Since I have a Web site available at IPC for the Northern
Illinois IPC Designer's council, I would like to devote
a page or two to this cause.


I do not think the IPC will have a problem with this, if
they do, I'll find another site.   What I think I'll do to
start is to list functions that are necessary on a left column
and on a top row, show CAD tools that are capable of that.


FUNCTION        CADENCE         MENTOR          PADS    CADNETIX

GERBER output   YES             YES             YES     YES
DOES cartwheels YES             NO              YES     YES

etc.
So if you are all willing, start sending the data to me, and
I'll compile it and publish the web site. Or if you have better
ideas, send them to the forum for discussion.

Karl Bates


> From [log in to unmask] Wed Apr 22 16:03:20 1998
> To: [log in to unmask]
> X-Lotus-FromDomain: PHILIPS
> Mime-Version: 1.0
> Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1998 17:01:16 -0400
> From: Thomas Martin <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: [DC] another day...
> Original-To: [log in to unmask]
> X-Status: $$$$
> X-UID: 0000000136
>
> Sorry, i'm on the Digest format so i'm slow to play. Of course
> we all have days like that. My first thought when i saw your email
> was "How long HAVE you been using Mentor?"
>
>   It would be a great idea to collect positive and negative points
> about each PCB CAD  system in a central forum with tips and
> hints for "taming" each system. I've used a Gerber PC800, THeda
> [excellent software], Mentor and hand taping and played with EE Designer,
> PCad, Protel, Intergraph.Douglas & Vamp. Cadence is probably next.
> They all had their good points and shortcomings. Many of these
> softwares have user group forums where the users of that specific
> software share their roadbocks, successes and work arounds. Some
> of these are public & some are restricted to users only.
>
>  Having an Independent forum might accomplish the following:
>
>   1) People interested in purchasing a new CAD system could get
>       a better idea of which CAD system would best meet their needs,
>       based on comments from users [not salesmen] about each
>       system's strong & weak points.
>
>   2) We could all see that it's not just our particular system that drives
>       people crazy - they all have their quirks. Misery loves company.
>
>   3) CAD vendors might be quicker to resolve issues they know are posted
>       on a public forum instead of buried in some User Group page/email
> forum that
>       are mostly read by only the users of that system or even only
> available to
>       users of that system. Once you've bought the system and have
> committed
>       several data bases and lots of infrastructure support to it it's hard
> to jump ship
>       and vendors probably count on this. Most user groups seem to have Top
> 10 lists and
>       lots of problems with assigned ticket numbers. What they don't seem
> to have
>       many of are problems that have been resolved by the Cad vendor. And
>       Lord help you if your bug report is classified as an "enhancement
> request."..................
>       We don't need to be angry but we need to be firm.
>
> 4) Over time we might be able to compare notes and evolve some minimal PCB
>     CAD system requirements and help those software engineers understand
> what
>     we really need and why.
>
> 5) This could actually be fun & constructive at the same time.
>
>  The benchmark seems like a good starting point. [By the way, every
> vendor who participated deserves 10 extra credit points for showing up
> and those who didn't get minus 10 points for not having enough faith
> in their own systems to participate. Since we're involved in electronic
> design
> we all understand the dangers of public demos (just ask Bill Gates!) but
> we are also understanding if something fails on the "Big Day."  Also
> 100 extra credit points to PC Design Magazine for insisting there would be
> a benchmark even if it was only with one participant.]
>
>  The only possible glitch in this is finding a sponsor. Organizations that
> need
> advertising revenue or membership from CAD Vendors might understandably
> be reluctant to irritate their revenue sources. If anyone does step forward
> to sponsor
> this we need to make sure we as a design community support them 1000%. How
> do
> we pull this great idea off?
>
>  "The opinions expressed herein are my own and
> not necessarily those of my employer."
>
>
>           Thomas Martin
>           Contract PC Board Designer
>
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