Protel problem - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Richard Head
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 05, 2014, 10:23:05 am
content: I'm using Protel/EDA client and occasionally have a problem with updating PCB versions.What I normally do when I want to modify an existing PCB design and up-issue it is as follows:I select the entire board by drawing a block around it.I press control C and click on the lower left corner of the board.I then open a new PCB document in the same folder, with a different name.I then press control V to paste the selected board.I repeat the process with the schematic and link the new schematic with the new PCB.The problem that I have is that sometimes the existing PC board traces are not recognised by the netlist and a rats nest appears on the PC board. Upon inspection of the traces they all have "no net" as the assigned net.To solve the problem I have to go and manually alter the net name of EVERY friggen trace to remove the rats nest line.What am I doing wrong and how can I get the program to recognise the existing traces on the board?Dick

author: DerekG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 05, 2014, 10:34:14 am
content: Quote from: Richard Head on May 05, 2014, 10:23:05 amI'm not sure if I understand exactly why you prefer the above method.I would simply use the "Save As" or "Save Copy As" for both the Schematic file & the PCB file. The integrity of each file should then remain 100%.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 05, 2014, 10:35:42 am
content: Maybe the issue is being caused by copy/pasting a PCB with some unmatched nets.It might stuff-up the import code and cause it to abandon nets altogether.As well as the Save As, (as DerekG says) you can also create a new project then manually go find the PCB file for the source project and copy/rename to the new folder, then add that new file to the new project using the 'import existing file' option when right clicking on the project.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 05, 2014, 11:12:32 am
content: Can't say I have had exactly that problem, but the thing that sticks out is your methodology.I would add new schematic and new PCB to project, then name them, then copy and paste content. The other command that might be better is select all, then copy/paste.Try this but DerekG or PSI's options may be more fail safe.

author: ludzinc
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 05, 2014, 11:19:44 am
content: Are you doing the Ctrl-C Ctrl-V shuffle or using the Edit / Paste Menu?By default, Ctrl-V will not copy net information.Select Edit / Paste Special and make sure your select 'Keep Net Name'.But IMHO it's a hard way to make a copy. Just copy the .pcbdoc file in Windows explorer.

author: Richard Head
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 05, 2014, 11:34:46 am
content: LudzincI'm doing control C and control V. I obviously must use the "Copy/paste" or "Save as".This is what happens when you teach yourself to use a software package!

author: DerekG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 05, 2014, 12:46:32 pm
content: Quote from: Richard Head on May 05, 2014, 11:34:46 amOK, there is quite a difference between the two:1/ A copy & paste (whether via the Edit menu or the Control C & Control V keys) copies what you see on the screen as a function of Windows & the software program you are using. You are fully reliant on how these two interact.2/ A "Save As" or "Save Copy As" (via the File menu) actually generates an exact replica of the full file itself.Following on my post above, an absolute failsafe way (& following on the ludzinc's post above) is to use Windows Explorer to copy the entire Design Project.Then paste the entire Design Project into a new Directory, then rename it.When you next open Altium Designer, close the "old" project, navigate to the "new" project & open it.All of the links between the schematic & pcb will be exactly as they were in the "old" project. You are then free to manipulate any of the files in the new project, just as you could in the old project.