Whats New for 2024

October

Monday 7 October 2024

File Names

Prevention of illegal file names.

Sunday 6 October 2024

Auto-minimize Pad

Fixed bugs.

clip3172

Friday 4 October 2024

Design States

Fixed some states not being set.

All design states now have a more descriptive label.

Thursday 3 October 2024

History Directory

The History directory has more descriptive labels for the design states.

Every change you make to a design is saved in the .History directory for a project/part. The design state files are never deleted by AutoTRAX. This provides an 'audit trail' for your designs.

Sample History Directory

Added Design States Tab

New Design States tab in the Projects Panel.

Design States

Wednesday 2 October 2024

Fixed internal bugs and self repair.

Tuesday 1 October 2024

Add/Remove Copper pour margin to PCB

Add/Remove Copper pour to PCB margin

Fix parametric two-sided footprint pad count change not immediately reflected in other controls.

Fix for part value sometimes being cleared.

September

Saturday 28 September 2024

Fixed copper pour sometimes not connecting to pads.

Fix for numeric entry sometimes not working.

Numeric Input for Line End

Wednesday 25 September 2024

•Zoom Window works correctly in Paneled PCB views.

•V-Cuts now displayed in 3D Views (Non-Paneled PCBs)

•Diagonal cross hatch pattern for PCB panels.

Panel Hatching

Sunday 22 September 2024

New tutorial videos sections:

General

Learn about general features that apply to all area of PCB design.

The User Interface

In these videos you will learn how to use the AutoTRAX interface to get the most productive environment. Videos include full screen, viewports, floating end docking control panels and of course the menus.

Parts

These videos show you how to create electronic parts for your schematics. You will learn about both custom and parametric parts.

Schematics

You will learn how to create schematics for your PCB designs. Topics include adding parts, editing parts, connecting parts together, and auto-routing of this schematic wires.

Simulation

Do you want to have fun simulating the analogue behaviour of your PCB's? Then these videos are just what you are looking for.

PCB Design

Learn how to create your PCB's. Topics include placing end orientating footprints, manually routing the PCB tracks, the all-important design rule checker, copper pours, keep out regions and PCB panelization.

Graphics

With AutoTRAX you can add stunning and beautiful graphical items to your symbols, schematics and even your PCB's. These videos show you how.

Do you want to see what your PCB will really look like before you have it manufactured? These videos will show you how to view your PCB in glorious 3D.

Download All Videos

You can now download all the tutorial videos...

Monday 16 September 2024

Sunday 15 September 2024

YouTube Video

Sunday 8 September 2024

YouTube Videos

Many old and out of date videos removed. These will be replaced in the coming days by improved videos.

Sunday 1 September 2024

Diagram Sheets

Optimized diagram viewport and panels.

Diagrams

August

Monday 26 August 2024

Diagram Sheets

You can now add diagram sheets to your designs.

Add Diagram Sheet

Sample Diagrams Project

Friday 15 August 2024

How to easily create complex shapes and PCB borders

Thursday 15 August 2024

New PolyShapes

Add PolyShape Button

Similar to polylines except some edges can be arcs. Press 'A' key for arc segment.

Closed PolyShape

PolyShapes, Arcs, Polygons and Curves

PolyShapes, Arcs, Polygons and Curves can be filled even if not closed.

Open Shapes with Fill

July

Monday 22 July 2024

KiCad Parts

KiCad Parametric Parts

DEX now comes with approximately four thousand KiCad free community parts. They have been pre-converted for you and each schematic, and footprint that are separate in KiCad have been combined into a single parametric part.

There are plans to add many more of the parts provided by the KiCad community.

The converted parts index In DEX are also free and you are free to distribute, and/ or modify them.

The symbols are easily edited.

Every parametric part also comes with the automatically generated 3D model so there is no need to import inflexible models provided by third parties. Being parametric, the 3D model is automatically generated based on the parameters of the footprint. So, if you change the pad shapes or pad sizes, the 3D model is automatically updated.

If you change the pitch of the footprint pads, then again, the 3D model is automatically updated in real-time. This makes your life far easier, and it makes the file sizes far smaller as no 3D model data needs to be saved.

Thursday 18 July 2024

The Parts Catalog

The Parts Catalog now has 58,215 parts

Community Parts

KiCad Community Free Parts

Available in the Library panel and the Parts Catalog.

Note: You will need the latest version to view the parts correctly.

KiCad Community Free PartsKiCad Community Free Parts

Thursday 18 July 2024

KiCad Import

Internal changes to handle the 'oddities' of KiCad graphics: imported parts.

