pcb-rnd knowledge pool

• How pcb-rnd does not lock in users - format_lockin by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2021-07-14
  During an annual gschem file format flamewar on the geda-user mailing list, Bert (geda/pcb developer) tried to steer things in a specific direction. For this he cited an example from pcb-rnd. He claimed that the fact that pcb-rnd invented a new native file format somehow blocks users from moving between pcb-rnd and geda/pcb or using them in parallel.
  Of course this claim has no base at all. In response I wrote the following open letter to Bert, in which I tried to explain, backed up with facts and data, why he is wrong in his claim about pcb-rnd file format and why he is wrong in what geda should learn from this.
  At the end I also tried to present a conclusion what I think geda should really learn from pcb-rnd.
   
• File format vs. VCS vs. script and manual editing - persistent by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2016-08-23
  Persistent formatting on save: the key to get our native file format diff-friendly, thus VCS-friendly.
   
• Terminology: native file format vs. alien file formats - alien by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2017-07-12
  Explain the file format terminology (native vs. alien).
   
• element-resrtictions: why is it not a file format issue? - data2 by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2017-07-11
  Busting a myth: the file format was not the issue that caused all the element limitations.
   
• The FOSS EDA ecosystem: common interchange file format - ecosys_edacore by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2017-02-13
  EDA ecosystem proposal: interchange file format.
   
• Why I dislike KiCad pcbnew's s-expr format - kicad_fmt_fun by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2019-04-06
  
   
• The original lihata announcement - lht1 by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2016-11-02
  Historical moment: first announcement of pcb-rnd's native format (lihata board v1).
   
• 'Save as' dialog format guessing - save_as_guess by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2019-05-23
  I've finished implementing a long requested feature: automatic format detection (from file name) in the 'save as' dialog. It is available from r25653.
   
• Alien format: text test cases - alien_text by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2020-05-17
  This article describes a series of proper test cases that provides the easier way for completly reverse engineering and testing support for text loaded from an alien format.
   
• KiCad s-epxression file format tree - kicad_pcb_fmt by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2019-04-05
  Reverse engineered "complete" list of KiCad's s-expression file format tree.
   
• Index: tips for file format developers - Ifmt_dev by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2018-02-19
  This node is a collection of pointers to other nodes that developers of file formats and file format related code (e.g. io_* plugins) will find useful. Some nodes contain example files that could be used in round-trip load/save tests.
   
• The FOSS EDA ecosystem: common interchange file format - ecosys_fmt by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2017-12-26
  EDA ecosystem proposal: interchange file format.
   
• The common -rnd SVN commit log message format - commitmsg by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2019-06-21
  We use scripts for speeding up writing the changelog. The script uses svn commit log for input. Writing the changelog is still a lot of very boring manual work. To help that process and reduce the overhead, please stick to the commit message format specified in this document.
   
• io_kicad: KiCad file format support limitations - io_kicad by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2019-04-12
  Detailed description of pcb-rnd's KiCad file format support, focusing on features which are not yet or not fully supported.
   
• New import schematics: rationale - isch_overview by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2020-02-01
  Rationale for the 'import schematics' rewrite. Overview of the new architecture, focusing on how it differs from the old and what problems these difference solve.
   
• Index: file format support - Iformat by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2017-12-24
  
   
• Protel Autotrax/Easytrax layout file import and export - autotrax by Erich S. Heinzle (VK5HSE) on 2017-07-07
  How to load and save boards in Protel's Autotrax/Easytrax board format.
   
• Importing Cadsoft Eagle Binary layouts and libraries into pcb-rnd - eagle3 by Erich S. Heinzle (VK5HSE) on 2017-12-15
  How to load Eagle binary files in pcb-rnd.
   
