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ProBoard V1.0b ============== This program is SHAREWARE. All rights to the source code, programs and text belong to, and copyrights are held by, Kevin Denniss. ------------------------------------------------------------- DISTRIBUTION CONDITIONS ProBoard (and all variations and associated utilities) is not in the public domain. It is shareware and a shareware fee of £10 is requested. This fee entitles the licensee to the most recent revision of ProBoard, bug fixes, an enhanced component library and ProBoard-Multi software. In addition, the licensee is entitled to one subsequent major upgrade for a reduced fee of £4 including p&p. ProBoard may be freely distributed, but may not be included in any commercial package, compilation or collection, or sold, traded, leased or hired in any form on any media without express consent of the author. This package may be compressed and posted on any electronic distribution service. Specifically, inclusion of ProBoard on commercial software compilation collections which are sold for profit is strictly forbidden. These programs are in no way intended for professional use. Any damages or losses resulting from inappropriate application of any or all of this distribution whether accidental or intentional, are not the responsibility of the author. All rights to the source code and programs are reserved. ------------------------------------------------------------- The ProBoard System =================== OverView ======== The ProBoard PCB designer is intended to provide the Amiga user with a quality design package capable of the same standards of output as the more expensive systems available for the likes of the PC. I hope I have managed to achieve this but as ever I'm sure there is plenty of scope for improvement. ProBoard was developed after using several different packages and I feel that for my money this is the best of the Amiga systems I have tried. Most of the systems I have seen to date on the Amiga have suffered from being somewhat non user-friendly and highly temperamental with regards to producing the old Guru messages. They have also operated in much the same manner as a paint package meaning that deleting an object means destroying anything passing through it. ProBoard tackles this problem by being an object driven package, this does mean editing can be a little slower than with other paint-type packages but I believe it compares well with other object driven software of this type. Please not that this program is shareware so all the usual copyrights apply (see above). Known Bugs ---------- At present the following bugs and limitations apply: 1.) Memory allocation errors are not handled by ProBoard. This usually means that a shortage of Chip memory will result in a Guru error. 2.) Some DOS errors are still not trapped although the operating system takes care of most. Of course should you find any other bugs or have any comments about improvements that would be useful please get in touch. System Requirements ------------------- The program is still untested on many configurations since I sold my A500 but as far as I know the only requirements are as follows : O.S. 1.3 or higher 1Mb memory (at least 512K chip) Simply put a A500 with 512K expansion. Of course more memory and a harddrive is always useful but in this case not vital. A sure-fire way to tell if you are getting low on free memory is when the program begins to get unusually slow. A faster processor is also an extremely useful commodity as the refresh after certain editing operations can be slow on a basic machine. (An A1200 is good, a 4000 even better) NOTE : The multi-layer version (ProBoard V1.2) requires at least 2Mb to operate. Display Layout and General Information ====================================== ProBoard is started from the WorkBench screen in the normal way, after start-up you will be presented with the initial screen. Hard-Drive users please note that ProBoard must be installed with its directory assigned as 'ProBoard:' for correct operation of the component libraries. The ProBoard screen itself consists of two sections, the control window and the edit window, these are described below. Note that ProBoard is an 'object orientated' system and hence only recognises the fixed points of items on the PCB. ie. when selecting a track ProBoard will look for the nearest end point rather than the line between them. 1. The Control Window The top portion is the control window where system messages, mouse coordinates and other control functions are displayed. It has the format shown below; E________________________________________________________ |________________________________________________________| | | | C | | A | B |----------| | | | D | |____________________________________|________|__________| Section A is where function specific commands are displayed, initially this is blank. Section B will display certain 'system help' messages, intended to help guide you around the editing procedures. Section C displays your current mouse coordinates with reference to the top left hand corner of the PCB. While ever you are outside the Edit window (see next section) this will be zeroed. Section D here the current measurement scale is displayed. There are three available, selection of your preferred units will be described further on in this manual. Section E across the top of the window states the current file being edited. The current edit mode is displayed in the right hand side. 2. The Edit Window The lower section is the edit window where the PCB currently under design is displayed. This view point can be scrolled around the PCB area by use of the four cursor keys. For any PCB there is a maximum size of 7.5 x 7.5 inches, this should be ample for virtually any application. The Main Menus -------------- There are four menus available in the ProBoard menu bar, each has its own functions as described below. 