying to run a programme.
I'm sure that the newer windows offer improvement over '98 but am very
reluctant to go through the due installation process. Perhaps more so
reading that the new stuff won't even work if you change the PC parts or
without being in constant contact with MS. (how do people with no phone or
Internet go on?).

Reading the group posts/computer mags/newspapers, over the years I'm still
honestly trying to get my head round the amount of *time* that people are
prepared to put aside (I won't unfairly say "waste") in pursuit of keeping
their PC's up and running. Myself, I simply haven't this amount of time to
spare. The PC's switched off much of the time, when on, it's used mainly
for data sheet finding, Word, Spice or drawing prog's. Time used for
anything else, such as reinstalling bad drivers, updates etc, is time where
I can't earn any money to allow paying off the mortgage or feeding the mog.
I sometimes reckon the worlds industrial/service sector workforce must be
esconced in employers offices for 8 hours a day .
regards
john

 

[Paul Burridge]

On Sat, 13 Mar 2004 01:54:21 -0000, "John Jardine"
<john@jjdesigns.fsnet.co.uk> wrote:

I think this identifies the problem I have with the MS stuff. Over the years
I've taken a simplistic view that I should need *no* knowledge of the OS. It
should just be there as a background utility programme that takes care of
running the keyboard, discs, screen, time sharing, etc. A newer, fancier
windows OS programme should (in my warped thinking!) just require inserting
the disc and pressing the 'install' button. Hey presto, jobs a good 'un!.
Unfortunately I find the windows OS is constantly in my face. From the time
I'm attempting to switch the PC on/off through to the lockouts, Bsods etc
when I'm trying to run a programme.
I'm sure that the newer windows offer improvement over '98 but am very
reluctant to go through the due installation process. Perhaps more so
reading that the new stuff won't even work if you change the PC parts or
without being in constant contact with MS. (how do people with no phone or
Internet go on?).

I'd formed the view that there was some kind of supernatural jinx on
me and computers until I read that article I referred everyone to (the
"I hate microsoft" web site). Upon reading that, it was such a relief
to learn that I was not alone! It hadn't dawned on me until then that
I'd never had a computer crash until the advent of Windows.
You're right to say the OS ought to just 'get on with the job' quietly
in the background and leave us to concentrate on the apps. Sadly,
that's not the way it works with Windows. I know I for one have
struggled valiantly over many solid weeks and months in total over the
last 10 years trying to fix bits of it that have gone tits-up as they
do - all too frequently. Gates has a lot to answer for. The world's
richest man rewarded for producing the world's *worst* operating
system and attempting to ensure *eveyone* is forced to use it. There's
no justice in this life. :-(

--

The BBC: Licensed at public expense to spread lies.

 

[Simon Clark]

Mike,

I've been alerted to the 'escape' issue in the schematic editor and
it's now been fixed. A work-around in this release is to press the
right hand mouse button to cancel the edit. You should be able to
continue from there.

It seems that stretching, moving and fixing up wires is a much more
serious issue so I'll look at putting a good solution into the next
release.

Again, thanks for this feedback. It's very much appreciated.

Kind Regards,
Simon Clark


"Mike Shonle" <mike@psychonic.net> wrote in message news:<6OucndzfuOSGrc_dRWPC-g@speakeasy.net>...

I agree, it's not ready for prime time --

I kept crashing it by pressing 'escape' (usually the 'mode cancel' key).
In addition, after placing some components and running wires between them, I
was dismayed to find that moving the parts didn't keep the wires connected.
Then I tried moving a wire and was confused and amused that each segment
would detach itself from the adjacent segments instead of stretching when
moved!

-Mike

 

[Russell Shaw]

Paul Burridge wrote:

On Sat, 13 Mar 2004 01:54:21 -0000, "John Jardine"
john@jjdesigns.fsnet.co.uk> wrote:


I think this identifies the problem I have with the MS stuff. Over the years
I've taken a simplistic view that I should need *no* knowledge of the OS. It
should just be there as a background utility programme that takes care of
running the keyboard, discs, screen, time sharing, etc. A newer, fancier
windows OS programme should (in my warped thinking!) just require inserting
the disc and pressing the 'install' button. Hey presto, jobs a good 'un!.
Unfortunately I find the windows OS is constantly in my face. From the time
I'm attempting to switch the PC on/off through to the lockouts, Bsods etc
when I'm trying to run a programme.
I'm sure that the newer windows offer improvement over '98 but am very
reluctant to go through the due installation process. Perhaps more so
reading that the new stuff won't even work if you change the PC parts or
without being in constant contact with MS. (how do people with no phone or
Internet go on?).


