==================================================================== Protel 99 Power Tool Pack Readme 3-Nov-99 ==================================================================== CONTENTS 1. The Power Tool Pack 2. Installing and running the Power Tool Pack 3. Protel 99 3D PCB Viewer - Running the 3D Viewer - How components are modelled 4. Protel 99 PCB Power Print - Using PCB Power Print 5. Protel 99 AutoCAD Interface - Installing and running the AutoCAD Interface - DWG/DXF-to-PCB Default Layer Mapping 6. Protel 99 OrCAD Interface - Using the OrCAD Interface - OrCAD Interface Notes 7. Copyright Notice ==================================================================== 1. The Power Tool Pack The Power Tool Pack for Protel 99 includes the 3D PCB Viewer, PCB Power Print, AutoCAD Interface, and OrCAD Interface. ==================================================================== 2. Installing and running the Power Tool Pack - Ensure that Protel 99 is closed prior to installing. - Double-click on the downloaded powertoolpack.exe file to start the installation process. - Follow the instructions in the installation Wizard. Select the Custom option during installation if you only want to install one of the add-ons. Note: the Power Tool Pack must be installed in the \Design Explorer 99 folder. - After completing the installation re-start Protel 99. ==================================================================== 3. Protel 99 3D PCB Viewer The 3D PCB Viewer for Protel 99 brings a new dimension to PCB design. Now you can examine the finished board before you build it - rotate it, zoom in and out, check the bare board, highlight nets on the board, or print the 3D view. The viewer uses sophistocated component modeling technology to present a real-world 3 dimensional view of your board. ------------------------------------------------- Running the 3D Viewer To view a PCB in 3D mode: - Re-start Protel 99 - Open the PCB document - Select Tools » View Board in 3D from the PCB Editor menus Once the board has been analyzed it will be displayed in a separate 3D Window. - Click and drag in the MiniViewer window in the Panel to rotate the board - Use the standard PCB shortcuts to change your view of the board The 3D Viewer uses the boundary on the keepout layer to generate the board outline. The tracks/arcs that make up the boundary must be completely closed, that is their ends must meet so that the center point of one track end touches the center point of the adjoining track end on the boundary. ------------------------------------------------- How components are modelled The 3D Viewer uses an in-built component classification system to automatically select an appropriate component model. This release does not support user-selectable component models. ==================================================================== 4. Protel 99 PCB Power Print PCB Power Print gives you complete control over the printing process. Using Power Print you can define precisely what mix of PCB layers you want to print, set the scaling and orientation, and see exactly how it will look on the page before you print it. The new Power Print also supports printing the current screen area, and copying the current preview to the Windows clipboard, making it easy to include PCB information in your documentation. The configuration of these printouts is stored in a Power Print Configuration (.PPC) document. ------------------------------------------------- Using Power Print Previewing and Printing a PCB - Open the PCB document - Select File » Print Preview from the PCB Editor menus The PCB is analyzed and a composite printout is displayed in the Power Print preview window - Select File » Print Page to print the current printout Composite is the default preview mode, click on the tools menu to select another preview mode. Refer to the Power Print Help menu for links to information on how to define custom printouts, and a getting started tutorial. ==================================================================== 5. Protel 99 AutoCAD Interface The AutoCAD Interface allows you to export and import from Protel PCB and Schematic files to AutoCAD DWG and DXF format files. The interface supports the following AutoCAD versions: V2.5, V2.6, R9, R10, R11, R12, R13, R14. The new AutoCAD Interface replaces the existing DXF export and DXF import features in Protel 99. ------------------------------------------------- Using the AutoCAD Interface Exporting from Protel PCB or Schematic to DWG/DXF The AutoCAD Interface can export both DWG and DXF format files. To export a PCB or