Imported KiCad Part

Friday 12 July 2024

Snap to Objects

Snap to objects now shows a circle to confirm snap.

Snap to Objects

Adding Arcs

Three add arc commands.

NOTE: During creation, pressing the TAB key reverses the arc start and end angles.

Add Arc Commands

Friday 5 July 2024

Symbol Terminal Fonts

Separate Font for Symbol Terminal Names and Pad Names

Symbol Terminal Fonts

June

Sunday 30 June 2024

Part Catalog Dialog

Improved layout.

Fixed bug that could cause the download of the latest catalog to fail.

Part Catalog Dialog

Friday 21 June 2024

Simulation Disabled by Default

This makes the user interface slightly simpler.

See Settings->Simulation->Enable Simulation.

Thursday 20 June 2024

Improved Route Panel With New Buttons

Route Panel

Wednesday 19 June 2024

How to Build a PCB in Only 23 Seconds

This videos show you how to build a PCB on only 23 seconds. The actual time depends on the performance of the company.

How to Build a PCB in Only 23 Seconds

Visit the Facebook page.

Monday 17 June 2024

Locked PCB Nets

Locked PCB Nets cannot be unrouted.

Locked PCB Nets in the Route Panel

Monday 10 June 2024

Locked Objects

If the following objects are locked then all sub-objects owned by the object are also locked.

•Groups - all contained entities.

•Footprints - pads, value, reference, graphics etc

•Symbols - terminals, value reference, graphics etc.

•PCB Border - cutouts and drill holes.

•PCB Nets - tracks, vias, track junctions.

Thursday 6 June 2024

Gerber Output

Added additional optional Gerber output file for profile and cutouts.

Profile and Cutouts

Wednesday 5 June 2024

Spreadsheets

You can now add spreadsheets to you design.

Addding a Spreadsheet to Your Design

User Interface

If you are viewing a non 2D/3D sheet then the main ribbon menu is automatically minimized. It is expand if a 2D/3D sheet is viewed. This avoids clutter.

You can disable auto-minimization in the Settings Panel.

You can disable auto-minimization in the Settings Panel

A Spreadsheet Added to a Project

Monday 4 June 2024

Printing Panel Contents

Added Print command buttons to:

•Checklist Panel

•Layers Panel

•Project Panel

•Parts List (BOM) Panel

•Source Panel - Save as XML

•Route Panel

•Short-cuts Editor

Short-cuts Editor

Added Shift Key Pressed Option.

Shift Key Pressed Option

Added print option to print out only assigned shortcuts.

Shortcuts Print Preview

Monday 3 June 2024

Unrouted Tracks

Unrouted tracks now show dotted making them more visible. You have the option to turn off the dotted line style.

Unrouted Net

Settings for Dotted Unrouted Tracks

Sunday 2 June 2024

Short-cuts Editor

Added more shortcuts and improved the editor layout.

Short-cuts Editor

Saturday 1 June 2024

Shortcuts

Added full list of keyboard keys.

May

Monday 27 May 2024

Panning, Zooming, and Part Location in Your Schematics and PCBs

This video shows you some really powerful features that help you move around your schematics and PCB designs.

In addition, it shows you how to locate parts and cross select parts in your designs.

The 2D and 3D Viewports into Your PCB Design

This video shows you how to use 2D and 3D view parts to get an insight into your PCB design. It shows the multiple views that you can have of the schematic, PCB and 3D model for designs. It also shows you the multiple views that you can have of the symbol, footprint and 3D model for parts.

The 3 Different Ribbon Menu Modes

In this video I will show you the three different video modes for the ribbon menu that will allow you to optimise the screen layout to suit your style of design.

Op-Amp Sample

Microchip MCP6006 1 MHz Operational Amplifier with EMI Filtering.

Op-Amp Sample

Sunday 26 May 2024

PCB Copper-pours to Via Gap

Fixed gap size.

Via to Copper Pour Gap

Settings

Auto-collapse Nav Bars

Try uncheck Auto-collapse Nav Bars

4K Monitor. Text 100% Auto-collapse Nav-Bar off

Saturday 25 May 2024

Symbol Part Types and Footprint Part Types Renamed

Symbol Part Types and Footprint Part Types renamed Symbol Part Values and Footprint Part Values.

Thursday 23 May 2024

Create Part

Improved symbol selection.

Add a New Part

Wednesday 22 May 2024

Bug Fixes

PCB Copper-pours

Fix for removing unconnected copper pour areas failing.

Sunday 19 May 2024

Bug Fixes

PCB Copper-pours

Fix some vias not providing correct clearance.

DRC improved.

Friday 17 May 2024

Automatic DIP-style device pins

This is not a parametric part. It is a collection of pads with automatically generated pins, and a rectangle on the top package layer acting as the device body.

Automatic DIP-style device pins

Thursday 16 May 2024

How to easily create your own custom parts video.

Click to download sample part ...

Sample Custom Part

3D Improvements

3D Objects

PCB Cutouts

Copper Pours

Wednesday 15 May 2024

Bug Fixes

PCB Cutouts

Fix for pcb cutouts not cutting out copper pours correctly if the PCB has been rotated or translated.

•Saturday 11 May 2024

Adding PCB Cutouts

•Adding PCB cutouts clears all copper pours - this stops possible visual confusion and potential design errors.

•Adding PCB cutouts now shows the PCB filled so cutouts show up.

Friday 10 May 2024

Pad Editor

Option to set all pads in footprint.

Pad Editor

New Colorbar

Monday 6 May 2024

Texture Maps

Properties Panel

•Improved automatic 3D pin generation for pads.

•Improved 3D behavior for moved objects in 2D or 3D.

•Fix for transparency image slider updating 3D.

•Improved transparency slider for the image editor.

•Images now remember how much percentage transparency has been applied.

•Fix for setting bitmap transparency

•Improved fillet radius setting for 3D objects

•Pick/View mode saved/restored for 3D viewports.

•Changed shape of 3D ellipses, rectangles now updates the 3D view.

•The following can now have 3D texture-maps when placed on the top or bottom package layers

o lines

o polylines,

o arc,

o rectangles,

o circles and ellipses,

o curves,

o shapes

•Fix for Curve Properties editor not showing assigned layer.

•Fix for DRC strict design rule not restoring if set.

Friday 3 May 2024

Color Bar

Back by popular demand.

The Color Bar

Bug Fixes

•Improved Extrusion Editor

Extrusion Editor

Wednesday 1 May 2024

Bug Fixes

•Fix teardrops on tracks.

April

•Tuesday 30 April 2024

Bug Fixes

•Fix for the PCB grid transparency not being restored.

•Fix for the differential pair routing if the length of either pair is too short.

•Fix for countries where commas are used for decimal points. For example 1,2 instead of 1.2

•Teardrop buttons behavior fixed.

Teardrops

Sunday 28 April 2024

PCB Holes

for PCB holes in footprints, you can now view/edit the hole's center offset from the footprint's placement point.

Hole Offset

Pad Names

Now orientation corrected if the footprint/pad is rotated.

Before

Now: Rotation Corrected

Saturday 27 April 2024

4 Utility Programs

Text Editor

New Microsoft Compatible Text Editor

Spreadsheet Editor

New Microsoft Compatible Spreadsheet Editor

Diagram Designer

New Diagram Designer

Scheduler

New Scheduler

Friday 19 April 2024

Fix for the Design Rule Checker

Fixed for checking copper pours with unconnected areas removed.

Thursday 18 April 2024

Multi-Colored Silkscreens

Multi-Colored Silkscreen in 3D

Multi-Colored Silkscreen in 2D

There is now a new option to generate Portable Network Graphic (PNG) files with full RGB+Alpha images at 1200 dpi for both the top and bottom silkscreens. PNG files handle 16 million colors and are both compressed and lossless.

You can add images with transparency!

Layers Panel

Sunday 7 April 2024

Setting the Length of a PCB

Saturday 6 April 2024

How to Easily Set the Width and Separation of a Differential Pair

Setting the Width and Separation of a Differential Pair

Improved Routing and Editing of Differential Pairs

Tuesday 2 April 2024

How to Define and Route a Differential Pair

How to Quickly Manually Route a Differential Pair

Monday 1 April 2024

How to Define the PCB Shape

March

Sunday 31 March 2024

Balance Multiple PCB Nets

Balance Multiple PCB Nets Dialog

Before Balance Multiple PCB Nets

After Balance Multiple PCB Nets

Friday 29 March 2024

Fix for Default Via Hole and Diameter Settings

Improved Castellated PCB Editor

Castellated PCB Editor

Castellated PCB

Monday 25 March 2024

Several Minor Internal Bug Fixes

Thursday 14 March 2024

Track Balancing Now Works with Nets with Vias and Short Track Segments

Net Pair with Small Track Segments

Balanced Net Pair with Small Track Segments

Track Balancing Now Works with Nets with Vias

Balanced Net Pair

Wednesday 13 March 2024

Fix for 3D Base and Depth Thumbwheels Not Updating 3D

3D Base and Depth Thumbwheels

Tuesday 12 March 2024

Added Button to Remove Track Balancing ZigZags

Remove ZigZags

Improved Visibility of Manipulator Points

Polygon Manipulator Points

Monday 11 March 2024

Added manually balancing differential track lengths

A differential pair is:

•Two separate PCB nets

•One of the nets must be named <NAME>+

•The other net must be names <NAME>-

▪where <NAME> if the base name e.g. MyNet

▪so example nets are named MyNet+ and MyNet-

•Both nets must only have one track. No junctions or vias.

