Re: Protel 2004

The database disappeared with the first DXP release years ago
(2002?), not just at AD2004 SP4. It does support some form of
imports and exports at greater than ACAD ver. 14, heard what it
was but don't recall. Statements from tech support indicate they
are targeting good ACAD import/export operation right up to the
more recent releases (maybe a year or two behind since it is
difficult to keep absolutely current). Some portions of the more
intensive operations are hyper-threading, eventually they plan to
re-write more to use hyper-threading. You can actually compile
full 3D components, not just height, but it is not 100% fluid
passing off to various 3D tools. Also within the component
library you can now define your component outline and boundaries,
not just default to the silkscreen and all other features from
all layers in an all encompassing box.

So I don't know where Francios gets his info but a lot of it is
highly suspect. The Altium EDA forum is quite active and has an
extensive archive, if you are really interested Altium should let
you join for researching your inquiries. Supposedly from what I
have read, it will tax most any machine for speed on some
operations, it is reported to not be as fast as P99SE but then it
also does a lot more (too much in my opinion).

I have AD2004 at work but we have not yet switched, mostly
because of lack of time and resources to manage the switch and
retrain all the engineers. I monitor the AD forum continuously
and that is where my info above comes from.
--
Sincerely,
Brad Velander

"F KNOFF" <fn.knoff@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:dg9030$14a$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Hello,
>
> I did the jump full of hope, because there is a converter from
PROTEL 99 SE
> to PROTEL 2004 XP, but not everithing was OK, the PCB has to
been
> resynchronised with schematics. Altium has upgraded the
converter, and I
> have not tried the last released (SP4).
> The new annoying thing is that there was not database with all
the
> documents, (changed with service PACK 4, you can do an archive
with your
> project).
> You have a separate file with each document !
> For the new components, the library editor is globally the same
with height
> of the component for placement with height constraint on the
board.
> You can do integrated library schematic component with its
footprint (you
> have some furnished).
> Compatibilty is always limited to Autocad version 14. (SP4 ?)
> It take more place and more power but doesn't use processeur
with
> Hyperthreading (SP4 ?) when I route with my Pentium 4 / 3.2 Ghz
it uses only
> 50% of the processor power (Dos = Windows XP pro).
> When routing there is a firts pass of analysing the board which
is more
> longer than 99SE and after it start routing, but at first it is
slower than
> 99SE even with a partially routed board.
>
> Good things :
> You can open 99SE library and 2004 XP library at the same time.
You can save
> at the old 99SE Format (Yes File format has changed, why ?).
> It is more stable then 99SE (with service pack 3) I have just
installed SP4
> so I could not speak about SP4.
> For drawing PCB there was a bug in circular component so you
need to use
> software arc in generating Gerber files otherwise gerber files
was wrong and
> PCB looks OK. Bug fixed with SP4 ?
> The router doesn't route easily all CMS fine pitch if you say
one pin inner
> and one pin outer and two pin close together should be routed
the same
> direction (outer the component by example), but you can add
more passes the
> router. (Fixed in SP4 ?).
> You can add/edit easily multiple component properties, but I
h'vent checked
> the possibity of linking to a database.
> You can download new components library.
>
> I only did 2 and 4 layers board with splitted planes at this
time and it
> take some time to take the full power from PROTEL XP 2004, well
if you are
> satisfied with 99SE and don't want to download new library
components from
> Protel.
>
> François knoff
> To answer replace <family name> with my name.
>
> Email :fn.<family name>@neuf.fr


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