• Values of the fmt parameter in SaveTo() - save_fmt by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2018-02-25
  
   
• Fork FAQ - why did the gEDA/PCB vs. pcb-rnd fork happen? - fork_faq by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2015-08-30
  This document contains my short answers to questions commonly popping up in endless flamewars on the geda-user mailing list. Since pcb-rnd has left gEDA, this article is mainly kept for historical insight and explaining some of our design and project-management choices.
   
• How to write your own parametric footprint scripts - howto_parametric by Matt Jenkins (Majenko) on 2019-09-07
  An overview on how to write a script for generating footprints realtime using pcb-rnd's parametric footprints system
   
• Specification of the pool node format - pool by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2017-12-24
  
   
• Altium to pcb-rnd conversion - altium by Erich S. Heinzle (VK5HSE) on 2017-02-01
  Howto convert altium boards using an external tool and pcb-rnd
   
• Planned/scheduled feature deprecation - deprecation by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2020-02-05
  There are a lot of features in pcb-rnd. Some are in daily use, others are "looked like a good idea once but turned out to be unusable in practice". Yet others are "this is something pcb-rnd should have, but it will need to be done differently". This page announces the biggest features that are going to be removed, with expected schedule, rationale, plans/recommendations on alternatives.
   
• Converting Eagle (.brd) layouts to pcb-rnd (external tool) - eagle by Erich S. Heinzle (VK5HSE) on 2017-03-07
  How to convert Eagle xml files to pcb-rnd, gEDA, KiCad using the external tool translate2geda.
   
• Why do we support 3 different gEDA/PCB .pcb formats? - fmt_pcb_nano1 by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2016-09-04
  The reason for supporting 3 different gEDA/PCB .pcb formats. Rationale for human readable units and nanometer units; historical background on the centimil unit.
   
• Using existing pcb layouts as footprint element libraries in pcb-rnd - fp_board by Erich S. Heinzle (VK5HSE) on 2017-06-06
  Tutorial to using an existing design (in any board format pcb-rnd can load) as a footprint library.
   
• Lihata board v3 news (historical) - lht_v3 by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2017-07-24
  
   
• Someone else's footprint - sef by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2016-!!-!!
  
   
• The FOSS EDA ecosystem: public footprint/symbol/resource library - ecosys_edakrill by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2017-02-13
  EDA ecosystem proposal: interchange file format.
   
• Old thermal bits used in the gEDA/pcb format - old_thermal by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2016-10-31
  
   
• DXF exporter rewrite - dxf1 by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2017-08-29
  Original announcement on the DXF exporter rewrite.
   
• Exotic and complex footprint creation using FidoCadJ - fidocadj by Erich S. Heinzle (VK5HSE) on 2017-03-09
  Sometimes there are complex or exotic footprints that need to be made which are most easily achieved with bezier curve, cubic spline and ellipsoidal features in addition to the usual rectilinear elements. Fidocadj is a CAD program good in those. This howto demonstrates the bridge between pcb-rnd and fidocadj.
   
• Importing LTspice schematics into pcb-rnd for board layout - ltspice by Erich S. Heinzle (VK5HSE) on 2017-02-09
  How to import netlist+footprint data from LTspice. This feature allows the circuit that was worked out in LTspice to be realized quickly in pcb-rnd without having to redraw the schematics (e.g. in gschem) first.
   
• Importing Mentor Graphics Design Capture netlists into gEDA pcb-rnd - mentor_net by Erich S. Heinzle (VK5HSE) on 2017-03-15
  How to import netlist+footprint data from Mentor Graphics Design Capture. This feature allows the schematics author to use Mentor Graphics and the PCB layout engineer to use pcb-rnd in a team.
   
• Old pcb-rnd pin shapes - old_pinshape by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2016-09-03
  There was a few years after the fork, before pcb-rnd started to use its own native file format. During this transition period the (now pretty much obsolete) .pcb file format got a few pcb-rnd extensions that mainline never cared to implement. One of these extensions is asymmetric "pin shapes".
   
• template define pick and place (PnP) xyrs - xyrs by Erich S. Heinzle (VK5HSE) on 2017-06-09
  Template based xy export plugin for pick and place machines, BoMs and more.
   