Schematic as either a DWG or DXF file: - Open the PCB or Schematic document - Select File » Export from the PCB or Schematic Editor menus - The Export File dialog will appear, select the AutoCAD files (*.DXF, *.DWG) option in the Save as Type field, enter the file name, and click the Save button - The Export to AutoCAD dialog will appear. Set the options as required and click the OK button to create the file Importing from DWG/DXF to Protel PCB or Schematic The AutoCAD Interface can import both DWG and DXF format files. To import a DWG or DXF file: - Open the PCB or Schematic document, this can be either a new document or an existing document - Select File » Import from the PCB or Schematic Editor menus. - The Import File dialog will appear, select the AutoCAD Files (*.DWG, *.DXF) option in the Files of Type field, locate and select the file and click the Open button - The Import from AutoCAD dialog will appear. Set the options as required and click the OK button If the contents of the DWG/DXF file are larger than the extents of the 100x100 inch PCB workspace they are automatically scaled to fit. Note: use the What's This help button at the top of the dialog for information about each option. ------------------------------------------------- DWG/DXF-to-PCB Default Layer Mapping TOPLAYER=Top Layer MIDLAYER1=Mid Layer 1 MIDLAYER2=Mid Layer 2 MIDLAYER3=Mid Layer 3 MIDLAYER4=Mid Layer 4 MIDLAYER5=Mid Layer 5 MIDLAYER6=Mid Layer 6 MIDLAYER7=Mid Layer 7 MIDLAYER8=Mid Layer 8 MIDLAYER9=Mid Layer 9 MIDLAYER10=Mid Layer 10 MIDLAYER11=Mid Layer 11 MIDLAYER12=Mid Layer 12 MIDLAYER13=Mid Layer 13 MIDLAYER14=Mid Layer 14 BOTTOMLAYER=Bottom Layer TOPOVERLAY=Top Overlay BOTTOMOVERLAY=Bottom Overlay TOPPASTE=Top Paste BOTTOMPASTE=Bottom Paste TOPSOLDER=Top Solder BOTTOMSOLDER=Bottom Solder INTERNALPLANE1=Internal Plane 1 INTERNALPLANE2=Internal Plane 2 INTERNALPLANE3=Internal Plane 3 INTERNALPLANE4=Internal Plane 4 DRILLGUIDE=Drill Guide KEEPOUTLAYER=Keep Out Layer MECHANICAL1=Mechanical Layer 1 MECHANICAL2=Mechanical Layer 2 MECHANICAL3=Mechanical Layer 3 MECHANICAL4=Mechanical Layer 4 DRILLDRAWING=Drill Drawing MULTILAYER=Multi Layer 0=Top Layer PADHOLE=Mid Layer 1 VIAHOLE=Mid Layer 2 ==================================================================== 6. Protel 99 OrCAD Interface The OrCAD Interface allows you to import OrCAD Capture designs into Protel 99's Schematic Editor, and OrCAD Layout designs into Protel 99's PCB Editor. The Capture importer supports V7.x and V9.x schematic (*.DSN) and library (*.OLB) binary files. The Layout importer supports V9.x PCB (*.MAX) and library (*.LLB) binary files. ------------------------------------------------- Using the OrCAD Interface To import a Capture schematic file: - Select File » Open from the menus and set the Files of Type to OrCAD Capture files (*.DSN) - Locate and select the Capture file and click the Open button. - The schematic sheets will appear in the Design Explorer as they are imported Follow the same process to import a Capture library file. To import a Layout PCB file: - Open an empty PCB document - Select File » Import from the PCB Editor menus - The Import File dialog will appear, select the OrCAD PCB Layout files (*.MAX) option in the Files of Type field, locate and select the file, and click the Open button - The OrCAD Translation settings dialog will appear. Set the options as required and click the OK button to create the file. Click the Help button for more details on the translation options To import a Layout library file create an empty Protel PCB Library and follow the same process. ------------------------------------------------- OrCAD Interface Notes Capture Importer - If there are problems with the OrCAD cache the design can not be imported - if you encounter problems trying cleaning the cache in Capture first. If the design still fails to import create a library from the cache in Capture, then import this library first. A report will be created detailing any components with problems. Correct or remove these components before importing the design. Layout Importer - Pre-routed fanouts that are part of the component footprint are not translated. - Occasionally the silkscreen for a bottom layer component may be translated offset from its correct position. - OrCAD vias that are connected to polygons should be translated as free pads but currently they are not. ==================================================================== 7. Copyright Notice Software, documentation and related materials: Copyright (c) 1992-1999 Protel International Limited All rights reserved.