last update: 8-11.1.1999


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*** Thankx for all your mail (bad and good one's ;-)! *
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CelCAD is a work in progress and not nearly finished!

This version of XelCAD, comes as a binary-only distribution.

There are a lot of things to do, and I'm going to release newer
versions frequently.
Source code is made available, when the main missing features
(...) are implemented.



this is a _very_ short instruction:


REQUIREMENTS:
 - you need the xforms library (v0.88.1 or newer)
   (http://bragg.phys.uwm.edu/xforms)

INSTALLATION:
 - create an empty directory in your home directory
 - copy the executable ("xelcad") and all schematics (*.sch) of the
   distribution in there (located in the "put_me_anywhere" dir)
   (do _not_ copy the executable to /usr/X11/bin or any other apps dir,
   because XelCAD is ALPHA!)
 - copy the ".xelcad" directory to your home dir
   (your "HOME"-var needs to be set. 
    important! otherwise the lib's won't be found!)
 - launch X
 - open a xterm
 - change to XelCAD dir
 - and start it by typing ./xelcad &
USAGE (basic hints)
 - create a new layout (or open one of the existing demos)
 - internal elements:
   wires
   junctions
   buses
   
   add them by clicking on the corresponding buttons, or better:
   use the keyboard-shortcuts (many features are also available
   by mouse-buttons, take a look at the lower left of the layout
   window for mouse-button-tips):

   key	action
   ===========
   a	add external element
   w	add wire
   b	add bus
   j	add junction
   t	add free text
   1	select (multiple) object (left mouse button)
        use the right mouse button to unselect the last element
   2	select area (drag mouse)
   3	unselect
   
   e	edit a single element (exactly ONE element has to be selected)
   x    cut selection
   m	move selection
   c	copy selection
   p	paste selection


 - external library elements:
   to add, hit "a" or click "add element";
   enter the name of the element (element names are filenames)
   following (basic) elements are included:
     
   name to enter:       element:
   ================================
	r		resistor
	c		capacitor
	l		inductance
	diode		diode
	diode_z		zener diode
	diode_s		schottky diode
	diode_t		tunnel diode
	diode_c		capacitor diode
	npn		a simple npn transistor
	pnp		a simple pnp transistor
	op		a simple opamp
	power		a (power) connector
	gnd		a ground symbol
	...		...

  Alternatively, you can use the element browser (tools-menu) to
  preview and add an element.


  right mouse button turns an element
  middle button flips (mirrors) it
  left button to place

  
- scrolling the layout window is done by dragging the mouse in the
  "page-window" 
 

   

ToDo-List:


- the layout size is not stored in the file (*.ach)
- if the working area is bigger than the one, entered in the layout,
  you can place elements "out off bounds"
- loading preferences does not work (saving does)
- more elements to add
- "real" elements with individual text (pinouts)
- better printing ;-)
- special elements do not work (dashed line, rectangle, circle, etc...)
- better handling (page scroll, move, paste, etc...)
- documentation
- import Orcad or (P-) Spice libraries
- export Spice netlists
- auto numbering feature
- ...


ALL REMARKS WELCOME!


Axel Skrodzki

axel.skrodzki@fh-duesseldorf.de
axel.skrodzki@neuss.netsurf.de
http://www.neuss.netsurf.de/~skrodzki

If you send mail, please include the keyword "xelcad" in the
subject (for my local mail-filter).
