PowerPCB Libraries

[laurie]

Hi I am a new PowerPCB user AND a new forum user so please bare with me! I have been using Cadstar for the last 15 years and decided to purchase PowerPCB due to it's overall popularity in the industry. The problem is I will have to build my library from scratch. I found the PowerPCB library version 4 on this site but when I put those files in my lib directory I cannot see any of the decals when I open that library in the library manager. Am I doing somthing wrong? I also noticed from reading previous posts that a cd is available. Can you tell me more about this. By the way this website is fantastic!

Laurie

[randychase]

Hi and welcome Laurie!

Go to FILE and then LIBRARY.

Click on LIB. LIST. which will pull up a new window. Click on ADD.
You can sort the order of the libraries.

Make sure in the LIBRARY dialogue box, you have the DECALS icon selected, and then type in a search string (can be just *) in the filter box.

As far as CDs, you can just use the paypal link or use the order form on the main index page.http://www.pcbstandards.com/index1.html

Feel free to ask any more questions!

[laurie]

Hi Randy

Thank you for your prompt reply! I tried what you suggested before and then again after I got your reply but when I hit on decals nothing shows up???
I must be doing something wrong!

[randychase]

You do have something in the filter box, right? If you leave the filter box blank, you will get nothing in the list.

Side thought...

Go into ECO mode on your board (Use the ECO icon...a diagonal line between two pads) and use the ADD COMPONENT icon in ECO mode (IC with a small red x at the totally wrong origin point). :)

Using the pull down Library bar, set to (all libraries), the top choice. Put an asterisk in the filter box. What do you see as your selections? These are parts, but they should be linked to decals. If they are not, the left black window will be blank. If they are linked, then you will see a graphic representation of the part in that window.

P.S. How about that second from the left flag on our flag bar, eh?

[laurie]

Gotta love that flag (and yes I do say eh quite a bit I'm told!)
Wish I was in California right now, we are having a cold and snowy March. So much for dreaming.....

I do have the astrik in the filter box and I can see the decals from the libraries that came with the software but not the ones I transferred from your web site. Your libraries show up under the list of libraries but when I hit decals nothing is there. This also happens when I go into the ECO add component mode. This is probably something simple and I'm going to feel silly.... but I can't seem to figure it out.
Thanks for all your help, this forum is great!

[randychase]

Oh... this is a simple question. What version of PowerPCB are you using? The V4 libraries require you tom have PowerPCB V4 also.

Never mind, you would not be able to see the libraries if that was the case...

hmmmm

[randychase]

Originally posted by laurie

Wish I was in California right now, we are having a cold and snowy March. So much for dreaming


It's about 76 and sunny here. :) Might need to talk someone into sending you to the International User's Conference in San Diego next month! :)

[randychase]

Just found something interesting. I was looking at PARTS and there were no decals. I clicked the DECALS button and there they were. Now hitting the PARTS button and they are back!

[laurie]

Well, here is an update. I loaded the SMN library and got one decal listed called 1Master, but in the decal screen is says "Not Found"
Then I loaded the TH library and got a bunch of weird things but the 1Master kept repeating itself??? (hard to explain) but still no decals.
Then I loaded the SMM library and EVERY time I hit decals I get "You have performed an illegal operation" and it boots me out!!!
Has anyone else tried to load these libraries? I noticed they were posted only a few days ago so maybe there is a problem?
I appreciate all your help!

[randychase]

Trying to figure this out Laurie!

Did you download all 4 SMN libs into the same directory?

[laurie]

Yes, I put all 4 files in my padpwr/lib directory.

[randychase]

Not sure where to go with this Laurie. I replaced my library with the ones on the website and they worked just fine. I asked a few other people also and nobody else is having this problem. Maybe there was a hiccup on the download?

I would try erasing and starting over. Something is hosed, eh?

[Lameris]

I bet you are using Windows NT4. You need to upgrade your OS to Windows 2000 or XP or change to a non NVidia Video card.

This is the display driver "bug" issue.

[laurie]

I'm using Windows98, do you think upgrading to Windows 2000 or XP will make a differance?

[robertxhu]

Hi Laurie:

From PCB discussion board I know you have been using the Cadstar for 15 years.

I am also using Cadstar. I meet some difficulties when I input my DOS version schematic initial data format file (*.csi files) into the Cadstar for window v4. In Cadstar’s older DOS version (SCM version MK01.1I), they use “U1-A /.SN74LS06” as symbol name (“U1-A”) and part name (“SN74LS06”) and “/.” between them. But in the later DOS version 7, they change this definition to something else. When I import my .CSI file into the v4 program. I can import all the schematic detail except the definition of “symbolName /.partName”. These lines are unacceptable during the file import. If I delete these lines form the CSI file, the v4 can import the schematic but without symbol name and part name. And the v4 only supports DOS version 7’s CSI file input.
So could you possible to email a CSI file in later DOS format to me?
Many Thanks In Advance

Robert Hu,
Electrical Engineering
Scale-tron Inc.
robertxhu@hotamil.com