Import (IDX): Compare Diff

The Import (IDX): Compare Diff dialog is displayed when you import an incremental IDX file to a design. It shows the differences between the current design in eCADSTAR PCB Editor and the incremental IDX file. Incremental files are typically received from electrical or mechanical design departments, and allow you to track the design changes that are made compared to a baseline design. You can then either accept or reject these differential items, and deliver your decisions to the relevant teams using the generated response file.

To display this dialog:

1. Click Design > Import > IDX on the ribbon in eCADSTAR PCB Editor. The Import (IDX) dialog is displayed.
2. In the Import (IDX) dialog, specify the location of the IDX file you want to import.
3. If necessary, edit the IDX parameters. See: Import (IDX): Edit Parameters Dialog
4. Click Execute in the Import (IDX) dialog. The specified IDX file is loaded.
5. If an incremental IDX file is detected, then a confirmation dialog is displayed.
6. Click Yes in the displayed dialog to load the file.
7. An eCADSTAR dialog is displayed that lists any problems encountered loaded the file.
8. Click Close in the eCADSTAR dialog. The Import (IDX): Compare Diff dialog is displayed. The baseline design data and the data from the incremental IDX file are displayed in the Compare diff. table.

The following terminology is used in eCADSTAR.

• Source: the baseline file.
• Destination: the baseline file including the differential items in the incremental file.

Items in the Compare diff. canvas are colored as follows.

Item	Description
Canvas background color
No changes
Source items
Destination items
Highlight color: Source items
Highlight color: Destination items

 

Item		Description
Response file		Specify the path to the IDX response file that is exported. The default value is [Path to the specified incremental IDX file]_Response.idx.
		All data is displayed on the Compare diff. canvas for both the baseline and incremental IDX files. Alternatively, press V on the keyboard.
		Allows you to simplify the display of visible items on the Compare diff. canvas by specifying the relevant colors that are used.
	Selected	Visible items are colored on the Compare diff. canvas as either source or destination items.
	Not selected	Visible items are colored on the Compare diff. canvas as source or destination items, or items that have not changed.
		Allows you to specify whether source or destination items are displayed uppermost on the Compare diff. canvas.
	Selected	Source items are displayed uppermost on the Compare diff. canvas.
	Not selected	Destination items are displayed uppermost on the Compare diff. canvas.
Compare diff. canvas		The items that you click in the Compare diff. table are highlighted on the Compare diff. canvas using the colors listed above. Select multiple rows using the Ctrl or Shift key or by dragging the cursor. For guidance on operating the canvas, see: Zooming and Panning the Canvas. Note Components or images cannot be selected on the Compare diff. canvas. Data is displayed in 2D View mode only. Items on the canvas are displayed as wireframes, and are not filled. The component area is displayed for components. The component reference point is displayed on the canvas for components selected in the Compare diff. table. The color of the board origin cannot be changed.

