The new or improved features are listed below for 2022.0. Features in multiple areas of the application are shown in the following section. Features in a particular area of the application are listed in the corresponding section. Click each heading to toggle the relevant content.
eCADSTAR 2022.0: What's New
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Scripting: Improved | The eCADSTAR scripting interface has been updated to support several new functions across the applications. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: Scripting. |
| Online Documentation: Improved | The eCADSTAR online documentation and DIY Training has been ported to the improved authoring toolset, MadCap Flare. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: Online Documentation |
| Library Searcher: Improved | Library Searcher can now be customized to list part attributes in the grid when displaying the panel in both thin mode or wide mode. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: Library Searcher |
| CADSTAR to eCADSTAR Migration: Improved |
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| Windows 11 Support: New | eCADSTAR 2022.0 is the first release to have official support for the Microsoft Windows 11 operating system. |
| Network Library Access Performance: Improved | Several improvements have been made to increase performance in accessing a network-based Library. |
| System and User attribute colorization: New | System and User attributes have been color coded for easier identification when using the customization dialogs in eCADSTAR. See: New in Version 2022.0: System and User Attribute Colorization |
| Reshape: Improved | The Reshape command can now insert new corners into an existing shape. This allows you to create more complex shapes during editing. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: Reshape |
| Object Filters: Improved | Two new object filter categories have been included in the filter list. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: Object Filters |
| SPICE Controller (Reference Name Prefix): Improved | If a property value is not set for the SPICE Element Header of a component, then the Reference Designator Prefix value is used. This is set for the part, and is used as the ‘default’ Reference Name Prefix. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: SPICE Controller (Reference Name Prefix). |
| SPICE Controller (Warnings): Improved | When a component is defined with no property values for Reference Designator Prefix, SPICE Element Name or SPICE Element Header, warnings are displayed in the Output panel. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: Warnings in SPICE Controller |
| Paste: Improved | The Keep Original Layer check box is now available in the Paste command. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: Paste |
| Design Viewer: Improved |
eCADSTAR PCB Viewer and eCADSTAR Schematic Viewer can now open design data that is created in earlier versions of eCADSTAR. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: Design Viewer |
| Constraint Browser: Improved | The Create Skew Group wizard now allows you to select pin pairs that are present on the same device. You can manually define the differential pair pin pairs from within Constraint Browser. You can also override the automatic pairing that eCADSTAR applies when creating the differential pair. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: Constraint Browser |
eCADSTAR Library Editor
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| 3D Model Manager: Improved | A new 3D Model Manager GUI has been included within the Library Editor tools. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: 3D Model Manager |
eCADSTAR Schematic Editor
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| SPICE Controller (Reference Names): Improved | During netlist output, a suffixed gate number is added to the reference names of multi-gated parts. This ensures gate exclusivity for the LTspice simulator. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: Reference Names in SPICE Controller. |
| Spice Controller (Support for Power Box gates): Improved | Power Box gates are now fully supported for netlist output. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: Spice Controller (Support for Power Box gates). |
| Support for Multi-Instanced Hierarchy: New | Multi-instanced hierarchy is now supported in eCADSTAR. See: New in Version 2022.0: Multi-Instanced Hierarchy |
| Variants for Multi-gated Components: Improved | Variants for multi-gated components are now updated across the different gates, and across different sheets of the design. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: Variants for Multi-gated Components |
| Updating Multi-gated Components: Improved | Changing the Reference Designator or Fitted property on a single gate of a multi-gated component will now update those properties on all gates in the design. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: Updating Multi-gated Components |
| Reference Rename: New | Reference Rename is a new command that allows you to positionally rename Reference Designator values. See: New in Version 2022.0: Reference Rename |
| Parts List Settings : Improved | The Parts List Settings dialog now allows you to exclude or include Not Fitted components in the Parts List report. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: Parts List Settings |
| Crossprobe to Component Browser: New | You can now crossprobe from the canvas in eCADSTAR Schematic Editor to Component Browser |
| Localized Part Library: Improved | A localized part library is now stored with the schematic design data. This increases the portability of the data. As access to the master library is no longer required, this simplifies the sharing of designs with third-parties.
A localized part library for a schematic design is created or updated by the following processes.
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| Add Part: Improved | The Add Part command panel now includes an option to show only localized Parts. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: Add Part Command. |
| Add Symbol: Improved | The Add Symbol command panel now includes an option to show only localized Symbols. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: Add Symbol. |
| Library tools: Improved | A new Library tools option allows you to delete unused localized parts and symbols from the design data. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: Library tools |
| Object Filters (Filter names): Improved | Filter names for net and bus items have been updated to improve terminology. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: Object Filters (Filter names) |
| Properties Panel: Improved | The SPICE Controller attributes for components are now listed at the bottom of the Properties panel.
The following component attributes can now be edited within the panel.
