Altium Viewer no longer supported?

[Joerg]

Folks,

Got a set of schematic/layout files from a client today in Altium
format. Unfortunately a newer version than 2009. Looked on the Altium
site whether they have a viewer for younger than 2009. Nope!

Couldn't believe it. Or did I miss something?

 

[Martin Riddle]

Folks,

Got a set of schematic/layout files from a client today in Altium
format. Unfortunately a newer version than 2009. Looked on the Altium
site whether they have a viewer for younger than 2009. Nope!

Couldn't believe it. Or did I miss something?

I see 9.3
<http://live.altium.com/#software>

Oh and it can view the summer 09 release files.

Which hemisphere would that be?


Cheers

 

[Joerg]

I see 9.3
<http://live.altium.com/#software>

Oh and it can view the summer 09 release files.

But only those, Its the same old same old. Quote from the FAQ:

"The latest summer 09 release of Altium Designer Viewer (Build
9.3.0.19153) can view design files created in the summer 09 release of
Altium Designer, as well as the winter 09 and summer 08 releases of
Altium Designer, Altium Designer 6, Altium Designer 2004 and DXP. Files
from Protel 99 SE and earlier products are not supported".

Which hemisphere would that be?

I think they are in Australia

 

[Gerhard Hoffmann]

Am 19.02.2013 04:17, schrieb Joerg:

Got a set of schematic/layout files from a client today in Altium
format. Unfortunately a newer version than 2009. Looked on the Altium
site whether they have a viewer for younger than 2009. Nope!

Couldn't believe it. Or did I miss something?

Methinks I have seen it last week. They are just rolling out
the 2013 version of the Altium Designer and seem to be plowing
the entire website. Quite a mess.

I was unable to download the full 2013 version last weekend,
got only parts of the file.
I can make .pdfs if that helps (with the version as delivered
in DEC 2012)

regards,
Gerhard

ps
yes, the web release goes only until winter '09.

(Your customer could write it out in 2009 format,
probably not much loss)

 

[Joerg]

Am 19.02.2013 04:17, schrieb Joerg:



Methinks I have seen it last week. They are just rolling out
the 2013 version of the Altium Designer and seem to be plowing
the entire website. Quite a mess.

It sure is a mess there

They should learn how to _first_ create a majorly revamped site on a
dummy server and _after_ it's all tested transfer that in one fell swoop.

I was unable to download the full 2013 version last weekend,
got only parts of the file.
I can make .pdfs if that helps (with the version as delivered
in DEC 2012)

Thanks, but I can't use PDF files, I need a viewer.

regards,
Gerhard

ps
yes, the web release goes only until winter '09.

(Your customer could write it out in 2009 format,
probably not much loss)

Maybe they could but I'll just use the Gerbers then. That is often the
only useful format to work with. Unfortunately most of the Gerber
Viewers have no transparent layer view so I am constantly hiding and
unhiding planes.

 

[John Devereux]

It sure is a mess there

They should learn how to _first_ create a majorly revamped site on a
dummy server and _after_ it's all tested transfer that in one fell swoop.



Thanks, but I can't use PDF files, I need a viewer.



Maybe they could but I'll just use the Gerbers then. That is often the
only useful format to work with. Unfortunately most of the Gerber
Viewers have no transparent layer view so I am constantly hiding and
unhiding planes.

gerbv does.

 

[Spehro Pefhany]

But only those, Its the same old same old. Quote from the FAQ:

"The latest summer 09 release of Altium Designer Viewer (Build
9.3.0.19153) can view design files created in the summer 09 release of
Altium Designer, as well as the winter 09 and summer 08 releases of
Altium Designer, Altium Designer 6, Altium Designer 2004 and DXP. Files
from Protel 99 SE and earlier products are not supported".



I think they are in Australia

The old ones used Southern hemisphere seasons, but last I looked
Shanghai is still located in the Northern hemisphere.

 

[Joerg]

Gerhard Hoffmann wrote:

[...]

Maybe they could but I'll just use the Gerbers then. That is often the
only useful format to work with. Unfortunately most of the Gerber
Viewers have no transparent layer view so I am constantly hiding and
unhiding planes.

gerbv does.

I know, but it will only run under Linux. Had it in a VM for a while
until Ubunutu in there self-destructed.

 

[Joerg]

The old ones used Southern hemisphere seasons, but last I looked
Shanghai is still located in the Northern hemisphere.

Yup, and that transition might not bode so well when it comes to such
support.

 

[Frank Miles]

Gerhard Hoffmann wrote:

[...]

(Your customer could write it out in 2009 format, probably not much
loss)

Maybe they could but I'll just use the Gerbers then. That is often the
only useful format to work with. Unfortunately most of the Gerber
Viewers have no transparent layer view so I am constantly hiding and
unhiding planes.

gerbv does.