• pcb-rnd's native support for Eagle XML (.brd) files - eagle2 by Erich S. Heinzle (VK5HSE) on 2017-05-08
  How to load Eagle xml files in pcb-rnd.
   
• Importing Kicad eeschema netlists into pcb-rnd - eeschema by Erich S. Heinzle (VK5HSE) on 2017-02-20
  How to import netlist+footprint data from KiCad's eeschema. This feature allows the schematics author to use KiCad and the PCB layout engineer to use pcb-rnd in a team.
   
• Extended objects (design plan) - extobj by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2019-05-19
  
   
• Data model: why not sql? - sql by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2017-07-12
  Rationale behind the decision that the data model is not based on SQL and not stored in an sqlite database.
   
• Micro-Cap to pcb-rnd (schematics/netlist import) - import_microcap by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2020-08-21
  Micro-Cap is a freeware schematics capture and simulator program running on windows. It supports a variety of different netlist formats, from which multiple formats are suitable for a pcb-rnd layout flow. This article provides step-by-step instrictions on a forward annotation from schematics to pcb-rnd.
   
• Import schematics: how to switch over - isch_switch by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2020-02-01
  The new import schematics feature does a few things sligthly differently, and there are also a few new options. This article attempts to ease the transition.
   
• Importing TinyCad schematics into pcb-rnd - tinycad by Erich S. Heinzle (VK5HSE) on 2017-02-10
  How to import netlist+footprint data from TinyCAD. This feature allows the schematics author to use TinyCAD and the PCB layout engineer to use pcb-rnd in a team.
   
• Index: the FOSS EDA ecosystem - Iecosys by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2017-12-26
  
   
• pcb-rnd documentation policy - doc_and_code by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2018-11-04
  Explanation of high and low level documentation; pcb-rnd policy on not mixing source code with high level documentation and not writing alibi docs.
   
• Line, Polygon and Arc objects now supported in pcb-rnd font glyphs - fontedit by Erich S. Heinzle (VK5HSE) on 2017-04-09
  Howto for the built-in font editor, plus some tips about the lihata based font file format and about using arcs and polygons in fonts.
   
• Get a tEDAx netlist from a gschem schematic. - gaf_tedax by Alain V. on 2017-12-29
  How to get a tEDAx netlist using "xorn netlist" command
   
• The 2016 import of PCB plugins - oldplugins by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2016-10-08
  Historical overview of old PCB plugins that got imported in 2016.
   
• On the fly generated parametric footprints - parametric by Erich S. Heinzle (VK5HSE) on 2017-03-01
  Demonstrate the use of the parametric footprint parameter editor dialog box.
   
• How to save coords in text files - print_coord by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2016-09-04
  
   
• Resource files converted to lihata - res_file by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2016-04-19
  Notes on how the custom format "resource" files got converted to lihata documents (for menu layout config and vendor drill). May help for advanced users with transition from gEDA/PCB to pcb-rnd.
   
• Configuring export_xy to output a custom csv - xy_template by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2018-04-19
  Plugin export_xy writes the output file using a named template. The template is one of multiple configured templates. The configuration is coming from the normal pcb-rnd configuration system. This howto describes creating a new, custom csv template as an user configuration.
   
• Import_sch rewrite, switching over to tEDAx netlists - import_sch by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2018-08-17
  Majority of pcb-rnd users use the gschem->pcb-rnd flow, either with import schematics, or less frequently with gsch2pcb-rnd. The current implementation is fragile. This article describes how it is going to be fixed using tEDAx.
   
• Exporting XY and BoM for JLC assembly service - jlc_pnp by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2024-08-10
  Configuration and export checklist on using pcb-rnd with JLC PCB assembly (pick & place) service.
   
• Makefile for batch mode import - make_import by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2018-08-13
  How to emulate gsch2pcb-rnd with a batch-mode action script using the pcb-rnd executable, and how to hook this all up in a Makefile. Many pcb-rnd users use Makefiles to automate annotation between tools. A common path is generating a netlist from various sources (e.g. schematics) and importing the changes to an existing board. This can be done using gsch2pcb-rnd, but that tool supports only one flow, importing from gschem, using gnetlist. This article presents an example on how to implement a generic setup that can import from any source.
   
• Run-time menu patching system - menu_patch_new by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2020-07-18
  pcb-rnd offers a more flexible menu description from version 2.2.4, based on run-time menu patching. This article describes the basic mechanism implemented.
   
• PolyHatch command for cross hatching polygons in pcb-rnd - polyhatch by Erich S. Heinzle (VK5HSE) on 2017-07-19
  Introduction to the polygon hatching action and tips on the use cases.
   
• CAM switchover: how to use CAM jobs instead of direct exporting? - cam_switch by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2019-03-22
  We are switching from export-specific hacks, like the gerber export plugin's --name-style argument, to the generic CAM job syntax. This article describes how pcb-rnd users are affected.
   
• Data model rewrite state - data_switch by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2018-01-20
  Current state, progress.
   
• Terminology: footprint, element, subcircuit - footprint by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2017-08-15
  Describe the existing PCB terminology for elements, footprints and the new term subcircuit in pcb-rnd. This article also reveals why new term "subcircuit" is introduced instead of calling it "footprint2", "footprint+", "new footprints" or "pcb-rnd footprints".
   
• IPC-D-356 - ipc-d-356 by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2018-04-13
  Summary of the IPC-D-356 support in pcb-rnd.
   
• Multifont: ISO 3098 CAD font, dwarven rune and Klingon support - isofont by Erich S. Heinzle (VK5HSE) on 2017-03-29
  Announce the multifont support: ISO font, dwarven rune, and Klingon font.
   
• pcb-rnd pricing - joke_pricing by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2020-01-18
  
   
• Mass-change of object properties - mass_chg by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2017-01-07
  For mass-changing object properties, pcb-rnd offers different approaches, which are each described, pros and cons.
   
• Terminology: netlist, import schematics - netlist by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2020-11-16
  This node explains the terms "netlist", "import netlist", "import schematics" and how the schematics-to-PCB workflow works.
   
• History: how the old layer model was broken - old_layer by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2016-11-13
  What problems we had with the old layer model inherited from PCB and how we got rid of these problems by the layer rewrite.
   
• plug_io: the test_parse call - test_parse by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2016-12-15
  Rationale for the test_parse call in the I/O plugin API.
   
• Generating visual difference of boards - visual_diff by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2020-06-16
  Determining the small difference between two versions of a board may be non-trivial. The data model is complex enough that a diff(1) on the board file (in whatever format) may not give a direct answer. A small shell script distributed with pcb-rnd provides a visual solution to this problem.
   
• Why should you use pcb-rnd vs. gEDA/PCB? - vs_geda by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2018-01-01
  Datasheet-like comparison table of the most important features of pcb-rnd and gEDA/PCB, to help users choosing between the two packages.
   
• Index: user guide - Iuguide by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2018-02-23
  Editing a PCB board is a complex workflow with many aspects. This user guide targets new users and demonstrates some of the most common aspects referencing to mini-howtos.
   
• Back annotation to gschem - backann by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2015-08-30
  Back annotation of pin swaps and footprint changes using pcb-rnd and a recent GIT version of gEDA/gschem.
   
• The new DRC dialog - drc_new1 by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2018-11-30
  As the first step of the DRC rewrite, a new low level view/drc infrastructure is introduced and the DRC GUI is rewritten. This pool node describes what was wrong with the old GUI and how the new one fixes those problems.
   
• Extended objects: dimension lines - extobj_dim by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2019-12-14
  
   
• hyp2mat path to OpenEMS simulation - hyp2mat by Evan Foss on 2017-12-25
  Video tutorial on simulating a micorwave filter using pcb-rnd, hyp2mat and openEMS.
   