Compare diff. table

Item		Description
Apply		Specify whether the contents of the associated row are applied to the design data. The design data is output to the IDX response file. If the status of an item cannot be set, then it is set to Reject and cannot be changed.
	*	Removes any filters that are applied in this column.
	Accept	The contents of the associated row are applied to the design data, and output to the IDX response file. Note When you set the Apply value to Accept for an item whose Status is Change, then the attributes of the object to be deleted by the import process are not inherited by the new object that is added. are not inherited by the new object that is added by this process.
	Reject	The contents of the associated row are not applied to the design data. The design data is output to the IDX response file.
	– >	The associated row cannot be edited. This is displayed when Visible is selected in the Status column.
Comment		Allows you to enter a comment if Accept or Reject is selected in the Applycolumn. The applied data is output to the IDX response file.
	*	Removes any filters that are applied in this column.
View		Allows you to specify which changes in the Incremental IDX file are displayed on the canvas. For each row in the Compare diff. table, select the associated check box to display the relevant item on the Compare diff. canvas.
		If specified in the <Filter> row, then all items that have the View check box selected are displayed in the Compare diff. table.
		If specified in the <Filter> row, then items that have the View check box either selected or deselected are displayed in the Compare diff. table.
		If specified in the <Filter> row, then all items that have the View check box deselected are displayed in the Compare diff. table.
Status		Select a value to filter the rows that are displayed. Alternatively, select * to display all rows. For the associated row, the Status values describe the difference between the incremental and baseline files. For example, whether the row contains items that have been added, deleted or changed. You cannot edit these values.
	*	All differential items are displayed, regardless of their Status value.
	Add	Displays items in the incremental file that are added to the baseline file. The IDX_TRANSACTION_SUBTYPE1 value in the incremental IDX file is IDX_TRANSACTION_TYPE_ADD. Note Only specific non-electrical items that are added to the electrical system can be moved to the mechanical system.
	Delete	Displays items in the incremental file that are deleted from the the baseline file. The IDX_TRANSACTION_SUBTYPE1 value in the incremental IDX file is IDX_TRANSACTION_TYPE_DELETE.
	Change	Displays items in the incremental file that are changed, compared to the baseline file. The IDX_TRANSACTION_SUBTYPE1 value in the incremental IDX file is IDX_TRANSACTION_TYPE_MODIFY. When the value before and after importing the incremental file is different, then the changes are displayed in the following format: value in the design data – > value from the incremental IDX file.
	Visible	Refers to items in the baseline file that are not in the incremental file. These items allow you to view the position of the differential items relative to the baseline design.
	Add||Change||Delete	Displays the differential items in the incremental file. When comparing the incremental and baseline files, these are all the items that are different. Add||Change||Delete is the default selection in the Status column.
Type		Allows you to filter the differential items by type. Select a value, or select * to display all differential items.
	<Filter>	Type a value to select an match an item in the Type column.
	*	All values in the Type column are displayed.
	Board outline	Board outlines are displayed that are added, changed or deleted. No further details are displayed in the Name/Details column.
	Hole	Holes are displayed that are added, changed or deleted. The following values may be isplayed in the Name/Details column. Round hole Slot hole Non-circular hole Padstack name
	Component	Components are displayed that are added, changed or deleted. The Reference Designator is displayed in the Name/Details column. Side A, Side B or Unplaced is displayed in the Placement side column.
	Height limit area	Height limit areas are displayed that are added, changed or deleted. The Layer name is displayed in the Name/Details column. Either Side A or Side B is displayed in the Placement side column.
	Comp. keepout area	Component keepout areas are displayed that are added, changed or deleted. The Layer name is displayed in the Name/Details column. Either Side A or Side B is displayed in the Placement side column.
	Track keepout area	Track keepout areas are displayed that are added, changed or deleted. The Layer name is displayed in the Name/Details column. Either Side A or Side B is displayed in the Placement side column.
	Via keepout area	Via keepout areas are displayed that are added, changed or deleted. The Layer name is displayed in the Name/Details column.
	Comp. keep in area	Component keep in areas are displayed that are added, changed or deleted. The Layer name is displayed in the Name/Details column. Either Side A or Side B is displayed in the Placement side column.
	Track keep in area	Track keep in areas are displayed that are added, changed or deleted. The Layer name is displayed in the Name/Details column. Either Side A or Side B is displayed in the Placement side column.
Name/Details		Displays further information relating to the value displayed in the Type column. When the value before and after importing the incremental file is different, then the changes are displayed in the following format: value in the design data – > value from the incremental IDX file. Select a value in the <Filter> cell to filter the contents of this column. Type Name/Details Board outline – Hole Round hole Slot hole Non-circular hole Padstack name Component Reference Designator Height limit area Layer name Comp. keepout area Layer name Track keepout area Layer name Via keepout area  Layer name Comp. keep in area Layer name Track keep in area Layer name
	<Filter>	Type a value to filter the contents of the Name/Details column.
	*	Displays all values relating to the item that you select in the Type column.
Placement side		The following details are displayed, depending on the value in the Type column. When the value before and after importing the incremental file is different, then the changes are displayed in the following format: value in the design data – > value from the incremental IDX file. Select a value in the <Filter> cell to filter the contents of this column. Type Placement side Height limit area Either Side A or Side B. Comp. keepout area Either Side A or Side B. Track keepout area Either Side A or Side B. Comp. keep in area Either Side A or Side B. Track keep in area Either Side A or Side B. Component Side A, Side B or Unplaced
	<Filter>	Type a value to filter the contents of the Placement side column.
	*	All values in the Placement side column are displayed.
	Side A	The item in the Type column is on side A of the design.
	Side B	The item in the Type column is on side B of the design.
	Unplaced	The component in the Type column is unplaced.
	– >	If selected in the <Filter> cell, then differential items are displayed only if their placement side has changed.
Coordinates		The read-only coordinates are displayed for the differential item. The board origin of the design data is used as the base. When the value before and after importing the incremental file is different, then the changes are displayed in the following format: value in the design data – > value from the incremental IDX file. If an item other than Component is selected in the Type column and it contains multiple elements, then their coordinates are displayed in the following format: (X1, Y1), (X2, Y2), ... (Xn, Yn).
	<Filter>	Type a value to filter the contents of the Coordinates column.
	*	All values in the Coordinates column are displayed.
	– >	If selected in the <Filter> cell, then differential items are displayed only if their coordinates have changed.
Diff. for attributes		When a difference is detected, attributes other than Coordinates and Placement side values are displayed. Read-only attributes are displayed if the following values are selected in the Type column. When the value before and after importing the incremental file is different, then the changes are displayed in the following format: value in the design data – > value from the incremental IDX file. Type Attribute name Value Board outline Thickness Value of board thickness Height limit area Height Height value Hole Plating Value of plating attribute Component Angle Placement angle
	<Filter>	Type a value to filter the contents of the Diff. for attributes column.
	*	All values in the Coordinates column are displayed.
	– >	If selected in the <Filter> cell, then differential items are displayed only if their Diff. for attributes values have changed.

 

Item	Description
Execute	Creates the IDX response file in the location specified in the Response File box, and closes the dialog.
Cancel	Closes the dialog without creating an IDX response file.