Do we need an Open Source projects repository?

Hi Everyone, I wanted to announce the latest guest blog: http://blog.live.altium.com/#Blogs/open-source-hardware-projects-in-Altium-Designer

Some of you (many) are aware of the author, Petr Tošovský, an avid contributor to the Altium Live community, who has been involved in the past with creating the google code project for Altium Designer Addons - a site where users have shared numerous scripts for Altium Designer.

In his blog Petr highlights some really interesting open-source hardware projects (there are so many more we don't know about) and we think you'd like to check them out for yourself. There's much to be gained and leaned from these designs and how to apply Altium Designer to new products.

Announcement: Altium Designer 14.3

This update delivers a powerful array of new features and enhancements to the core technologies, while also addressing many issues raised by our customers. In total, 35 new features and 150 fixes and enhancements.

Some highlights of this release

• Schematic Wire Drag Improvements
• Enhancements to Variants
• Enhanced Polygon Editing and Management
• Interactive Routing Improvements
• Length Tuning Enhancements
• Via Shielding
• Enhanced PCB Filtering
• PCB Fixed Single Selection Order
• Support for Generating Folded STEP Models of a Board
• IPC-7351B Compliance
• ActiveBOM Enhancements
• System & Performance Enhancements

See What's New to find out about all the feature highlights.

See Release Notes for a complete listing of all the bug fixes and enhancements.

 

Accessing the Update

Altium Designer 14.3 is a major update. It is not possible to update from Altium Designer 14.2 to 14.3, a new installation is required. You have the choice to continue with your current version or to install Altium Designer 14.3 to access the latest features. Alternatively, have both installed side-by-side, and use the version that best suits your needs.  The new Installer can be downloaded from the download page in AltiumLive.

Download Altium Designer 14.3 Installer

Note: If you are using a Private Server license or Standalone license and have renewed your Subscription since activation, you may need to reactivate your license.  

A new Offline Installer is also available, please contact your local Altium office or Value Added Reseller.

 

Announcement: Altium Designer 14.2.5 update available (5 May 2014)

Release Notes for Altium Designer Version 14.2

Version 14.2.5

Build: 32823 Date:5 May 2014

2085	A crash when database libraries experience connection problems while placing parts or generating BOM reports has been fixed.
2146	Access violations caused by PCB editing, routing and undo operations have been fixed through the investigation of crash reports.
2256	Pads are now generated correctly in Gerber files for flipped Embedded Board Arrays. BC:3639
2278	The "Flipped on Layer" option is no longer being set during ECO component placement due to default PCB primitive settings. BC:3796 BC:4024

Version 14.2.4

Build: 31871 Date:5 March 2014

1964	Grouping Vault Search results no longer causes an exception error.
2083	Variant values are now displayed correctly for Multi-Channel and Complex Hierarchy schematic projects. BC:3977
2104	The Preferences option in the Subversion update repository dialog now works correctly and no longer causes an exception error.
2106	PCB footprint names that use special characters (such as * or /), no longer cause footprint not found errors and other editing, browsing and synchronizing issues. BC:3952
2109	Rotating schematic .EMF graphic files no longer causes an exception error.

