It's a better help if you had specific questions, but it helps that I
know your in tune with P-CAD.
ECO: like P-CAD, Orcad wants a tight relationship with the schematic.
This is good but there is no way to verify ECO generated changes before
implementation (i.e. the .upd file). ACCEL ECO enables you to verify
before implementation but a comparison isn't used. It is up to the user
to turn on the ECO function before making any changes. IMO, Orcad is
better for this.
Interface: ACCEL's GUI is much easier to pick up than Orcad therefore,
easier to learn.
Library and pkging: Both work well. Orcad is more flexible though
considering using a generic library, kind of like using the the GFP
attribute in P-CAD but it has capabilities for On-the Fly part
assignments when packaging a netlist from schematic to pcb. This was the
noticable difference for me choosing Orcad as a tool.
PADSTACKS: ACCEL padstacks are much easier to use and assign, that means
there is less flexibility. Orcad, there is more flexibility, but the
spreadsheets get cumbersome. They are about equal with one major
exception: through the years, ACCEL has not listened to complaining and
crying and from people who know better about non-plated holes and how to
define them in the CAD tool, that is where the pad is smaller than the
drill. EDA still won't let you do this. There are work arounds that work
but it is not straight forward and easy like it was in P-CAD.
Manual Trace routing: Both, to put it bluntly, suck. P-CAD was the best
and is still the over the other CAD tools I have used. The only other
tool, Pads Powerpcb (I also have this as a tool) can come close.
However, once you get used to how Orcad and ACCEL work it doesn't seem
so bad.
BTW: Other systems such as Allegro, Mentor and CDS I have not used and
cannot compare; please no offence if your system is not mentioned as
good or bad. I just haven't used it yet.
Tech support: ACCEL good, Orcad not very good.
There are many other issues that could be discussed. In summary, I don't
think you will lose either way.
I did not upgrade to ACCEL V14 because I cannot justify the cost. I am
an independant designer and don't have any current customers that
require ACCEL EDA. All the effort by ACCEL seems to be in supplying
in-house design groups. Orcad is not as widely distibuted and used yet
but I feel that the future of the tool is very bright, like when P-CAD
was at version 3. And, I generate income from its use.
Scott Shepard
Interactive Design Solutions
PS call me if you need to discuss more detail.
My phone number is on my website www.southbound.com.
EAVES, CINDY L. (JSC-SD) wrote:
>
> I have been using orcad, but not very much. I was supposed to evaluate accel
> using their demo, but the demo wasn't very good. Most of my experience has
> been with P-CAD. I would just like some professional opinions.
>
> > ----------
> > From: Scott D. Shepard[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> > Sent: Thursday, February 04, 1999 2:39 PM
> > To: DesignerCouncil E-Mail Forum.; EAVES, CINDY L. (JSC-SD)
> > Subject: Re: [DC] orcad vs accel
> >
> > I have ACCEL 13 and Orcad 9.0, what would like to know specifically?
> >
> > Scott
> > IDS
> > www.southbound.com
> >
> >
> > EAVES, CINDY L. (JSC-SD) wrote:
> > >
> > > I need comparisons for orcad and accel.
> > >
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