PowerPCB all versions!

[Victor Tejeda]

Why is it that the default value of 10 under the "Drill Symbols Marker" line width default cannot be changed? I think that a default of 10 is ok. BUT! If one needs to ouput to a fab dwg in pdf format a less value is better. If one exits the CAM dialog box, BAM! the default 10 returns. Is there an "INI" file to change this default?

[Tom]

Vic,

You can change all the PowerPCB default settings in the folder C:\Padspwr\Powerpcb\Default.asc. You can setup PowerPCB preferences and design rules and File/Export/ASCII/Default.asc to update your system defaults. If you cannot change some of the defaults in PowerPCB, just edit Default.asc in a text editor, find the line you're looking for, make the change and update the file.

[Victor Tejeda]

Thanks for the reply Tom, well I am familiar with "Default.asc" but cannot find referance to this value anywhere. Can you tell me where it is as a searchable text string?

[Tom]

Vic,

In Default.asc it's under the heading CAM_DRILL_SYMBOL_TABLE. The only problem is that you have to create a DEFAULT.ASC file in "Current Units" instead of "Basic Units" to know the values of the settings. Or try to understand Basic Units.

Here are some tips on Basic Units:
1 database unit = 2/3 X 10 to the -9 meters (ie. 2/3 of Millimicron)

If you're working in the Inch world:
762000 = 20 mils
381000 = 10 mils
190500 = 5 mils

Or here it is the other way around:
1 mil = 38100 basic units
1 mm = 1500000 basic units

[Victor Tejeda]

Thanks for the quick reply TOM, I played with the settings and was able to set Chart line width, but the Marker line width still resets at 10 mills, even though my default ascii value under "MARKER_LINE_WIDTH" is set to 114300 or 3mils.
thanks anyways.

[Tom]

Vic,

I forgot to mention that the file DEFAULT.ASC is only good when you start a new session of PowerPCB. If you want to adjust the setting for a specific design file you have to File/Export/ASCII and modify that specific file.

We created 150 Start Files with all of our preferences, design rules and defaults completely established in Default.asc before we created the Start Files. Every design we create is generated from one of these Start Files that has all the defaults set up.

I.E.: Default.asc will not change any of your existing .PCB file settings. Once you set up Default.asc you can use it to create new .PCB files with your preferences predefined.