1. Project Menu New - This will open a new file in memory allowing work on a new PCB to commence. Load - Loads in an existing PCB file. On selection of this function you will be presented with a file requester from which your selection can be made. Save - Saves a file in one of two formats (see format). Again a requester will be displayed and a selection can be made. Format - This allows selection of the format files are saved in. There are three possibilities. ILBM : Interleaved Bitmap, this allows the PCB to be loaded into other packages such as DPaint and other printing systems. ProBoard : the standard file format for the editor allowing full access to the design features after re-load. Component : allows the current PCB to be saved as a component file. This means that the file can then be used as a component in future PCB's. Note that tracks can not be used in components. See 'Components'. About - try it and see ! Quit - Just that. 2. Move Menu This menu controls the rate at which the cursor keys scroll the Edit window display. There are three levels available. Fine Course Block There also exists a centring function to short-cut to the centre of the PCB. 3. Edit Menu Extra information on the use of each of the options within the edit menu can be found in the section 'Edit Functions'. Track - Allows editing of track patterns onto the PCB. Pad - Used for pad placement/editing. Component - Allows use of predefined components. 4. OverLay Menu Active - Turns the overlay on and off, used prior to an ILBM save for PCB printing. Box - Allows editing of boxes to the overlay pattern. See 'Overlay Editing'. Circle - Provides circle editing for the overlay. Line - Renders line to the overlay pattern. 5. Preferences Menu Scale - this allows changing of the scale used for the coordinate display system. There are three separate choices. Imperial (inches) Metric (centimetres) Pixels Refresh - Refreshes the Edit window display. Useful if the image has become corrupted due to multiple alterations. Grid Snap - This provides a reference grid of 0.1 inch spacing (I.C. pin spacing) over the PCB. There are two levels of 'snap' to grid available, 0.1 inch and 0.05 inch. The latter being of use when trying to squeeze tracks between pads. Wot No Print ??!! ----------------- No, as it happens ! Basically I haven't figured out the scaled graphic print routine needed yet. However, since there are plenty of very good printing packages out there, FlexiDump being a brilliant example, this shouldn't really be a problem. The process you need to follow is: First turn of the grid and the overlay. Now save your PCB in ILBM format and exit ProBoard Load up your preferred printing package Print the PCB file, make sure you scale it to 7.5 inches by 7.5 inches or it won't be to scale ! Common Edit Functions --------------------- On selection of any of the functions from the edit or overlay menu you will be presented with a group of command gadgets across the control window. Although these will depend on the function chosen there are some commands that are common to all the available functions. These common elements are as described below, selection of any of the gadgets will result in the others being switch off (they will become 'hashed' in appearance) until EXIT is selected. NEW - allows placement of a new object. To put the object onto the PCB move the mouse to the desired point in the edit window (using the cursor keys where required) and click with the right button. If the object is a component then you will first be presented with a list of those available. Selection of an objects size and/or orientation is described in the section about that object. See later. DELETE - will delete an object from the PCB. After selection of this option you should simply point to the desired object and click with the right mouse button. MOVE - used to move an object from one position to the next. In the case of Pads and components this option requires you to first click on the object you wish to move and then click on the new position you wish to move it to. The procedure for tracks is a little different. You must first select the track you wish to change in the normal way, and then click on the end you wish to move, then you can perform the final click on the new position. ProBoard will then re- evaluate the track between the new points. EXIT - This is used for two purposes. The first is to exit the current function back to the original (start-up) screen and menus. The second will exit the current editing command and return use of the control gadgets. Consider you are currently working on a PCB in the MOVE command of the PAD function. One click on EXIT will leave MOVE and allow selection of another command, two clicks will exit back to the menu screen for selection of Load, Save, Track etc. Track Editing ------------- Within the track function there also exists the following possibilities : CHANGE - This will change a track from its present values of size and orientation to the ones currently selected. To do this set your desired values (see below) and click on the track you wish to change, the PCB will be re- drawn with the new values in place. 