DesignSpark PCB Change Log

DesignSpark PCB changes, features & enhancements are a direct result of your feedback, suggestions and requests. Please contribute to the discussions to help us make DSPCB even better!

>>> Below you can also download previous versions of DesignSpark PCB software (for compatibility reasons), as requested by the community  <<<

IMPORTANT: Installation/upgrade instructions

01/09/2014 - Version 6.1 resolves the following issues:

1. 3D View

• Prism shapes in user-defined packages were not being inverted for a component that had been placed on the back of the board.

• When package type is set to DILSwitch, if it happened to match with a PCB symbol containing only a single pin, the application would quit while attempting to generate the 3D impression.

• When creating a new 3D package, sometimes the details would not be saved the first time round, requiring the details to be entered a second time before the new package would be saved to the library.
• Each successive redraw would increase memory usage.

2. Change Style

• Changing the track style of a zero-length track between a via and a pad at the same location could cause the application to quit as the track is tidied out after making the style change.

3. Design Rule Check

• Component-to-Component checking was being done using the ‘edges’ of the component bounds, rather than treating the bounds as a ‘solid’ box, thus leading to fewer errors being reported than should have been the case.

4. DXF Import

• Certain commands were not being interpreted correctly in DXF files in recent formats, potentially leading to nothing appearing in the design after import.

5. DXF Output

• Long layer names could cause the DXF file to be unreadable in other software such as AutoCAD and TrueView, despite the published length limit of layer names being 255 characters.

• Text items could be misplaced from their proper locations.

6. Gerber Import

• The holes defined by drill files were not always being matched to the corresponding pads during Intelligent Gerber Import, resulting in pads without holes.

• If the folder where the import process tried to write its report file was not writeable, the application would quit.

7. Goto

• The Goto bar would sometimes retain information (such as Component names) from a design that had been closed or reloaded, which would cause the application to quit if you clicked on any of those items.

8. Library Manager

• The presence of a comma in the name of a 3D package could cause the application to quit as it encountered that name when reading the 3D library.

9. Forward Design Changes

• In designs containing some types of PCB-only component, running Forward Design Changes or Integrity Check could cause the application to quit as it attempted to generate the report.

10. Startup

• On a tiny number of machines, usually running Windows 7, the application would ‘block’ on startup after a Windows API function call failed to return. The application process would be visible in Task Manager but nothing would be displayed on the screen.

11. Update Component

• In some circumstances when more than one package of the same component is used in the same design, updating one of those components would result in an internal fault in the design data, potentially leading to the design file becoming unreadable.

12. Back Annotation

• Processing back annotation data was causing the application to lock up for one particular design.

13. Duplicate

• A net with a name of “N” was erroneously recognised as a default (unnamed) net, causing the joining of nets during duplicate to leave the net as unmerged with the original.
• Duplicate didn't copy pad style exceptions from the original component instances.

14. Edit Track

• Using backspace to delete previous segments was not changing the current active layer when backspacing through a Via.

15. SCM/PCB Check

• A malformed warning message was being output to the report when ignoring PCB-only component pads.

16. Plotting

• The preview on the Plotting dialog did not include Vias.

17. Projects

• If the procedure to add a PCB design to a Project was cancelled partway through (for example at a prompt to save an older format design file), the file could be only partially linked to the project and would then cause the application to quit.

18. Rename

• Attempting to rename nets across a Project was locking up if it encountered a name change that differed only in the case (e.g. renaming mux25 to MUX25).

19. Reports

• The Layers report contained error messages in place of the expected information about Layer Types.

20. Frame Select

• Multiple uses of Frame Select would lose the previous selection, and became stuck in Deselect mode.

21. Next Error

• While moving a component dragged from the Component Bin, pressing the hotkey for Next Error can cause the application to quit on releasing the moving component.

22. Paste

• It was not possible to Copy/Paste between Schematic Symbol and Schematic Design.

23. PDF Output

• Missing fonts were causing PDF output to fail.

24. Pour Copper

• Thermal spokes were being added even when inside a copper keepout area.

25. Styles

• Unhelpful error message given if corner radius is too large for pad width in Pad Properties.

26. Translate to PCB

• There were some issues with Schematic-only and PCB-only components following an earlier fix.