• Multiple font support now available in pcb-rnd - multifont by Erich S. Heinzle (VK5HSE) on 2017-02-21
  Using multiple different fonts on a board
   
• Why should you use pcb-rnd vs. KiCad? - vs_kicad by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2018-07-24
  Datasheet-like comparison table of the most important features of pcb-rnd and KiCad, to help users choosing between the two packages.
   
• Index: scripting pcb-rnd - Iscript by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2019-05-19
  Enumerate various ways pcb-rnd can be scripted, allowing the user to extend the functionality of pcb-rnd or automate repetitive tasks or integrated pcb-rnd as a converter/generator in a toolchain or build system.
   
• (Ab)using pcb-rnd for generic 2d vector drawing - abuse_drawing by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2019-11-12
  While pcb-rnd is not the perfect 2d drawing program, for some applications it may be more convenient than some popular alternatives. This short node demonstrates how it can be done.
   
• External autorouter: c-pcb - c-pcb by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2018-10-01
  Autorouting using the external auto router c-pcb. This howto guides the user through all steps, from c-pcb installation to routing using pcb-rnd GUI.
   
• The FOSS EDA ecosystem: why to join - ecosys_join by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2018-02-04
  What are the benefits and costs of joinint the EDA ecosystem.
   
• The FOSS EDA ecosystem and pcb-rnd in it - ecosys_prop by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2017-02-12
  A proposal on how an EDA ecosystem of independent, smallish tools could be built today.
   
• Automatic routing (builtin router, freerouting_cli and external freerouting gui) - freerouting by Erich S. Heinzle (VK5HSE) on 2017-02-04
  Howto for pcb-rnd and the external autorouters freerouting_cli and freerouting
   
• Importing HPGL plot data into pcb-rnd PCB layouts - hpgl by Erich S. Heinzle (VK5HSE) on 2017-09-08
  Howto on importing HPGL plots for mechanical drawings.
   
• Using the MUCS autorouter with pcb-rnd... a HOWTO - mucs by Erich S. Heinzle (VK5HSE) on 2018-01-01
  How to use the MUCS external autorouter with pcb-rnd.
   
• routing style fixes - routing_styles by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2016-08-16
  
   
• About pcb-rnd knowledge pool - Default by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2017-12-24
  
   
• Planning curve support - curves by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2018-05-05
  Planning curve support. Describe objectives and enumerate possibilities.
   
• DRC: typical use cases - drc_typical by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2021-05-20
  Every production board should be ran through the Design Rule Checker (DRC) before sent to the fab house. This pool node lists and explains typical and practical use cases for the new DRC system, serving both as guideline and checklist.
   
• Freerouting.net demo (with new io_dsn) - freerouting2 by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2021-07-19
  In 2021 pcb-rnd got a major revamp on its specctra DSN support, thanks to nlnet (and the NGI0 PET fund). The new code (as of r35225, or release 3.0.0), io_dsn, offers full support for loading and saving DSN files. It supports all possible details, including non-uniform padstacks, slots, arcs in copper, etc. It replaces the old, hackish code that offered only partial export. It implemends brand new DSN read code that can load the export of a full board. It also features the previous session (.ses file) reader so the round trip through specctra compatible external autorouters are preserved. This node presents a screenshot example of all DSN data paths.
   
• Producing gerber drill files - gerber_drill by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2019-03-31
  Most often we send the "outline" layer in gerber but drills/slots in excellon to our fab. Long term the industry is likely to switch from excellon drill files to gerber. This article explains how to produce gerber drill files using the CAM syntax.
   
• Converting inkscape paths to pcb-rnd and gEDA PCB layouts, lines and footprint elements - inkscape by Erich S. Heinzle (VK5HSE) on 2017-03-20
  Introduction to an Inkscape export plugin that can (partially) export svg to .pcb, creating a bridge between inkscape and pcb-rnd.
   
