DesignWorks
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DesignWorks
DesignWorks is available for both Macintosh OS X and Windows. Features that make the package valuable to me include:
Unlimited number of attributes per design, device or signal, and can be categorized as primary or secondary.
See the Define Attributes window at right.
Large, up to 32000 character values for attributes, large enough to hold a Spice model!
Flexible scripting language for error checking, netlists, generating web based orders, building libraries,
generating FPGA & CPLD user constraint files, connector pinout tables, merging text files with device attributes, and such
The scripting language can generate AppleScripts and launch them
Optional simulator
Automatic page and grid location with page connectors
Hierarchical and flat schematics
Flexible printing options
Design kits separate different tasks, like Spice, block diagrams, and circuit design
You can see the whole list of attributes I use here.
On the right is my extended title block text. Most of these design attributes are computed in scripts. The last two lines are the board area use summary.
The next two lines are the text you place in your schematic to see the results.
Component side area used is &AreaCompUsedmm2 mm^2, or &AreaCompUsedPct% of &AreaCompmm2 mm^2
Solder side area used is &AreaSoldUsedmm2 mm^2, or &AreaSoldUsedPct% of &AreaSoldmm2 mm^2
You can download my Area script, RPArea111.rfm.zip here. You can download by attribute setup script, AttrSetup153.rfm.zip here, but you may need to edit it first so it doesn’t mess up any of your attributes.
One of the scripts I use in circuit design is my PCB area calculator. I use this to know the amount of board area is used during the schematic capture process. This uses design attributes that describe the area available on the component and solder side of the PCB. It also uses two device attributes, one for the area used on the side of the PCB the device is placed, and one of the area used on the other side of the board. Most SMT parts only use one side of the board unless they have a exposed pad that needs heat sink vias. There is also a device attribute that indicates which side of the board the part is mounted. See the device attributes left and center below. This script does not generate a report file, it only updates the design attributes for used board area for each side, and the percent used board area for each side.
PCB Area Used Script
This is my Osmond netlist report for flat designs. This makes the format I use in my Device Placer application if you need components place in circles. You can download it from here:
A header on the top of the net list includes the circuit name, assembly, revision, and designer (from design attributes), and the date. The nets that start with KS, for Keep Short, are listed first.
Attributes it uses:
Device
&package
Design
&DevUsedLast
&UnitsUnused
&Assembly
&Revision
&Designer
Osmond PCB Layout Netlist Script