NsWare for OrCAD and Allegro PCB Editor

©2015 Nordcad Systems A/S – nsWare

nsWare release 2.42

nsWare is a collection of add-on

products for Cadence™ OrCAD® &

Allegro® products.

1

• Use nsWare framework to get nsWare

menu inside PCB Editor

– Install nsWare framework

• Only installed programs will be available

inside the NsWare menu

• New in 2.42

– Change grid

• New in 2.3x

– Change line width

• New in 2.35

– Added PCB and Footprint flow menu to

help users work through the design

process

• New in 2.31

– Eagle to OrCAD / Allegro PCB Editor

• New in 2.28

– Update nsWare

– Create PCB Stacking Stripe Symbol

http://nordcad.dk/download/nsware/nsware_install.pdf


nsWare products

• Shape functions

• Net functions

• Display functions

• Symbol functions

• Text functions

• Change width and change grid

• Export

• CAD Translators

• Configuration utility

• Planar designer

• Constraint template

• PDF printing

• Prototype plotting

• Show ISR information

• Update nsWare

• Help

2

• SigXplorer colorsetup


Flow menus

• New in 2.35

• Together with NsWare 2 flow menus are created

– PCB Flow

– Footprint Flow

• Guide the user through the process of creating a PCB design

and a footprint.

• Disable flow menus by setting the variable

– ns_no_pcbflowmenu

• See help and explanations for flow menus at

– http://www.nordcad.dk/flowmenu

3

http://www.nordcad.dk/flowmenu


Shape functions

• 3 shape utilities

– Force update alle shapes: ns_shpfup– Automatically updates all shapes without looking

at their current status

– Delete all voids: ns_shpdelvoid– Deletes either all voids or just all autovoids

– Disable all shapes: ns_shpdis– Set shape display to disabled

4


Net functions

• Assign All dummy nets to Dummy netclass: ns_dummy_net

– Automatically assigns all dummy nets to a netclass named Dummy

– Prompts for view of dummy net assignment table

• Assign dummy nets to netclass: cns_dummy_net

– Show dummy net assignment table

– Cadence built-in command

5


Display functions

• Show symbols in path ns_show_symbols

– Display all footprints (package symbols) in the

current search path

• Highlight net by list: ns_net_highl

– Show a list of all nets. Click a net will zoom

around the net and highlight it

• Display Polar guidelines: ns_polarlines

– Create and display polar guidelines for

snapping etc.

6


Create views from artwork films

• Command: ns_f2v

– Or NsWare→Display functions→Create views..

• Create a view file for each artwork film

– Create a .color file in the current job directory

– Move/copy to %cds_site%\pcb\views folder for

use across designs

7


PCB Stacking stripe symbol

• Command: ns_layersymbol

– Or NsWare→Display functions→Create PCB ...

• Creates a PCB Stacking stripe symbol

– Ensures manufacturing quality

• Creates a symbol that has a copper area on

each layer

• If the symbol straddle the board outline the

copper will be cut and a staircase is created if

the board layers are manufactured in correct

order.

• Copper area sizes are controlled by the user

interface.

• Watch the YouTube video

8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3C86fuKuDk&list=UUes1TdH6mVgk-EJ0oTxAVnQ&feature=share&index=2


Symbol functions

9

• Symbol Revision Management: ns_ar

– Or NsWare → Symbol functions→ Symbol Revision

management

• Check symbol revisions used in board file against library files

• Create revision history on symbols using properties

– First revision:– NS_REVISION_CODE = 1.00

– NS_REV_100_COMMENT = Month Date Time Year – Username: Initial Relase

– Following revisions:– NS_REVISION_CODE is updated with new revision number

– New property named NS_REV_xxx_COMMENT created where xxx = NS_REVISION_CODE

without decimal point

– Value = Month Date Time Year – Username: User defined comment

• New in Version 2.11

– Create backup for each version of symbol in ns_symbackup folder: symname_revision.dra

– Create a .txt file with data information for symbol: symname_revision.txt


Symbol Revision Management

10

• 3 cases

– explained further on the following pages

• Case 1 – Program run on symbol with no NS_REVISION_CODE

• Case 2 – Program run on symbol that already have a NS_REVISION_CODE

• Case 3 – Program run on a board file



11

• Case 1 – symbol with no revision

• Will present 3 choices

– ”Set Default Revision Code”: Will set the following 2 properties– NS_REVISION_CODE = 1.00