I'd formed the view that there was some kind of supernatural jinx on
me and computers until I read that article I referred everyone to (the
"I hate microsoft" web site). Upon reading that, it was such a relief
to learn that I was not alone! It hadn't dawned on me until then that
I'd never had a computer crash until the advent of Windows.
You're right to say the OS ought to just 'get on with the job' quietly
in the background and leave us to concentrate on the apps. Sadly,
that's not the way it works with Windows. I know I for one have
struggled valiantly over many solid weeks and months in total over the
last 10 years trying to fix bits of it that have gone tits-up as they
do - all too frequently. Gates has a lot to answer for. The world's
richest man rewarded for producing the world's *worst* operating
system and attempting to ensure *eveyone* is forced to use it. There's
no justice in this life. :-(

The turning point was win95. Up to that point, it was *your* computer,
and you new what everything was doing. It was no problem to xcopy the
HDD and OS to another and get it to work. With 'doze, try copying the
windows/winnt directory. Of course, you'll get "file in use" error.
Your hardware is stolen from you and you are forced to be just another
stupid beige-box appliance operator, dumbed down to the lowest common
denominator of drooling mouse clicking EULA morons.

If you really want to get back to the good ol' dos days but have state-
of-the-art multitasking and networking, linux/bsd is the only way. Of
course, installing a pointy clicky gui distro will get no one closer
to the command line and innards. Best to do a basic text install of
debian/gentoo/slack or some other no-nonsense os. Don't abandon the
windoze box yet. Take time to understand the workings and maintenance
of the system. Read howtos, newsgroups, join email lists etc. It can
take months to get very familiar with the system, but then you can
finally dump windoze. <bias>definitely install an apt-get system
such as debian or a derivative of it and not an rpm one if you
want to have less headaches with package installations</bias>
So be warned, the path to enlightenment is a bit rocky

 

[Simon Clark]

Kevin,

I have only had a little skim so far, but it has some immediate very
irritating quirks. What's with the help window always on top deal.
arhh.....says he as finger nails go down the blackboard. One wants to
be able to click back and forth from schematic to the help. You also
need to get the help to be context sensitive into whatever dialog is in
view.

I can understand your point about the help staying on top but the
common alternatives are: -

1. The help is hidden as soon as you click on the application so you
cant follow the help and work at the same time.
2. The help system resizes your application windows automatically and
sits to one side.

Do you have a preference or an alternative?

Context sensitive help IS really useful. I'll see if it can get it
into the next release.

I couldn't figure out how to simply edit an existing symbol. What's
wrong with a simple right click on the part in the library with "Edit
Symbol" on it? The only way I managed to get the symbol editor up was to
create a new one. What about a double click on the components to pop up
its properties etc.., All standard windows standards.

Properties are always shown in the properties toolbox in relation to
what is currently selected. Double clicking on an item to open a modal
(cant do anything else until it's closed) dialog boxe tends to be one
of the less intuitive ways of working with graphical software. On the
other hand, selecting an item and seeing it's properties at all times
is very useful. If you're interested in an items properties you just
select it. Also, from the same properties window, being able to simply
edit a property for example, or being able to edit the same property
in one hit when many items have been selected is a fast, easy,
powerful and intuitive way to work.

Help Window state is not saved. e.g. evertime the help restarts, it
comes up with its default (and crap) size and position. what about save
grid on/off state?

I'll look into this along with context sensitive help.

Wires need rubberbanding.

This has been picked up on another thread and there will be a solution
in the next beta release.

How do you change and see the net names?

You can change (or force) a named net by placing label text that sits
on a wire. (Can I assume from what you've said in your next point that
you don't want a tool tip to pop up and tell you the name of the net?
I guess not!)

Oh cut out the tips. I have yet to know of *anyone* who wants these daft
things popping up, ever.

Tool tips were added because its useful to be able to see, at a
glance, information about an item of interest. When a component is
dropped onto a schematic it's great to be able to see, without opening
a dialog box and without even looking away from where you're working,
properties that are not obvious. If you move the mouse over a resistor
and it tells you it's an MF25 or a 3W wirewound then you have instant
access to important technical information about the design. If you
move the mouse over a pin and it tells you it's an output then you
know not to connect it to another output for example.

I do understand that tooltips are not to everyones taste and accept
that some of them are also redundant. It wont be any problem to add a
preference to turn them off as well as reduce the general number of
tips that pop up.

It's been good to have your feedback.

Best Regards,
Simon Clark