Version 14.2.3

Build: 31718 Date:19 February 2014

1151	Schematic drawing line object now supports "dash dotted" line style.
1152	Schematic Pin object now includes Line Width attribute for Symbols.
1279	Schematic arcs now always display correctly at different zoom levels.
1313	Schematic documents now render non english text correctly when saving between AD10 and AD14 formats.
1331	Box.Net publisher has been updated and now uploads files correctly.
1345	The "Create Primitives From Board Shape" command now correctly uses arcs instead of line segments.
1349	DBLib and SVNLib using MySQL will now attempt to reconnect automatically to the server after PC hibernation or lost connection. BC:2824 BC:1930
1357	Subversion commit comments now support quotation marks. BC:1661
1358	Subversion commit comments now properly support different language input text. BC:2133
1363	Subversion 1.8 support has been added. This also includes support for the new working folder format, as well as updating the built-in Subversion Client to version 1.8.4. BC:3193
1392	OrCAD Capture export now correctly handles Power, GND and test point objects.
1457	PCB Drill Table has been updated to include new Text Alignment and Column Width settings (available from the right-click menu).
1458	Schematic now supports vector graphic images (.wmf and .svg).
1459	PCB Polygon repour speed has been significantly improved. Speed increase up to 20x depending on number and complexity of polygons.
1478	There is no longer a hang when running the automatic loop removal tool.
1482	PCB footprint primitives are no longer removed from the footprint during interactive routing.
1484	Loop removal will no longer remove incorrect track.
1485	PCB Polygon Pour quality has been improved when using hatched style and polygon cutouts.
1486	PCB Design Rule dialog will now grey out disabled rules making it easier to distinguish between enabled and disabled rules.
1516	The PCB Library Report can now support non english characters.
1529	Schematic documents now render text correctly when using non english language system settings.
1531	Smart PDF now supports an option to include "Global Bookmarks for Components and Nets".
1547	PCB Copy Room Formats command will no longer copy the board region.
1550	PADS Library importer has been updated to fix specific cases where components were not created.
1551	DxDesigner importer has been updated to fix connection issues with off grid objects.
1555	PCB Via Stitching has been improved and will now properly use the clearance rule settings.
1579	Schematic Formatting Toolbar can now change text font and size settings.
1580	STEP model clearance errors between top and bottom layers has been fixed.
1581	Selecting PCB components in Single Layer Mode will now only select components which are on that layer. BC:3545 BC:997
1582	Schematic directives no longer produce false error reports when single documents are compiled.
1584	The PCB Printout Properties dialog now opens correctly even if the PCB is not the top document window.
1585	Use of the backslash character (\) in an Output Job container file name no longer inserts an underscore character (_).
1586	The PCB Drill Table is now correctly re-positioned when using the Move»Move Selection by X,Y command.
1587	Scripts using SchServer.RobotManager.SendMessage can now be run successfully,
1588	PCB Undo now works correctly when primitives are deleted from a component.
1594	The PCB "Update Free Primitives From Component Pads" command no longer removes vias from their nets.
1601	The Locked attribute is no longer updated when changing the Pad or Via test point settings. BC:3758
1604	Deselecting the Preview top - bottom layer command for a drill table, will no longer cause an Access Violation.
1608	PCB polygon thermal relief calculation causing incorrect DRC violations in some situations has been fixed.
1612	IDF Export has been updated to fix a hang when exporting from specific files.
1616	The Libraries Panel now remembers the layout when the application is restarted.
1617	There is no longer a discrepancy in the display of top and bottom SM layers when opacity is set to 50%.
1618	Smart PDF now displays the correct component parameters when using Variants. BC:2517 BC:3201
1619	BOM generation now supports variant supplier and supplier part number parameters. BC:3222
1620	Variants now support the .COMMENT and .REFDES special fields. BC:2083
1624	The Schematic "Update From Libraries" command has been updated. The "Preserve Parameter locations" option now works correctly and a new option "Preserve parameter visibility" has been added. BC:59 BC:839
1626	Automatic adjustments to track end-points when moving a selected track can now be reliably undone using the Undo feature. BC:431
1627	The Schematic "Break Wire" command now works with wires that have smallest width setting. BC:829
1630	Soldermask now correctly remains as defined for regions and polygons after saving and reloading.
1636	Net Antennas with a terminating via are now correctly detected by the DRC. BC:1491
1647	Chinese and Russian text is now correctly encoded when exporting a Schematic to DXF.
