New Measure Tool
The current ‘basic’ measure dialog is now replaced by the fully-featured Measure Tool.
Please see How can I use new Measure tool for more information.
New Component Values Editor
The ‘spreadsheet’ style Component Values dialog. This includes the ability to manage Component Values across all sheets in a project.
Please see How Can I Use The New Function - Component Values Editor? for more information.
New Unroute Preference
“Delete Track Does Unroute” in the PCB preferences is now available and checked as default setting.
Please see Why Unroute Preference Has Been Changed? for more information.
New Net Handling Default Setting
"Delete Removes Isolated Pads From Net" in the PCB preferences is now made unchecked as default setting.
Improved “File New” dialog window
The File New dialog currently offers the choice of 3 ‘design’ types and 2 ‘technology’ types. The creation of new technology files will be removed to a separate dialog, invoked via a button on the File New dialog, to reduce confusion with novice users.
Additionally "Add To Open Project" is now set as default value.
Smaller technical improvements
- Cleaner file path presentation in drop-down lists
- Symbol previews now use current technology file and standard colour dialog
- Native Eagle import (“XML” data files from Eagle V6 onwards)
New BOM Quote functionality realisation
The existing BOM Quote feature in V7.2 collates BOM information from the design and passes this to “quoteOnline” on the RS web site. This service is now replaced with live information provided by the new Component Web Service. This service will be used by DSPCB to generate an in-application BOM which provides the user with up-to-date information about price and availability of the components in their design.
This new BOM dialog will be invoked from the existing BOM Quote button to provide the user with quick and easy access to the information.
Please see How Can I Use New BOM Quote Functionality? for more information.
Context menu on Components
As well as the above BOM feature for the entire design, there are also some context (right-click) menu options for a component.
Check Stock
The dialog will show the current stock level based on the user’s locale, the price (which will be the first price returned by the service), and where available the current product status (active or discontinued) together with the defined equivalent replacement part number if the product is marked as discontinued.
Add Component
The Add Component dialog shows components from the DSPCB component libraries. New buttons for “Check Stock” and “View Datasheet” (latter not included in this screen shot) will be available:
Component Properties
The same Check Stock and View Datasheet buttons will be included on the Component Properties dialog to allow the user to access the Check Stock dialog.
Component PDF Datasheet Direct Access
The context (right-click) menu will now allow users to quickly display manufacturer datasheet for selected component whenever it is available in our Product Data Library.
Comments
3 comments
Glad to hear about a better measure tool the current one is terrible (no offense) ;)
It would be great to be able to edit the distance between components (say mounting holes) in this same dialogue too instead of having to use the "relative origin" method. (SolidWorks dimension style)
Use case:
Measure distance between components = Y
Desire distance X
Specify the fixed component (or the one to move)
Specify distance Y (expressions should be allowed )Z + B = Y for example)
DSPCB makes the change and the distance is now X
I'm a bit disappointed about the number of new features in DSPCB 8.0, I don't think it justifies version number change :P.
As for the distance edit, good idea, I've requested something similar in the past - segment length edit in Properties, I think I'll add it to Features request section of the forum.
I agree with Jay, DSPCB is screaming for dual screen support! And... the bugs when selecting a track and you just can't move them in a sensible way need banishing too!
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