 >>> Download DesignSparkPCB Version 6.0 <<<

21/01/2014 - Version 6.0

Overview video for the new features in Version 6:

1. Simplified DesignSpark Mechanical IDF export - for easier exporting to DS Mechanical 3D design tool

2. Cross-Probe - for faster hardware debugging and navigation around designs

3. Custom Shortcuts - add user-defined keyboard shortcuts for personalisation of UI

4. Start Page - lists useful highlights, reference designs, getting started links and the handy list of recent projects/files

IMPORTANT: Installation/upgrade instructions

 >>> Download DesignSparkPCB Version 5.1 <<<

06/11/2013 - Version 5.1

1. ModelSource Component Reference error - this fixes incorrect RefDes or Component ID issue

2. ModelSource Fails to read XML with “>” character in a value - this fixes display of some of the library families previously resulting in a 'communication error'

3. Component Edit: Name Pins by Row/Col can sometimes fail to apply new names

4. Librariy Manager: a malformed unnamed library item could cause the application to quit

5. PDF Outputs: mirrored text on PDF plots was slightly undersized

6. Layout: Add shape using "=" to type in start & corners does not work if orthogonal segment mode

7. Opening files: Reloading a design can sometimes cause the application to quit if Interaction Bar has been closed

 >>> Download DesignSparkPCB Version 5.0 <<<

16/04/2013 - Version 5.0

• dedicated (version-dependent) folders
• preserving Library folders when uninstalling
• preserving registry settings when uninstalling (for automatic activation of new version)
• improved messaging

4. Reorganised Tutorial links and Start Menu shortcuts

>>> Version 4.1 no longer available for download <<<

04/03/2013 - Version 4.1 Bug fixes:

>>> Version 4.0 no longer available for download <<<

Version 4.0 New features:

1. ModelSource interface - access to an on-line database of over 80,000 components and associated product data. The components can be searched via Part Number Quick Search or category browsing and attribute selection (Parametric Search)

2. BOM Quote - integration with RS Components eCommerce website for instant Bill of Materials quoting and component purchase

3. PCB Quote - inferface to PCB manufacturers' on-line quoting websites with instant design parameters transfer

4. PCB Symbol – Placement Origin – this is a new type of origin that can be used to define where the pick-and-place origin of the footprint is positioned. This is then available in the Reports output, as the Place X and Y fields to use in place of the existing Centre X/Y or Position X/Y. If you specify PlaceX/Y in the report and a footprint doesn’t have a placement origin, it will use the CentreX/Y instead.

5. Reports – schematic-only components – you can now exclude these from reports by changing ‘Components to Include’ from ‘All’ to ‘Only items matching Schematic-only is false’.

6. Update Components – there are now separate checkboxes for component values (the actual values and their text strings) and value positions (the visible instances of values). This means you can tell it to update existing or add new values when updating the component without disturbing where the value positions are displayed on the drawing.

7. Reports - Bill Of Materials report now adjusted to show RS Part Numbers and other additional details

8. Updated Eagle import ULPs

Version 4.0 Bug fixes:

1. Changes to handling of Components with no pins

2. Apply to row/column on right-click menu in dialog grids

3. DRC now detects SMT pad with drill hole going through other layers

4. Pressing Enter when editing cell in a grid now goes to next line (like Excel)

5. Improved drawing for coloured cells (e.g. on Colours dialog)

6. Better retention of pin name/number positioning when updating components

7. Adds missing menu option "Disconnect From Net" for copper that has been assigned to a net

8. Some PCB nets had odd colour and/or hidden connections after translating from Schematic

9. NC Drill files now include G81 ("drill mode") command at start, required by some viewers/readers (e.g. GC-Prevue)

10. Dotted or dashed line styles no longer output to DXF as solid lines

11. Uses height from component even if over-ridden on the instance

>>> Version 3.0 no longer available for download <<<

Version 3.0 New Features:

1. Spice Simulation Interface - DesignSpark PCB software can now be interfaced to free industry standard Spice simulators to carry out circuit simulation. DesignSpark PCB Circuit Design Software currently supports four simulators: LTSpice, LSSpice, B2Spice and TINA.

2. Design Calculators - You can select tracks or vias (vertical electrical connection between different layers of conductors in a PCB) in your design and perform basic electrical calculations such as:

• Width of a track required for a given current.
• Impedance of a selected track.
• Optimum copper density to use.        
• Approximate temperature rise on a track.
• Resistance of a via given its physical characteristics.

These useful calculators produce approximations of actual circuit performance to aid the decision process in completing a successful PCB layout. Also available is a standard scientific calculator.

3. Grouping - This feature allows multiple items in your circuit diagram to be associated together so that they act as one ‘unit’. Once defined, groups can be used to assist in selecting related portions of your circuit. Perform group functions from the Schematic to the PCB to enable simpler identification and handling of specific elements of your design.