I know, but it will only run under Linux. Had it in a VM for a while
until Ubunutu in there self-destructed.

It says on
http://gerbv.geda-project.org/
that there's a windows version.

No idea how well this works, as I'm on Debian.

 

[Joerg]

Gerhard Hoffmann wrote: [...]


(Your customer could write it out in 2009 format, probably not much
loss)

Maybe they could but I'll just use the Gerbers then. That is often the
only useful format to work with. Unfortunately most of the Gerber
Viewers have no transparent layer view so I am constantly hiding and
unhiding planes.
gerbv does.

I know, but it will only run under Linux. Had it in a VM for a while
until Ubunutu in there self-destructed.

It says on
http://gerbv.geda-project.org/
that there's a windows version.

No idea how well this works, as I'm on Debian.

Mostly those require solid programmer know-how (which I don't have),
plus tools, cement mixer, hammer drill and so on.

I'll look for a new tool that can also do odb+, since they can generate
that.

 

[rickman]

It sure is a mess there

They should learn how to _first_ create a majorly revamped site on a
dummy server and _after_ it's all tested transfer that in one fell swoop.



Thanks, but I can't use PDF files, I need a viewer.



Maybe they could but I'll just use the Gerbers then. That is often the
only useful format to work with. Unfortunately most of the Gerber
Viewers have no transparent layer view so I am constantly hiding and
unhiding planes.

Try gerbv. They do a transparent sort of mode. I think it is similar
to an XOR of the colors if that is close enough. It may be an add of
the color numbers with saturation? It is like transparent if you pick
your colors properly. They do have a "proper" XOR which is in fast mode.

The support isn't as good for Windows as it is for Linux, but it has
gotten a lot better the last few years.

 

[rickman]

John Devereux wrote:

Gerhard Hoffmann wrote:
[...]


(Your customer could write it out in 2009 format, probably not much
loss)

Maybe they could but I'll just use the Gerbers then. That is often the
only useful format to work with. Unfortunately most of the Gerber
Viewers have no transparent layer view so I am constantly hiding and
unhiding planes.
gerbv does.


I know, but it will only run under Linux. Had it in a VM for a while
until Ubunutu in there self-destructed.

It says on
http://gerbv.geda-project.org/
that there's a windows version.

No idea how well this works, as I'm on Debian.

Mostly those require solid programmer know-how (which I don't have),
plus tools, cement mixer, hammer drill and so on.

What? I've been running gerbv for a number of years now and I don't do
the gcc thing. gerbv has a standard windows .exe download with self
install, no?

gerbv also has "object" view where you can click on a Gerber feature and
it will show you the code that produces it. At this point it is my
"goto" Gerber viewer.

Thanks to the gEDA guys!

 

[Joerg]

On Tue, 19 Feb 2013 08:55:43 -0800, Joerg wrote:

John Devereux wrote:

Gerhard Hoffmann wrote:
[...]


(Your customer could write it out in 2009 format, probably not much
loss)

Maybe they could but I'll just use the Gerbers then. That is often
the
only useful format to work with. Unfortunately most of the Gerber
Viewers have no transparent layer view so I am constantly hiding and
unhiding planes.
gerbv does.


I know, but it will only run under Linux. Had it in a VM for a while
until Ubunutu in there self-destructed.


It says on
http://gerbv.geda-project.org/
that there's a windows version.

No idea how well this works, as I'm on Debian.

Mostly those require solid programmer know-how (which I don't have),
plus tools, cement mixer, hammer drill and so on.

What? I've been running gerbv for a number of years now and I don't do
the gcc thing. gerbv has a standard windows .exe download with self
install, no?

AFAICT it doesn't.

http://gerbv.geda-project.org/

Quote "Gerbv is targeted to run on Linux and other unix variants".

gerbv also has "object" view where you can click on a Gerber feature and
it will show you the code that produces it. At this point it is my
"goto" Gerber viewer.

Thanks to the gEDA guys!

It would have been my favorite as well, it was the only thing I liked
about the gEDA collection. And I liked Gerbv a lot because of the
transparent view. But, not enough to repair all this VM+Ubuntu stuff
after Ubuntu had self-destructed for some reason. Maybe because the
orange penguin looked a bit sickly

 

[Jasen Betts]

Frank Miles wrote:
On Tue, 19 Feb 2013 08:55:43 -0800, Joerg wrote:

John Devereux wrote:

Gerhard Hoffmann wrote:
[...]


(Your customer could write it out in 2009 format, probably not much
loss)

Maybe they could but I'll just use the Gerbers then. That is often
the
only useful format to work with. Unfortunately most of the Gerber
Viewers have no transparent layer view so I am constantly hiding and
unhiding planes.
gerbv does.


I know, but it will only run under Linux. