TARGET 3001! PCB Design Freeware is a Layout CAD Software|Support, Tutorials, Shop - User contributions [en]

Front panel questions

2012-06-21T16:38:41Z

Jcredland: /* Locating and moving objects */

<big>'''Do you have a question? [mailto:target@ibfriedrich.com?subject=Front_Panel_Question Please mail us]'''</big> 
<hr>
 

==Locating and moving objects==
'''''Can I place a design element at an absolute location?'''''' 
Hover the cursor to the handle cross of an element. Press keyboard key [s] for "select". The handle cross flashes. Now press keyboard key [e] for "edit". A dialog opens where you can enter coordinates. Pressing OK shifts the handle cross (including the whole figure) there. 

'''''I'm trying to do a design where the panel controls are all mounted in specific places on a PCB. Shift-D seems to let me specify an offset, but I can't find a similar control for an absolute co-ordinate.'''''
*Some objects allow you to specify an absolute position in their edit dialog. Select the object. Press ''e'' to edit. If the ''edit the selected elements'' dialog appears, choose ''Packages'' and click okay. You should then be able to specify a position in the ''Change package'' window.
*Or, to place an object in a specific location: First create the object, then move the object to 0,0. This is easy if you have the grid turned on. Now use Shift-D to specific the absolute co-ordinates.

'''''Can I place the corner of a design element, rather than the centre, in a specific location?''''' 
Hover the mouse to the corner. Press keyboard key [d] for "displace". Now press keyboard key [+] for manual displacement. Ener the coordinates. Press OK. 

'''''Can I import a DXF file containing the locations of the controls, from my design, so I can align the panel elements to them?''''' 
Yes, import DXF by menu "File / Input-Output Formats / File transfer-Documentation / Import DXF..." Import data to a layer different to the one you have for your milling elements. Later you can delete the elements on this layer. 

'''''How do I right align, left align or centre align text? When I select a text item to move it I get a handle at the point I clicked, which may be anywhere in the text?''''' 
Yes, that's correct. No Text alignment tool until now. In the text dialog you can use a multiline function. 

'''''I don't seem to be able to select some items at the same time to move them together? For example a breakout and a scale. Is that just because they are on different layers? Select-All works, but shift-clicking only works some of the time!''''' 
Please use the [Ctrl] key instead or drag a highlighting square around both. If there is an unwanted element inbetween you might unselect this by the [Ctrl] key as well. 

'''''Can I toggle between absolute and relative origin?''''' 
Yes, please have a look here:[[Origin]] 

'''''Is it possible to snap on a significant point of a element close to the cursor?''''' 
Yes, please have a look here:[[Snap_Point]] 

==Printing and manufacturing==
'''''Why can't I print in white? Is this a software limitation or a process limitation at panel-pool?'''''' 
This is a process limitation. It's because the digital print technique is similar to printing on paper with an inkjet printer. It is assumed, that white is the paper. So all what shall appear white is simply omitted. For this reason no Inkjet printer has the color white in its tanks. In consequence all what you have white on your image will appear aluminium (or whatever material you print on) later. 

===Layers===
The layers used for the front panel:
*Front panel documentation [ which contains instructions for the production plant ]
*Front panel contours [ which contains the outline of the panel, drilling and milling data ]
*Front panel lettering [ which contains everything that's going to be printed ]
*Front panel engraving [ which contains the engraving data ]

==More documentation==
'''''Is the [http://server.ibfriedrich.com/wiki/ibfwikien/index.php?title=Crash_Course_Frontpanel crash course] the main bit of documentation? 
Yes, in matters of handling it is the only tutorial available.

Insert a rectangular or oblong break-out

2012-06-21T14:28:12Z

Jcredland:

This article is part of a TARGET 3001! [[Crash Course Frontpanel]]. 

After you have clicked the icon [[image:panel_4.png]] the following dialog appears:

[[image:FP_LanglochDlg_e.png|none]]

'''Image 1:''' The dialog "Place breakout or oblong hole" 

A breakout is a drilling together with a tool displacement. Using this technique you can have any rectangular form milled. Defining corner radiuses offers further design options.

The oblong hole we have here is rotated by 12°. Angles are counter clockwise. Use a negative angle for a clockwise rotation. You can rotate an object later using Shift-T to specify the angle and T to rotate the selected object around the current cursor position. See [[Turn / rotate]]. 

[[image:FP_Langloch_e.png|none]]

'''Image 2:''' Oblong hole 800 x 1100 mil in height and width and 200 mil corner radius, rotated by 12 degrees.

 

[[Insert a round, rectangular or oblong sink |Next step]] 
[[Set grid values|One step back]] 

[[Crash Course Frontpanel|Back to overview]] 

[[de:Langloch oder rechteckigen Ausbruch einfügen]] 
[[fr:Overture]] 

[[Category: About TARGET 3001!]]
[[Category: Front panel]]

Determine size of front panel

2012-06-21T14:22:13Z

Jcredland:

This article is part of a TARGET 3001! [[Crash Course Frontpanel]]. 

Starting TARGET 3001! you will first see the Start assistant from which you start a new project or load an existing one. For our example we choose:"Create a new project": 
[[image:FP_Startassi_e.png]] 
'''Image 1:''' The Start assistant 
 

Using this next dialog specify the type of project you want. 
[[image:FP_neuesProjekt_e.png]] 
'''Image 2:''' Choosing a kind of project 

For a panel design select ''Aluminium front panel''. The following dialog appears - or you can open with this icon: [[image:panel_1.png]]

[[image:FPanlegDlg_e.png|none]]
'''Image 3:''' Specify size of front panel 

{| cellspacing="0" cellpadding="10" style="width:10px; float:right; border:1px solid #CCCCCC; background-color:#F9F9F9; margin:0 0 0.5em 1em;"
|
More Info? 
[[TARGET 3001!|About TARGET 3001!]] 
[[Layer]] 
[[Rectangle#Round_corner|Round corner]] 
|}

Within the "Determine size of front panel" dialog you can set the outer dimensions of the front panel and the thickness of the material. There are also, on the right, predefined options for 19" front panels and fractions of it. You will find a preset of 100 mm (3,937.01 mil) width and a height of 80 mm (3,149.61 mil. Individual measurements can be set, the maximum dimensions (W x H)are 460 mm x 300 mm. (18,11 x 11.81 inch) The default thickness of the material is 2 mm. However you can also select 1.5mm, 2.0mm, 2.5mm, 3mm and 4mm (or the equivalent in inches).

The software adds the layers needed for the front panel at the end of your layer set. If you click on '''"Generate front panel"''' you will see the following image:

[[image:FPanleg_e.png|none]]
'''Image 4:''' Front panel outline 100 mm x 80 mm (18.11 x 11.81 in)
 

[[Set grid values|Next step]] 
[[Crash Course Frontpanel|One step back]] 

[[Crash Course Frontpanel|Back to overview]] 

[[de:Außenmaße der Frontplatte festlegen]] 
[[fr:Déterminer les dimensions extérieures du face avant]] 

[[Category:About TARGET 3001!]]
[[Category: Frontpanel]]

Text

2012-06-21T13:28:13Z

Jcredland: /* Elemets of the Text dialog */

== General ==

You can reach this mode... 
by '''["]''' or 
by'''"Text"''' in menu '''"Elements"''' or 
by the tool [[Image:Text.jpg]] subsumed under the "pencil" icon (the drawing functions). 

What you can do... 
Click [[Mousekeys|'''M1''']] to where the text later shall appear. Enter the text and its options to the following dialog. Close the dialog with '''OK''' to place the text. Caution: Win 95/98/ME have an old 16-bit graphic, which is not able to mirror Windows fonts. Only the font TARGET can be mirrored in Win 95/98/ME. The Windows fonts can only be mirrored by the 32-bit graphic of Win NT4/2000/XP/Vista. 

The TARGET 3001! Gerber driver is not able to output Windows fonts. They are replaced by the TARGET 3001! font. Always check the result of this replacement! 

Leave this mode... 
by '''[ESC]''' or [[Mousekeys|'''M1''']]