• True layer colors - layer_color by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2018-07-04
  Announcement and short intro of the new layer color system that allows setting layer color per board, per layer.
   
• A brief history of m4 footprints - m4fp_history by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2020-11-22
  
   
• Menu patching tutorial - menu_patch by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2020-07-18
  The run-time menu patching system in pcb-rnd is a powerful infrastructure that lets users to make temporary or persistent, global or project-local modifications to the menu system. This article shows how to use the system and how to write menu patches.
   
• History: how the old element model was broken - old_elem by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2017-05-30
  What problems we had with the old element model inherited from PCB and how we got rid of these problems with the subcircuit upgrade.
   
• Padstack implementation details - padstack_imp by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2017-11-04
  Some basic implementation details about padstacks, for developers.
   
• The polygon lib on GPU - poly_gpu by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2024-06-03
  Considerations and details on what kind of algorithms lend themselves to be run on the GPU and whether librnd's polygon clipping lib fits the bill.
   
• QR code and code128 barcode support for PCB layouts now in pcb-rnd - qr by Erich S. Heinzle (VK5HSE) on 2017-04-06
  Demonstrate how to use qr(), the parametric footprint for generating QR code.
   
• what's needed for schematics -> pcb-rnd - schimp by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2017-02-05
  Specify the requirements before we can implement a a schematics capture program to pcb-rnd importer.
   
• How refdes works with subcircuits - subc_refdes by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2017-10-19
  Details on how the refdes worked with the old element model and how it works with the new subcircuit model.
   
• How subcircuit source/transformations are tracked - subc_transf by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2018-01-22
  How source and transformation of subcircuits are tracked. How pick and place output is generated using this information. What happens to the old gEDA/PCB elements.
   
• Our new EDA suite - suite by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2018-01-01
  pcb-rnd is a PCB layout editor tool. When it started in 2013, I didn't foresee it would be the flagship of an EDA suite, which will be part of an EDA ecosystem. This node describes the relation between these terms.
   
• Potential video tutorial topics - video_tut by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2021-11-08
  
   
• Tutorials for using pcb-rnd - Itutorials by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2021-06-19
  This node is a collection of links to user tutorials for various levels of pcb-rnd users from beginners to advanced.
   
• Anyload - anyload by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2020-02-06
  Anyload is a small but flexible infrastructure in librnd. Plugins can register in it to offer loading various (usually lihata based) files by type (root node). This allows users to prepare easy-to-use, easy-to-install addons that can be shared on edakrill. The gain is especially high when a single addon requires to use multiple different resources, e.g. drc rules and vendor drill mapping.
   
• cam exporting - cam by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2018-07-12
  Announcing the cam export option and the cam plugin in an effort to clean up and unify output file name and layer group selection and provide configurable export jobs.
   
• How not to contribute - contrib2 by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2019-04-09
  What sort of contribution is not welcome in pcb-rnd community and why. What's the economy behind contributing, how you can very easily differentiate between valuable and invaluable attempts.
   
• The Big Data Model Cleanup - midpoint summary - data3 by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2017-10-01
  All the work with the layer rewrite, subcircuits and padstacks are not just random features. These are all parts of a bigger plan, an idea that has been floating on the geda-user mailing list for many years: a data model cleanup.
   
• Data rewrite: car analogy and long term plans - data4 by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2017-11-06
  Car analogy for the data model replacement in 2017; what's for 2018 and some words about the long term strategy.
   
• Doc/mech layer group type/purpose conventions - doc_grps by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2019-08-09
  pcb-rnd can handle arbitrary doc layer groups and layers set up by the user. This document contains recommendations on how to use these custom layers and layer groups.
   
