Re: [PROTEL EDA USERS]: No Net assignments on tracks & vias...

[Brian Guralnick <brian@innerdimension.com>]

Hi Ian,

    Thanks for the reply.  I do know about the disabling of the avoid
obstacle, but as you pointed out, this would just make a mess of things.

    The rule I was describing for manual routing is only for manual routing.
I wouldn't want any auto function, or fills to plow thru all the 'No Net's.

    The rule would be for the manual routing only.  Protel should really add
a new net class.  When adding new copper like via, pad, or track, or from
copy & pasting, instead of declaring the new items 'No Net', they should be
call 'Free Net'.  Now when manually routing, allow the 'Free Net' items to
be auto renamed when joined to a real net.  Remember, once the 'Free Net'
part and it's connected items gets renamed to a real net, it can no longer
be renamed again securing the connected structure to it's new net to prevent
the generation of multiple connections.

    Obviously, the addition is only good if it helps you engineer boards
without creating new problems when used, otherwise you should just turn off
the avoid obstacle and create an even bigger mess. :)

    I think I'll suggest this addition to Protel.  Does anyone know of an
email link to someone within Protel where this might get some attention?

Thanks for the suggestions,
    Brian Guralnick.


----- Original Message -----
From: "Ian Wilson" <considered@ozemail.com.au>
To: "Multiple recipients of list proteledausers"
<proteledausers@techservinc.com>
Sent: Friday, September 01, 2000 7:40 AM
Subject: Re: [PROTEL EDA USERS]: No Net assignments on tracks & vias...


> On 06:15 AM 1/09/2000 -0400, Brian Guralnick said:
> >Ok,
> >
> >     That's it, now I'm really annoyed.
> >
> >     How come in Protel99SE PCB, vias & tracks who's nets are 'No Net' do
NOT
> >automatically change their net names to which ever other net'd items I
> >connect them to?
> >
> >     Example:  If I create a grid of vias or tracks, or multiple conected
> >items which end up with the default 'No Net', why am I unable to just
start
> >routing from the via, or the track, or an existing item with a real net,
and
> >just join the 2?  The manual router should never consider 'No Net' items
as
> >obstacles with regard to any real net'd item.  When a 'No Net' item is
> >joined to an actual net'd item, the router should change all the
physically
> >connected 'No Net' items to the new actual net.
> >
> >     Have I missed an option or setting within Protel?
> >
> >Completely frustraited out of my mind,
> >     Brian Guralnick.
>
> So should a poly pour with Net GND should just pour over NoNet mounting
> holes - making them GNDs? I think not.
>
> You do have a point - when manually routing maybe we should be able to
hold
> the CNTRL key as we click and the connected copper will then take up the
> new net.  Could get interesting when mistakes are made but it might be
> useful occasionally.
>
> You can set the placement mode to Ignore Obstacle - which will allow you
to
> make the connection but will give an DRC.  There are a number of ways
these
> DRC errors can be removed up to and including using the Netlist
> Manager...|Menu|Update Free Primitives from Pads command.  (Ignore
Obstacle
> routing mode is set in Design|Options or is it Tools|Preferences - look
for
> the drop list with options Push Obstacles, Ignore Obstacles and Avoid(?)
> Obstacles.
>
> Ian Wilson
>
>
>
>
>