channel placement

[robypini]

which script use the file equivalents.txt for place components?
it is under ole\vbscripts directory.
thanks

[robypini]

can anyone make a vbscript in ppcb that read a file like the attached and place the components???
or tell what instruction of vbscript language use to make this process.
that will be very useful for anyone users.
thanks for any reply.
roby

[Tom]

You can import a text file into PowerPCB.

Have a Header Line like this:
!PADS-POWERPCB-V5.0-METRIC! DESIGN DATABASE ASCII FILE 1.0
*PART* ITEMS

*REMARK* REFNM PTYPENM X Y ORI GLUE MIRROR

The order of your text columns should be in the same order as the *REMARK*

This is the order:
1. REFNM = Reference Designator
2. PTYPENM = Part-Type Name (Land Pattern Name)
3. X = The "X" Part Placement Coordinate
4. Y = The "Y" Part Placement Coordinate
5. ORI = Decal Rotation
6. GLUE = Is the part Glued? "G" for Glued and "U" for Unglued
7. MIRROR = Component on Top or Bottom Side. "M" for Mirrored (Bottom Side) and "N" for Non-Mirrored (Top Side)

Using Excel, I quickly added the necessary fields and I turned your text file into something that PowerPCB will import. I imported the file and PowerPCB gave me some warnings about duplicate ref des in your text file.

See the attached Zipped File......

[robypini]

thanks Tom for your reply, i have tried your solution, but ppcb when find already the components in the database does not move them so the import of the ascii file is useless.
any other solution?
p.s. i have attached in the zip file the pcb, the vbscript to generate the report that you suggest and the report itself, so you can compare the problem.
thanks for your cooperation
IF ANYONE CAN HELP.............THANKS

[H.Tikkanen]

See page http://www.pads-pcb.co.uk/home.htm and downloads. There is a script which allows you to adjust component coordinates using Excel
(http://www.pads-pcb.co.uk/Downloads/vbscripts/Bi-directional%20Excel%20Link.bas)
Best
Hannu Tikkanen

[robypini]

i use it now to place parts, but i was looking for some vbscript better than it, because it seems that read the location of every component of the database and after that looks at the file with the coordinates and after that move the component of the file at the coordinates specified.
So if you have 20 components in a database of 2000 parts you can waste several minutes waiting for the placement.
Instead if we can produce a vbscript that only move,rotate and swap layer of the parts specified in the file, we can accellerate our work a lot.

[robypini]

because until now we have not received a solution about this problem we have an utility that makes the job + does many more
things for working with ppcb we are testing it now and early we pubblish it.
stay tuned
roby

[Tom]

robypini,

That sounds great! I like innovative people who can solve problems and make our job easier.

Let us know when your new placement tool is ready. I want to test drive it.