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| Increment Net and Net/Bus commands: Improved | The Increment Net and Net/Bus commands can now be executed for the entire circuit. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: Increment Net and Net/Bus Commands |
| DRC Settings: Improved | You can now export the current DRC settings and import other DRC settings in the DRC Settings dialog. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: DRC Settings. |
| DRC Check Results: Improved | DRC Check Results can now be exported to an ASCII text file. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: DRC Check Results |
| Click, Drag and Drop: New | You can now click, drag and drop objects in eCADSTAR Schematic Editor without launching the Move command. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: Click, Drag and Drop. |
| Move and Draw Commands: Improved | Several Move and Draw commands now support verb-noun and noun-verb operation. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: Move and Draw Commands. |
| Adding Polygonal Shapes: Improved | When adding a polygonal shape in eCADSTAR Schematic Editor, a small circle is displayed on the canvas. This indicates that the current shape vertex complies with the specified Angle lock value. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: Adding Polygonal Shapes. |
| Reload Library: Improved | Several improvements have been made to the Reload Library dialog. See:Improved in Version 2022.0: Reload Library. |
| Reference Number: Improved | The Reference Number command can now be executed for the entire sheet, or the entire circuit. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: Reference Number |
| Add Text Frame: Improved | The Add Text Frame dialog allows you to add a shape to the canvas which displays the contents of a referenced ASCII text file. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: Add Text Frame. |
| Print Dialog: Improved | Settings for the PDF output can now be recorded using a macro within the Print dialog. You can also specify that all sheets are printed by selecting a check box. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: Print Dialog. |
| Reference Allocator: Improved | The Reference Allocator dialog is now non-modal. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: Reference Allocator |
eCADSTAR PCB Editor
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| IPC-2581 Export: Improved | Within the IPC-2581 export command, you can now control the output of user defined layers that contain no data. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: IPC-2581 export |
| DRC Error Marks: Improved | The performance has been improved of re-creating any unprocessed DRC error marks when opening a PCB design. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: DRC Error Marks. |
| Total Wiring Length: Improved | The result obtained for the Total Length value in Constraint Browser is now includes the length in the Z-direction of any vias in the signal. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: Total Wiring Length. |
| Detection of Off Board items: New | A new option has been added to the Board Information report which allows you to check whether design items are still placed off the board. See: New in Version 2022.0: Detection of Off Board items. |
| Component Group Settings: Improved | When deleting component groups from the Component Group Settings dialog, you are prompted to confirm the deletion of the data. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: Component Group Settings |
| IDF Parameters: Improved | Improvements have been made to the IDF Parameters dialog for IDF Import and IDF Export. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: IDF Parameters |
| Generate Mesh: |Improved | In the Generate Mesh command, you can apply the mesh pattern directly to the copper that is poured within a template. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: Generate Mesh. |
| DRC Error Marks for Non-Conductors: Improved | Executing a DRC process will now delete resolved error marks from the canvas. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: DRC Error Marks for Non-Conductors. |
| Pasting of Padstacks: Improved | Padstacks can now be copied and pasted between different designs. |
| Routing: Improved | The new Unlengthen command allows you to easily delete existing lengthening patterns by clicking once on the pattern. Also, you can now route to a multi-pad pin, which is defined in a component footprint. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: Routing. |
| Library Reload: Improved | The Reload dialog for a PCB design can be opened with content pre-selected. This is based on the selections that you make on the canvas. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: Library Reload |
| Flooding of Solid or Template Areas: Improved | New items have been added which improve the way that the flooding of solid or template areas is handled. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: Flooding of Solid or Template Areas |
| Moving and Placing Components: Improved | You can now move components using the component grid. You can also push aside other components during placement. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: Moving and Placing Components |
SI
/ PI Analysis
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| PI/EMI Pin Type Check: Improved | PI/EMI Pin checks can now be launched automatically when Analysis is executed. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: PI/EMI Pin Type Check |
| PI/EMI Classification: Improved | In the Classification dialog, you can now modify component pin types directly for components. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: PI/EMI Classification |
| PI/EMI Analysis: Improved | The Revert option has been removed from the toolbar and menu to help clarify its functionality. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: PI/EMI Analysis. |
| Automatic CSV output for PI/EMI Analysis: New | PI/EMI Analysis can now be output to a CSV file. See: New in Version 2022.0: Automatic CSV output for PI/EMI Analysis |
Electrical Editor
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Cross probing: Improved | You can now cross probe in both directions between Electrical Editor and eCADSTAR PCB Editor or eCADSTAR Schematic Editor. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: Cross probing in Electrical Editor |
| Default Stimulus: New | A Default Stimulus value can now be set in Electrical Editor. See: New in Version 2022.0: Default Stimulus in Electrical Editor. |
| Apply Stimulus: New | The Apply stimulus to all connected drivers setting has been added to the Application Settings dialog. See: New in Version 2022.0: Apply Stimulus in Electrical Editor |
| Uncoupling: Improved | You can now perform coupling changes in Electrical Editor by clicking Undo or Redo. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: Uncoupling in Electrical Editor |
| Configuration Editor: Improved | Settings have been added to the Application Settings dialog for Electrical Editor: Configuration Editor. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: Configuration Editor. |
| Extrema Dialog in Configuration Editor: New | You can now set tolerances which provide a range to the Characteristic Impedance calculations. See: New in Version 2022.0: Extrema Dialog in Configuration Editor |
| Material Manager in Configuration Editor: New | The Configuration Editor: Material Manager dialog allows the management of material properties for dielectric and conductive layer materials. See: New in Version 2022.0: Material Manager in Configuration Editor |
| Parameter Sweep in Configuration Editor: New | The Configuration Editor: Parameter Sweep dialog allows you to add sweep parameters for multiple items. See: New in Version 2022.0: Parameter Sweep |
| Consider Etch Factor: Improved | By default, Consider Etch Factor is enabled for new scenarios that you create. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: Consider Etch Factor |
| Stroke Commands: New | Stroke commands can now be used within Electrical Editor. See: New in Version 2022.0: Stroke Commands in Electrical Editor |
| N-Ports: Improved | Multiple N-Ports can be grouped together. This enables devices to be modeled with greater than 14 pins. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: N-Ports |
| Pin Models: Improved | Parameter Sweep items can now be added to pin models. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: Pin Models. |
| Tri-State Pins: Improved | A differential driver has been added for Tri-State pins. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: Tri-State Pins. |
| Simulation Library Manager: Improved | Two new dialogs have been added to theSimulation Library Manager. See: Improved in Version 2022.0: Simulation Library Manager |