1652	Via Stitching by constrained area no longer causes shorts with polygons on internal layers.
1662	The issue of incorrect From-To lengths has been partially resolved. Length evaluation no longer counts primitives twice when modifying an existing net. Note: Incorrect evaluation of a complex signal path between points could still occur. BC:441
1664	The Schematic Library Parameter Manager now displays selected pins when "Selected Objects Only" option is enabled. BC:875
1665	The query InFromToClass will return all primitives in the from-to, and will no longer miss track segments. BC:1229
1668	Vault now supports batch download of selected items.
1697	There is no longer an Access Violation when generating a Gerber from a PCB containing an active drill table.
1700	The legend in a generated Drill Drawing now works correctly when using Characters for the .Legend symbols. BC:2929
1701	FPGA to PCB Project Wizard now uses installed FPGA integrated libraries to correctly place schematic symbols in generated PCB project.
1706	DXF Exporter now correctly supports slot holes (zero line width and donut), and square holes.
1711	Debugging embedded project targeting discrete CPU no longer causes a crash on exit.
1714	There is no longer an error when using the parameter "=VariantName" as the folder name in an Output Job file. BC:3826
1836	An issue with the Mixed Simulation engine failing to create the correct netlist has been resolved.
1837	There is no longer an issue when exporting files for route using SPECCTRA. BC:3833
1849	There is no longer an Access Violation when printing a schematic containing a large graphic image.
1850	IDF Exporter has been fixed to resolve the issue with duplicated board outlines. BC:3696
1857	The Layer Stack Manager dialog now correctly opens in active display space, in accordance with monitor configuration.
1874	The "ssl_error_unsafe_negotiation" error no longer occurs when opening URLs inside Altium Designer.
1911	There is no longer a crash in Supplier_TME when closing Altium Designer.
1913	An access violation caused by an undo operation in PCB has been fixed through the investigation of a crash report.
1934	The correct board height is now used when exporting to STEP.
1936	An access violation associated with importing preference files has been fixed.
1944	Version 6.3 and 6.5 Eagle files can now be successfully imported to Altium Designer without error or Access Violations being generated.
1945	There is no longer a crash when accessing SchServer.RobotManager.SendMessage through a script.
1947	The graphical preview of the schematic part is once again available when accessing the Port Map tab for a Sim Model.
1948	Parameters with spaces in their names can now be used indirectly through a part's Comment field. BC:1129
1954	Issues with the import of EAGLE files have been fixed. EAGLE frames have been implemented, the un-named sheets issue addressed, and schematic loading for version 6.5.0 also resolved.
1961	The version number is now correctly checked for the Lattice Diamond toolchain.
1962	There is no longer an Access Violation when clicking on All Folders after an initial Vault search.
1963	Vias are no longer removed from existing Via Stitch objects when cancelling the Via Stitch by Area command.
1965	A crash with the SCH List panel when changing scope is now resolved.
1967	TMDS33 constraint for Xilinx Transition Minimized Differential Signaling IO standard is correctly translated to UCF TMDS_33 value.
1968	CoreGenerator targeting Xilinx devices now correctly generates the FIFO memories for data widths other than multiples of 8.
1981	Editing the properties of a component from the SCH Library panel no longer causes the location of that component to change in the panel's listing of components.
1985	The layer for a placed via can no longer be changed through the PCB List panel.
1988	The PCB Signal Integrity design rules are now analyzed by the Signal Integrity extension.
1991	An issue with incorrect library selection in the Libraries panel has been resolved. The library selected rather than the one under the cursor is now correctly used. BC:2868 BC:3079
1993	An issue whereby the "Flipped on Layer" option was being erroneously set during component placement, has been resolved. BC:3796 BC:3843
1996	The Process Flow after successful synthesis is no longer reset when performing a manual refresh (F5).
1998	FPGA build status in Devices View is correctly updated when Altera Synthesizer is used.
2067	A new FPGA compiler option has been added to the FPGA General Preferences to "Clear compiler output messages".
2070	FPGA projects are now linked properly to PCB projects when components are placed from the Vault.
2079	Embedded extension adds support for TI Stellaris and NXP LPC2000 families of discrete microcontrollers.
2080	Cortex-M3-based Stellaris Support extension enables programming and debugging for Texas Instruments Stellaris family of microcontrollers.
2081	ARM7-based LPC2000 Support extension adds programming and debugging for NXP LPC2000 seriesdiscrete microcontrollers.