To Balance

•The two tracks must be fully routed.

•The two tracks must be on the same layer.

Very Simple Test Differential Pair

Before Balancing Track Lengths

Balance Command

After Balancing Track Lengths

Rounded Track Command

Applying Rounded Tracks

Reassigning Symbol Terminal Pads

Swap Pads for 2 Terminal Symbols

Reassign Pads to Terminal Symbols

Sunday 10 March 2024

Added Send Mail Button

Send Email

Saturday 9 March 2024

Add Block Capacitor to New Part Dialog

Right Click Menu Option in the Library Now Adds New Part

Friday 8 March 2024

New Transistor Symbols

Transistor Symbols

Add Part Dialog and the Spice Model

Now sets the Spice model type.

Fix for Parametric Editor Not Updating All Controls

Monday 4 March 2024

Fix for E6 Resistor Color Bands

Resistor Color Bands (E6)

2D Viewports - Center View at Mouse Cursor Position - F5

Pressing F5 will center the view at the mouse cursor position, and will move the mouse cursor to the center of the viewport.

IEEE and IEC Resistor Symbols

Changed Menu

Part Wizard Removed

Function better implemented in the New Part Dialog. This makes the user interface more consistent.

New Add Resistor Dialog

Add Resistor Dialog

New Add Capacitor Dialog

Add Capacitor Dialog

Plotting - Saving Toner

By default, when plotting negative, black toner does not fill the page: saving you on toner costs. Check the restrict column.

Plotting

Friday 1 March 2024

Grid Strength

You can now set the strength of the grid in viewports. These sliders change the transparency of the grid.

Grid Settings

Add Resistor and Add Capacitor Dialog

The 3D viewports did not show on the second showing of the dialog.

New layout for the Add Capacitor dialog.

Add Resistor Dialog

New layout for the Add Capacitor Dialog

Add Capacitor Dialog

February

Thursday 29 February 2024

Collada 3D Import

Improved import. Models combined into 1one selectable object.

Pad Properties Editor

Added thumbwheel controls for pads size and hole size.

Pad Properties Editor

Add Capacitor Dialog

Redesigned to be more consistent with the Add Resistor Dialog.

Fix for adding schematic wires to existing schematic node.

Added track was not set to the correct width.

Track Properties Editor

Thumbwheels (track widths) were initially not working as expected.

Footprint Silkscreens

Some older parts had rectangular silkscreens added when no silkscreen should have been added.

Wednesday 28 February 2024

Fix for terminals list for parts without terminal magnets not displaying.

Footprint Properties Popup (F2)

Tuesday 27 February 2024

Fix for some Eagle libraries not importing.

Monday 26 February 2024

Fix for apparent dangling tracks when the 'End' pressed when manually routing.

Track not really 'dangling' : just an error in not drawing unrouted segment.

Dangling Track

Fixed

Fix for manually routing double click to end routing.

You can also press the End key.

Fix for manually routing from SMT pads would sometimes undo the route on left click.

This would make routing sometimes very difficult.

Fix for double click to end adding copper pours.

You can also press the End key.

Sunday 25 February 2024

Fix for Floating Viewports Not Receiving Ribbon Menu Commands

The floating viewport show the"Active Viewport" message in it's caption if it has focus.

Floating PCB Viewport

Optimized Footprint Properties Dialog

Footprint Properties Dialog

Saturday 24 February 2024

Rounded Corners for 3D Tracks

Thumbwheel Controls to Set Track Widths

Friday 23 February 2024

Fix for Symbol Buttons in the Add Resistor Dialog and Add Capacitor Dialog

Add Resistor

Add Capacitor

•Fixed some bugs where via sizes incorrectly sized when manually routing.

•Improved Track Properties Editor.

•Improved Via Default Properties Editor.

Pad Properties Editor

Optimized and eliminated/simplified controls not relevant for the pad settings e.g. SMT and TPH.

Similar optimizations have been down on all the other entity properties editors (a total of 85 editors).

Pad Properties Editor

Thursday 22 February 2024

Images

All images converted to 32 bits when pasting or importing from files.

Images now pickable in the Part Editor - no need to sub-pick.

Image Editor

Transparency changes in real-time when dragging the transparency slider.

