Mail Archives: geda-user/2015/10/15/22:28:33
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On Wed, Oct 14, 2015 at 4:40 PM, Robert Drehmel <robert AT zoot DOT drehmel DOT com>
wrote:
> Hi.
>
> When (e.g.) routing 5mm power traces on a small grid, it's not always easy
> to hit the
> point where the trace ended (which is the center of the semicircle at the
> end of the
> line) to start the next line. If you have selected the line tool, finding
> the end of
> the line can become guesswork as the cursor doesn't change shape like it
> does with the
> select tool.
> I want my traces to consist of lines and arcs that are perfectly connected
> and I want
> to work as fast as possible.
>
> Attached is a small patch that
>
> - makes it possible to deactivate snapping to "some sensible point along
> a line".
> (that's what a comment in the code says). This snapping algorithm gets
> in the way
> sometimes so you have to slowly go over a line to find out where it
> really ends,
> bouncing back and forth between the points of the small grid, the end
> of the line
> and these "sensible points", which is wasting time. The command is
> "Display(ToggleSnapOffGridLine)". It is still activated by default to
> avoid
> violating POLA.
>
> - more importantly, introduces a new command called
> "Display(ToggleHighlightOnPoint)"
> that highlights all lines and arcs which have (end)points exactly on
> the position
> where the cross hair is currently snapped to. It therefore helps
> finding the end
> points of lines and arcs, but sometimes also shows redundant traces,
> traces that
> aren't perfectly connected to each other, traces that don't end
> directly on the
> center of a via but should, etc. It works with thin draw too and I
> tested it with
> gtk and lesstif.
>
> I use the second option mostly in conjunction with deactivating the first.
> Both commands
> have been added to the menu by means of (g)pcb-menu.res.in and are
> available as command
> line options as well.
> Caveats:
> - The HID API expects all HIDs to make a copy of the color string when
> setting a color.
> - The function that lightens up a color could be improved.
> - I used it for a while, but after porting it from my local fork, it
> probably needs
> more testing.
>
> Maybe someone else finds it useful.
>
Sounds like it's hitting a problems that annoyed me for a long time, I'll
try it for sure thx
Britton
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<div dir=3D"ltr"><br><div class=3D"gmail_extra"><div class=3D"gmail_quote">=
On Wed, Oct 14, 2015 at 4:40 PM, Robert Drehmel <span dir=3D"ltr"><<a hr=
ef=3D"mailto:robert AT zoot DOT drehmel DOT com" target=3D"_blank">robert AT zoot DOT drehmel=
.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class=3D"gmail_quote" style=3D"ma=
rgin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">Hi.<br>
<br>
When (e.g.) routing 5mm power traces on a small grid, it's not always e=
asy to hit the<br>
point where the trace ended (which is the center of the semicircle at the e=
nd of the<br>
line) to start the next line.=C2=A0 If you have selected the line tool, fin=
ding the end of<br>
the line can become guesswork as the cursor doesn't change shape like i=
t does with the<br>
select tool.<br>
I want my traces to consist of lines and arcs that are perfectly connected =
and I want<br>
to work as fast as possible.<br>
<br>
Attached is a small patch that<br>
<br>
=C2=A0- makes it possible to deactivate snapping to "some sensible poi=
nt along a line".<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0(that's what a comment in the code says). This snapping al=
gorithm gets in the way<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0sometimes so you have to slowly go over a line to find out whe=
re it really ends,<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0bouncing back and forth between the points of the small grid, =
the end of the line<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0and these "sensible points", which is wasting time. =
The command is<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0"Display(ToggleSnapOffGridLine)". It is still activa=
ted by default to avoid<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0violating POLA.<br>
<br>
=C2=A0- more importantly, introduces a new command called "Display(Tog=
gleHighlightOnPoint)"<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0that highlights all lines and arcs which have (end)points exac=
tly on the position<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0where the cross hair is currently snapped to. It therefore hel=
ps finding the end<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0points of lines and arcs, but sometimes also shows redundant t=
races, traces that<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0aren't perfectly connected to each other, traces that don&=
#39;t end directly on the<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0center of a via but should, etc. It works with thin draw too a=
nd I tested it with<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0gtk and lesstif.<br>
<br>
I use the second option mostly in conjunction with deactivating the first. =
Both commands<br>
have been added to the menu by means of (g)<a href=3D"http://pcb-menu.res.i=
n" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">pcb-menu.res.in</a> and are availab=
le as command<br>
line options as well.<br>
Caveats:<br>
=C2=A0- The HID API expects all HIDs to make a copy of the color string whe=
n setting a color.<br>
=C2=A0- The function that lightens up a color could be improved.<br>
=C2=A0- I used it for a while, but after porting it from my local fork, it =
probably needs<br>
=C2=A0 =C2=A0more testing.<br>
<br>
Maybe someone else finds it useful.<br></blockquote><div><br></div><div><br=
></div><div style=3D"">Sounds like it's hitting a problems that annoyed=
me for a long time, I'll try it for sure thx</div><div style=3D""><br>=
</div><div style=3D"">Britton</div><div>=C2=A0</div></div></div></div>
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