• Polygon-side clearance: enforce_clearance - enforce_clearance by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2020-05-06
  There are three schools for maintaining clearance values: probably the most common is when the clearance is set at the polygon; some software have the clearance globally set for all objects; and pcb-rnd and gEDA, where clearance is traditionally set on a per-clearing-object basis. A recent data model upgrade in pcb-rnd however allows both per-poly and per-clearing-object clearances, even in the same time.
   
• Long term plans: export option cleanup (summary) - export_cleanup by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2019-08-15
  There will be some gradual changes to many of our exporters. These will be slow changes but will definitely break some fine details of some existing Makefiles and export scripts. If you are exporting using scripts, with the old, non-cam syntax, you might be affected.
   
• Objects outside of the drawing area are not exported - export_crop by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2022-10-13
  When exporting a designw ith assy or fab text outside of the drawing area, those objects are not showing up in the output. This pool node explains the reason behind this and how the outline concept evolved over the decades. It also describes how to place text or other objects (e.g. comments) around the board without violating the drawing area rule.
   
• Feature complexity considerations vs. data model and hardwired code vs. user data - feature_cmpl by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2018-05-06
  How to add new features; what sort of features are accepted and what features are refused. How to keep to code maintainable long term.
   
• Exporting plugged and filled vias separately using CAM partials - filledvia by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2019-09-20
  This example demonstrates how to use partial CAM export to sort different vias into different excellon files, by via process (filled, plugged, normal).
   
• Font rendering: font v2 - font2 by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2023-10-02
  librnd from 4.1.0 features an upgradeed font engine, called "font2". This pool node describes all the upgrades compared to the original font engine.
   
• HID API policy - hid_policy by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2018-04-14
  Specify the future directions of the HID API with detailed rationale.
   
• Internal connections in footprints and subcircuits - intconn by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2013-09-01
  
   
• How to use the automated integrity check system - integrity by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2017-06-03
  Automatic data model integrity checks on the fly. How to enable it and how to use it to narrow down and report bugs.
   
• Fine tuning for non-english keyboard layout - key_non_us by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2020-08-15
  By design, pcb-rnd speaks English and assumes an English keyboard layout. For most of the default key assignment using another layout doesn't make any difference but there are a few special cases. This article explains how those special cases arise and how to fix them on non-english keyboard layout.
   
• M4 footprints: howto - m4fp_howto by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2020-11-22
  How to use old geda/pcb M4 footprints as parametric footprint in pcb-rnd.
   
• How to export for macrofab - macrofab by Edward 'celem' Comer on 2018-01-28
  How to export files from pcb-rnd for macrofab pick and place service.
   
• Drawing the board outline - outline by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2020-11-20
  How to draw the outline of shaped boards. How to draw internal cutouts.
   
• Self intersecting polygons (polygon lib assertion) - poly_bug1 by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2018-01-01
  Explanation for the famous 'self intesecting polygon' assert in --debug mode, and a method for debugging and fixing the offending board file.
   
• direct path to openems for s-parameters - s_param by Evan Foss on 2019-04-19
  A quick introduction to solving for s-parameters - one of the most basic uses of pcb-rnd's direct interface to openems. This includes selecting ports, generating mesh, exporting, processing, and visualization.
   
• Statistics: 2017 - stat_2017 by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2017-12-30
  Statistics about the year: what 2017 was like in the life of pcb-rnd.
   
• Home etching copper clad circuit boards using the toner transfer method. - toner_transfer by Erich S. Heinzle (VK5HSE) on 2018-03-15
  A summary of the toner transfer method for home etching of boards designed in pcb-rnd.
   
• XSCHEM to pcb-rnd flow - xschem by Tibor 'Igor2' Palinkas on 2018-09-05
  XSCHEM is a small, independent schematics editor implemented in C, tcl, awk, running on X11. Because of VLSI, it has strong support for hierarchy. Recently it got support for slotting and exporting tEDAx netlists, making XSCHEM suitable for drawing the schematics for a layout done with pcb-rnd. This tutorial demonstrates a simple XSCHEM-to-pcb-rnd forward annotation.
   

Nodes found: 129