Background Image with Transparency

Image copied from a datasheet using Screen Capture and pasted onto the Background layer. Great for using as a tracing background when adding pads in fully custom parts.

Screen Capture

Fix for numeric entry fields losing focus when entering text.

Fix for via sizes when manually re-routing.

Wedneday 21 February 2024

Fix for Fill Editor not Updating Correctly

Fill Editor

Fix for the Font Editor Thumbwheel not Refreshing the Viewport

Font Height Thumbwheel

Tuesday 20 February 2024

Improved UI Control Layout

Several dialog layouts improved. e.g. the Track Properties Editor.

Fix for Track Via Diameters and Hole Sizes

•Fixed some bugs where via sizes incorrectly sized when manually routing.

•Improved Track Properties Editor.

•Improved Via Default Properties Editor.

Monday 19 February 2024

Added Full Screen Menu Button

Full Screen Menu Button

Sunday 18 February 2024

Two Main Windows for Dual Monitors

You can view the schematic on the left monitor and the PCB on the right. Try out the Navigator and cross selection.

Adding Another Window

Two Main Windows Viewing the Same Project
The schematic on the left monitor and the PCB on the right monitor.

Properties Popup Panel

The popup properties panel has been improved and works in full-screen mode (F11)

Full-Screen

Press Ctrl + F11 to display full screen over all your monitor screens.

Full-screen with 2 horizontally aligned monitors.

Thursday 15 February 2024

Switching Between Tiled and Tabbed Viewports

DEX sometimes crashed! This should now be fixed.

Viewports

Wednesday 14 February 2024

Properties Popup Panel

The popup properties panel has been improved with removal of non-applicable controls and better resizing of the pen and fill editors.

Thursday 8 February 2024

Properties Popup Panel

Press F2 to show/hide the Properties Popup Panel

Wednesday 7 February 2024

Properties Panel

Improved pen editor. Redundant controls not displayed.

Improved fill editor. Redundant controls not displayed.

Properties Popup Panel

Popup Properties

Improved layout.

Reorganized Panels button group.

Hide on item move.

Popop Properties Panel

Friday 2 February 2024

Organize Symbol Terminals

Fix for organizing symbol terminals. (some minor errors).

Organize Terminals

Thursday 1 February 2024

Create a New Part Dialog

Added Mouser button to search and add datasheet.

Create a New Part

January

Sunday 28 January 2024

Wire Junction Points (Optional)

Wire Junction Points now added to the end of symbol terminals with more than one connection.

No Wire Junction Point

With Wire Junction Point

Saturday 27 January 2024

Status Bar

Improved behavior of the Status Bar.

Status Bar

Thursday 25 January 2024

Layers Panel

Improved behavior for Route/Reset/Place buttons.

Added Show Copper Pour checkbox.

Layers Panel

Grid/Snap Settings Popdown Editor

Added extra commands.

Grid/Snap Settiings Popdown Editor

Undo/Redo Design State Manager

Undo/Redo

Undo/Redo Design State Manager

Tuesday 23 January 2024

Printing

Fix for 3D view from bottom and view from top not working.

Monday 22 January 2024

Setting Image Transparency

Fix for setting the transparency of images pasted from the clipboard using the properties panel.

Add Resistor Dialog

Fix for disabled pad shape editor.

Markers

Improved graphics.

Draws in multiple colors, even on PCB copper layers. NOTE: do not add them to copper layers, use the Documentation layer (top most)

A Marker

A Marker in a PCB

Sunday 21 January 2024

Part Renumbering

Redesign of the part renumbering panel.

Part Renumbering Panel

Saturday 20 January 2024

CNC Output

Text now supported. (stick text).

CNC Text

Horizontal and Vertical Tiled Viewports

Automatic resizing to eliminate blank areas.

Vertical Tiled Viewports

Sunday 14 January 2024

SMD Automatic Connections

Split Power Planes

Automatic connection to power planes for SMD pads. (Route Menu)

Power Planes

Automatic connection to power planes for SMD pads and TPH pads. (Route Menu)

Design Rule Checker and Split Power Planes

Checks for connections to split power planes.

Thursday 11 January 2024

Split Power Planes

Improved automatic via connections from SMT pads to internal split power planes.

Power Planes

Improved automatic via connections from SMT pads to internal power planes.

Wednesday 10 January 2024

Layers Panel

View/Hide Unrouted Tracks.

View/Hide Unrouted Tracks

Tuesday 9 January 2024

Color Bar Panel

The Color-Bar panel at the bottom of the viewport has been removed. It takes up too much screen space. Use the line, fill, and text properties buttons in the Status bar.