– NS_REV_100_COMMENT = Month Date Time Year – Username: Initial

Release

– ”Create Batch update files”: Will create 3 files for batch updating a

directory of .dra files– ”ns_revision_update.scr” is the script file to create and update

properties

– ”ns_revision_update.bat” run the above script on all .dra files in

directory

– ”ns_revision_update_README.txt” describes how to use the 2 files

above

– ”Do both of the above” will set the default revision code and create

the batch update files as just explained.

• Upon completion:

– Info box regarding revision code

– Possibility to get filemanager (explorer)



12

– ”Create Batch update symbol files” – Will create 3 files for batch updating a

directory of .dra files

– ”ns_revision_update.scr” is the script file to

create and update properties

– ”ns_revision_update.bat” run the above

script on all .dra files in directory

– ”ns_revision_update_README.txt”

describes how to use the 2 files above

• Case 2 – symbol with revision

• Will show dialog

– Shows the latest revision information– Revision code

– Revision comment

– Suggests new revision (old + 0.01)– ”+Major” increases revision code to

nearest major revision (2.00, 3.00 ..)

– ”+Minor” increases with 0.01

– Comment can be added. If no comment is

made it will be ”No comment made”

– ”Reset” will delete all existing revision

history

– ”Set” applies the changes

– ”Cancel” will cancel the dialog

– ”View history” shows the symbol revision

history

– ”Help” will show the online help



13

• Case 3 – board file

• Legend:

– Component is the part inside the PCB

– Symbol is the library part

– Revcode is the current revision code– e.g. 1.01 (NS_REVISION_CODE)

– Revcomment is the current revision code comment– e.g., ”Aug 21 16:45:12 2009 - Ole: No comment made”

(NS_REV_101_COMMENT)

• See next page for more information



14

• Case 3 – board file

• Cases

– Case 3.1: Component revcode = symbol revcode– Component revcomment = symbol revcomment: Everything is fine, component is up-to-date

– Component revcomment != symbol revcomment: There is an issue between component on board and

symbol. Comment has been changed manually inside board or symbol

– Case 3.2: component revcode < symbol revcode– Component is not up-to-date compared to symbol in library, use Place→Update symbols

– Case 3.3: component revcode > symbol revcode– Component revision code has potentially been changed in the board file

– Case 3.4: No component revcode– Symbol revcode exists: Symbol revision is newer in library, use Place→Update symbols

– Case 3.5: No symbol revcode– Symbol has no revcode, open package symbol and run revision management tool


Calculate package symbol area

• Command: ns_parea

• Calculates the area of psm files occupied by PLACE_BOUND

definitions

– Result is written to psm_area.txt file in current directory

– Report consist of– Path and name of package symbol

– Total PLACE_BOUND area for package symbols (sum of all place_bound

areas)

– Largest PLACE_BOUND area is the size of the larges place_bound area

• 3 cases

– Case 1 - Package Symbol

– Case 2 – Board file – Report data (best performance)

– Case 3 – Board file – Don’t Report data

15


Calculate package symbol area

• Case 1 - Package Symbol

– Add data for open package symbol to ”psm_area.txt”

file in current directory

• Case 2 – Board file – Create data

– Add data for all package symbols in psmpath to

”psm_area.txt” file in current directory

– Units reported are determined by board unit settings

– Will create 3 files for batch updating a directory of .dra

files– ”ns_psm_area_calculate.bat” run the script below on all

.dra files in directory

– ” ns_parea_calculate.scr” is the script file

– ” ns_psm_area_calculate_README.txt” describes how to

use the 2 files above

– Scriptfiles will report units for each package symbol

• Case 3 – Board file – Don’t create data

– Create script and batch files as described in case 2

16

Best performance

obtained using Case 2

(Ja/Yes to above dialog)


Create rounded rectangle shape

• Command: ns_rsd

• Or NsWare → Symbol functions → Create rounded rectangle shape

• Can only be used inside a shape symbol for generating padstacks

17


Output functions

• Collection of functionality to create

output data

• Create artwork films: ns_gerber

– With user interface: ”ns_gerber”

– Without user interface: ”ns_gerber t”

• Program

– Creates default artwork films in

Manufacture→Artwork– Create gerber film for etch and drill layers.