== Elements of the Text dialog ==

[[Image:e_TextOptDlg.jpg|left]]
'''Position:''' defines the exact location of the text. 
'''Content:''' allows the entering of your text fragments. 
'''Font:''' Choose any Windows font or "extra ANSI characters". Browse the ANSI characters before bringing them to your text by the use of the "arrow up" button. Additionally the font "TARGET" exists, which is used when external export drivers (e.g. GERBER) are chosen. Regard that Gerber can only output the TARGET font and that only Windows NT is capable of mirroring Windows fonts. So in the schematic you normally can use any font you like, however be cautious to use Windows fonts in thePCB layout. 
'''Font Height and Width:''' define the average measurements of the fonts. The Windows fonts can deviate from this defaults. 
When zooming out text at a sudden point can only be displayed as black box. This question of resolution can be controled in the "[[Settings / Options]]" dialog entering a lower value to the "Minimum width" field.
'''Thickness:''' is used only from the TARGET fonts. The Windows fonts switch from normal to bold between 10% and 20%. 
'''Rotation:''' When '''mirroring''' or '''rotating''' texts by any direction or angle, they are adjusted in the way that you can always read them in normal view or in view from the right side. This rule is ignored if you tick '''Stiff'''. The text rotates fixed, according to the angle. 
'''Layer:''' Which layer the text shall appear on.'''Function:''' When selecting something different to normal text, then the content is adjusted to the text function you assigned. These text functions are useful e.g. for components, signals or for sheet frames and are something like variables. 
Important selections are: 
'''Component name''' for the component type name (e.g. IC17, R15) 
'''Component valu'''e (e.g. 4040, 4k7) 
'''Symbol name''' for the name of a symbol (e.g. IC17A) 
'''Signal name''' for the name of a signal (e.g. GND, Sig$13) 
'''Pin name''' for the name of a connection in the schematic (z.B. RES\, Pin8) 
'''"Package, Part number, Manufacturer/Vendor, Order number, Price"''' is related to the components and is used to generate a bill of material (B.O.M). Changes in Component names, Component values and Symbol names always refer to the complete component and are annotated back and forth between schematic and layout. The same with Signal names and Signals. Several name exchanges: 
The contents of the following names will be exchanged on the screen when displayed: 

!FILE: with the file name (for example: TEST.T3001) 
!SCALING: with the output scaling factor (for example: 200%) 
!C-DATE: Date of the last change of the file (for example: TT.MM.JJJJ) 
!C-TIME: Time of the last change of the file (for example: HH:MMh) 
!P-DATUM: Actual date of the output (for example: TT.MM.JJJJ) 
!P-TIME: Actual time of the output (for example: HH:MMh) 
!PAGE: Current schematic page 

== Multilingual text within one project ==

All documentations and text fragments can be edited in three languages, let's say in English, German and in French. After you have placed a lettering in English language (for example the word "English"), 

[[Image:english.jpg|none]]
click in schematic or layout double on the text. The following dialog opens: 

[[Image:e_TextAendDlg.jpg|none]]
In section 

[[Image:e_InhAndSprach.jpg|none]]
tick the boxes for further languages which you'd like to use and write the text into the lines. For demonstrational reasons we have used the words "French" and "German". If you enter OK, you first see only the English lettering. This is, because you are in the English documentation of the project. Please note the English/American flag on screen. 

If you click on the flag, the following dialog appears: 

[[Image:e_SprachAuswDLG.jpg|none]]

Click on a radiobutton to see the letterings in a different language. Viewing the flag, you see which language version you currently work with: 

[[Image:e_francais.jpg|none]] [[Image:e_deutsch.jpg|thumb|none]]

Text can be edited in three languages simultaneously. Which kind of language you use don't matter. 
'''Important note:''' Multilingual text within one project has nothing to do with "variants". It is a separate, independent text function. 

.

== Adjust the size of all text elements ==

Highlight the complete layout by the use of a [[Capture Window]]. Press keyboard key "[e]" for '''e'''dit. The dialog : "Edit the selected Elements" opens.

[[Image:aenderntext_dlg_e.png]]

Tick the box "Texts" and press OK. The dialog "Change Texts" opens.

[[Image:aenderntext_dlg2_e.png]]

Now do all desired adjustments. If you only want to change (= highlight) certain elements, please use the [[Select#Selection_assistant|Selection Assistant]] in menu "Edit".

[[Image:auswassi_text_e.png]]

Example for the selection of texts of resistors having octagonal pads.

== Place a component property as text close to the symbol or package ==

In schematic and layout all properties a component has can be placed like a text aside of the component. First activate the text mode. Hover the cursor over the handle cross of the desired component. Now press keyboard key ["] for opening the text mode dialog "Text Options". Now choose the text function: "Special property" see image (section in red) 

[[image:BautBeschr1_e.jpg]] 

As soon as the special property as a text function is activated, a list opens from which you can select the desired property, e.g. "Last Modified", the date of the latest modification of a part. 

[[image:BautBeschr2_e.jpg]] 

Then press [OK] and confirm the dialog of the "Text Option" too. See the new text in the image below on the right hand side, the LAST MODIFIED - Date. You can select this text, place it at your convenience and change the font.

[[image:BautBeschr3_e.jpg]] 

Please note, that you eventually have to release this button [[image:BautBeschr4.jpg]] for touching and selecting only the text. You'll find it in the [[Sidebar]] under section [[Sidebar#Section settings|Settings]]. 

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[[de:Text]]
[[fr:Texte]]
[[category:Modes]]
[[category:Elements]]