1 2 3 4 5 - Located at the right of the control window, next to the message display these gadgets represent the size at which the track will drawn. They operate in the same manner as old radio buttons, selection of one will cancel the old value, thus changing the size you wish to work in is a simple matter of clicking on the desired value. /,H,L - These can be found between the EXIT and size select gadgets. Clicking on the symbol will change the symbol shown which represents the orientation of the track. The possibilities are as follows: / - direct line. The track will be drawn directly from the first point to the second along a straight line. H - High Manhattan. Here the track will be drawn first along the x and then along the y axis allowing tracks to bend at right angles only (Manhattan geometry). L - Low Manhattan. Basically this is the same as high Manhattan except that the track is drawn along the y axis first and then the x axis. The best way to get the hang of these options is to put a few pads down and then experiment in connecting them up. Pad Editing ----------- Within the pad function there are following extra possibilities : CHANGE - This will change a pad from its present values of size and orientation to the ones currently selected. This is done in the same manner as the track operation, set your desired values (see below) and click on the pad you wish to change, the PCB will be re-drawn with the new values in place. 1 2 3 4 5 IC - Again located at the right of the control window, next to the message display these gadgets represent the size at which the pad will drawn. They operate in the same radio button manner as for tracks. Note the extra IC option, this allows the use of IC pads which can be of two orientation. -,| - These can be found between the EXIT and size select gadgets. Clicking on the symbol will change the symbol shown which controls the orientation of IC pads. The possibilities are vertical or horizontal, as depicted by the symbol. Component Editing ----------------- The component function has only one extra command available, namely that of ROTATE. This has the effect of rotating the selected component by the value shown on the radio buttons to the right of the window. The two current possibilities are +90° (quarter of a turn clockwise) and -90° (quarter of a turn anti-clockwise). Operation of the function is otherwise a simple matter of clicking on the component you wish to rotate and the PCB will be re-drawn accordingly. OverLay Editing --------------- Editing of the overlay pattern is performed by three different operations - Box, Circle and Line. Line editing is performed in exactly the same manner as track editing except that there are no size or orientation options. Box editing is again very much the same. You just specify two opposite corners of the box as asked and the box will be drawn. This section uses the ROTATION command as in component editing. Circle, again all options are standard, the circle is defined by clicking in the centre of the required position and then at any point on the required radius. Components ========== ProBoard is supplied with a range of predefined components already on the disk. However this list is by no means representative of the entire range of PCB mounted components available (that would run into thousands). It is therefore possible to define your own. To do this simply create you component using the Pad and Overlay options (you can include any predefined components as well if need be) and select the COMPONENT format before save. Note that components cannot contain tracks, they will be stripped out on saving. On saving you will be asked for the filename (by the usual requester) and then be asked for the component 'handle' or origin. This is the point around which the component is based and is used for positioning and rotating of the component. Note that if, after using the component for a while, you wish to change the handle or add bits to it you can. Simply load in the component and then re-save with the new handle etc. Final Comments ============== That basically finishes all there is to say about the operation of ProBoard except to say that if you should find and bugs or problems you think I should know about, please let me know. A big thank-you should go to Rick Hartley for his enthusiastic testing and comments without which I'm sure ProBoard would not be with you now ! You can reach me by sending a letter to the following address: K. Denniss 166, Clumber Street Princes Avenue HULL North Humberside HU5 3RN Please remember that this program is Shareware and if you want to receive any future upgrades and support then you must register as a user. A fee of £10.00 is all this takes and future bug fixes and additions to the component library will be released to you free of charge along with ProBoard-Multi, a multi-layer version capable of producing double sided and multi-layered boards (Note that this version requires 2Mb to run). An extended manual will also be supplied. Thank you ! Kevin.