– Optional configuration for other films

– Edit ”ns_gerber.il” to accommodate your

requirements for naming, content etc.– But rename skill file, functions etc. and

place outside of nsWare directory


18

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_9PGSYUBKU


Automated postprocessing

19

• Run Post Process: ns_postproc

– Or: NsWare→Output functions→Run Post Processor

– Creates most documentation needed for PCB

manufacturing

– Requires ”ads_sdart” variable to be set

– Can either setup gerber films or use existing

– Can zip data and cleanup output directory

– Creates a readme file


Output functions

20

• Pick and place data TOP: ns_pick_top

– Create pick and place data for top layer

– Uses symbol origin

• Pick and place data BOTTOM: ns_pick_bot

– Create pick and place data for bottom layer

– Uses symbol origin

• Pick and place data to Capture: ns_pickdata

– Creates a file with pick and place coordinates that can be backannotated to Capture

• All 3 utilities use symbol origin as component reference

– Can be changed in open-source programs– ns_pickdata.il

– ns_pick_top.il

– ns_pick_bot.il

– But remember to rename functions and move .il files away from nsWare subfolder


Output functions

• CAMCAD data: ns_camcad

– Creates CAMCAD output data

• ODB++ for BluePrint: ns_odb

– Creates ODB++ data needed for import into

DownStream BluePrint

– Consider using IPC2581 output instead

• CircuitCam data: ns_aegis

– Creates data for CircuitCam equipment

21


Layout 2 PCB Editor footprint names

22

• Command: ns_l2a_footprints

• Or NsWare → Output functions → Layout 2 PCB Editor footprint names

• Creates a report that list reference designators and package symbol (footprint) names

– Can be back-annotated to Capture

– Usefull when translating PCB Designs from other PCB Systems into OrCAD/Allegro PCB

Editor


Text functions

• Update date field: ns_date

– Or NsWare → Text functions → Update date field

– Automatically updates all texts starting with ”Date:”

to ”Date: hh:mm:ss dd-mm-yyyy”

• Replace text: ns_text_replace

– Or NsWare → Text functions → Replace text

– Replace text on board with text from file

– This skill program replace text on a board with text

from a file. File should be named .csv and have the

format below (semicolon separated)– search string;replace string

– Add as many lines as wanted, search string must be

a single word consisting of a-z, 0-9, _ and –

– replace string can be a sentence

23


Change width

• New in 2.3x

• Command: ns_clwidth

• Or NsWare → Change route width

• Change width

24

• New in 2.42

• Command: ns_grids

• Or NsWare → Change grid

• Changes grid setting

• Assign shortcut for optimal usage

– funckey g1 ns_grids 0.1


– Etc.

– alias g ns_grids

• Click g followed by number for fixed

change or space + number for


Change width

25

• New in 2.3x

• Command: ns_clwidth argument

– argument is number for the wanted line width or if left empty shows the user interface

• Or NsWare → Change route width


– funckey lw1 ns_clwidth 0.1



– Etc.

– alias lw ns_clwidth

• Click lw followed by number for fixed change or space + number for user interface

• Example related to above shortcuts

– lw followed by 1 → Changes line width to 0.1 units

– lw followed by space and 0.5 and Enter → Changes line width to 0.5 units

– lw followed by Enter → Show gui to enter new line width


Change grid

26

• New in 2.42

• Command: ns_grids argument

– argument is number for the wanted grid setting or if left empty shows the user interface

• Or NsWare → Change grid

• Change all grid settings





– Etc.