Version 3.0 Bug Fixes:

1. Component Editor - Change Terminal Name no longer automatically replicates the name change across similar gates. Instead the name change only applies to the selected terminal, and a new command is provided to explicitly copy the selected name to the other gates.

The Packages dialog now allows the deletion of the last Package of  a Component to make it into a Schematic-only Component.

2. Technology - The ‘table’ (grid) used on this dialog and others has been upgraded. This allows some additional functionality, as well as removing the installation problems on someVistaand Windows 7 systems. Such tables can now be scrolled with the mouse wheel. The ‘Apply To Column’ function is now available in Net Classes, Track Styles, Line Styles and Text Styles. When adding or editing tracks, the context menu option called Autoroute is now more correctly called Auto Complete.

3. Preferences - The Display Preferences page has been laid out differently.

4. Projects - Paste now displays the ‘Paste Net’ dialog if net(s) exist in other sheets in the Project. A pasted Net receives the Net Class of an existing project net. A new Net will copy the net class from this net if defined in another sheet in the project. A new Net Class will copy parameters from this net class if defined in another sheet in the project.

5. Optimise Nets - Where a connection is required to connect an item to its powerplane a ‘zero length’ connection will be drawn as a ‘butterfly’ shape.

6. 3D View - New shapes BEAD, DILSwitch and LEDdisplay have been added.

>>> Version 2.0 no longer available for download <<< 

Version 2.0 New Features:

1. 3D viewer

2. Enhanced library features

Version 2.0 Bug Fixes:

1. Add Component - Cancel Mode on context menu

2. Values in component edit are now a tab on properties dialog (was separate dialog)

3. Grids - Control G - Grid Snap menu is now proper menu now has "Grids" option at bottom

4. Grids on context menu when something selected in design

5. Export to Bitmap/EMF on the File menu

6. new LPKF menu option (simply goes to same place as Manufacturing Plots in this release)

7. value position on a component can display the part (component) description field

8. project view has Rename and Duplicate functions to help manage sheets in project

9. Change Component shows both schematic and PCB previews

10. Reports - Component List - new column type 'Text' for inserting text strings into report

11. Add Component can now return to the dialog on Escape (switchable by option on Preferences)

12. When pasting copied design data, new Cancel Move option allows it to be dropped in original position (same position it was when you copied the data)

13. In component editing, values can be added or copied to all packages in the component by click of button instead of having to add them by hand to each package

14. When saving library items (symbols etc), the Save dialog includes <New Library> in the list of available libraries, allowing you to create a new library 'on the fly' to contain your library item.

15. library manager dialog : has 'ok all' and 'cancel all' buttons when doing 'Copy To'; now has 'Move To' button (like 'Copy To' then delete from source library afterwards); Components page has 'Save To Lib' button to save set of data for selected items to another library (see 10).

16. angular resolution increased to 2 decimal places for finer placement

17. right click on selected components in design, new option 'Save Selected Items to Library' allows you to save components and all their symbols/footprints to library files. Useful for building project libraries from a design, 'exporting' components and related symbols to a new library to give to someone else, etc.

18. Excellon setup dialog now provides ability to keep tool numbers unique across all drill files generated in one 'run'. Used for example to get unique tool numbers when you generate two separate files for plated and unplated holes.

19. Separation of plated and unplated holes on drill ident plots.

Note: Also included are several fixes including for eagle import (not bringing through all values) and mouse wheel scrolling

>>> Version 1.3 no longer available for download <<<

Version 1.3 Bug fixes:

Minor update, fixes added for the following:

1. import of EIL (component library) file was not always reading Description field correctly
 
2. IDF generation, suppress empty value fields in IDF output
 
3. Eagle import was not always handling mounting holes correctly

4. Program hang in New Component dialog if you select neither Scm nor Pcb
 
5. PDF plotting, drill holes missing on some pads shapes in PDF output

6. Discrete library had values missing, added in for consistency with tutorial documentation

>>> Version 1.0 no longer available for download <<<

Version 1.0 - First release (June 2010)

Wolrd's first fully featured FREE electronics design software is released to put the power to innovate in hands of EVERY engineer. RS Components and Allied Electronics are committed to fully support this excellent design resource. We will be gathering feedback from user community and respond to your needs/suggestions/feedback with enhancements and new features which will continue reinforcing DesignSpark PCB as an important part of your rapid prototyping and design toolchain.