– alias g ns_grids

• Click g followed by number for fixed change or space + number for user interface

• Example related to above shortcuts

– g followed by 1 → Changes all grids to 0.1 units

– g followed by space and 0.5 and Enter → Changes all grids to 0.5 units

– g followed by Enter → Show gui to enter new grid setting in


Custom IDF export

• Command: ns_idf

• Or nsWare → Export → IDF with multiple heights

• Program

– Exports multiple heights per component and creates

a more realistic 3D view of PCB

– Output to STEP214 through FreeCAD


27

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7SGSlKOOyk


CAD Translators

28

• Translates IPL/DDE/SuperMax data into OrCAD / Allegro PCB Editor format

– Currently only available as a service

– Contact us at [email protected] or [email protected] for more information

• Translates Eagle board and library files in xml format to OrCAD / Allegro PCB Editor

– Currently only available as a service or through OrCAD MarketPlace

– Watch movie at YouTube

– Contact us at [email protected] or [email protected] for more information

mailto:[email protected]


http://www.orcadmarketplace.com/OnlineStore.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFBINUQ9wqA&list=UUes1TdH6mVgk-EJ0oTxAVnQ




• Translate Eagle board and library files in xml format

Eagle translator example

29


Configuration utility

30

• Command: ns_configutil

• Or NsWare → Configuration utility

• Program makes it possible to change settings from different files

saved in same format as env/site.env file

• Use alias, funckey, set, unset etc.

• Ideal for use at Design bureaus that needs to swap settings or for

support of different manufacturing settings etc.


Generate planar transformers

• Command ns_planar

– Or NsWare → Planar designer

• Program

– Create 3 different types of planar

transformers using parameters

– Currently only available as a service or

through OrCAD MarketPlace


31

http://www.orcadmarketplace.com/OnlineStore.aspx

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y044lJF6Tto


Constraint Template

• Command: ns_csv2cm

– Or NsWare → Constraint Template

– Import and creates constraints specified using the Excel

spreadsheet ”constraint_skabelon.xls”

• Constraint Template Help: ns_show_csv2cm_help

– Or NsWare → Constraint Template Help

– Display help information for Constraint Template in Danish

32


PDF Generator

• Command: ns_pdf

– Creates a single pdf file

– Requires– Adobe Distiller (v5→v9 or Ghostview

enabled PDF generator)

– Each film setup inside

Manufacture→Artwork is one page

inside the pdf document

• Consists of 4 tabs

– PDF Settings

– Printer setup

– Film plot settings

– New in 4.23: Variant plot

• Help command ”ns_pdf_help”


33

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6lPXTGoT4o


PDF – PDF Settings

• General settings for

– PDF file name

– PDF quality

– Paper size

– Font for texts

– Scaling

– Color vs. black/white

– Board outlines on all films

– Drill holes open/closed

– Solid colors

– Add filmname to page

34


PDF – Printer setup

• Settings for PDF program

– Adobe or Ghostview

35


PDF – Film plot settings

• Individual films settings

– PDF Out: Create PDF for film

– Mirror: Mirror plot of film

– Order pages in pdf document– Up: Move selected film up

– Down: Move selected film down

– Preview film content– View film: Preview selected film

– Reload visibility: Reload original board

visibility

36


Variant plot

37

• New in 2.32

• Adds variant plot capabilities

– Variants.lst required to read variant information

• Detailed document plots a page per part

number

* Notice that if you select Detailed document each PCB Session has a max of 290

pages it can plot


Prototype plotting with open drill

• 3 commands in nsWare→Prototype plotting

– Set one layer to black plot (ns_pprint)

– Set all etch to black (ns_pprint t)

– Restore color and visibility

(ns_restore_after_pprint)

• Program

– Makes it easy to print/plot etch layers for

prototyping with open drill holes.

– Setup display and color for printing prototypes

– Includes restore to original color and visibility

functionality


38

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaSR65G7fZE


Show ISR information

• Command: ns_getCCR

• Or NsWare → Show ISR information

• Show the list of hotfixes and QIR’s installed

39


Update nsWare

• Command: ns_update_nsware

• Or NsWare → Update nsWare

• Update the nsWare programs to the newest versions

– Include new functions

• If nsWare functions are installed through OrCAD Marketplace

– Installed programs are updated

– New free apps are installed

• To disable use of this function

– Set variable ”no_nswareupdate” in env or site.env file

40


SigXplorer color setup

41

• New in 2.28

• Command: ns_sigxp_colors

• Or NsWare→Change colors

• Changes colors in SigXplorer to better

facilitate documentation

Technology

NsWare for OrCAD and Allegro PCB Editor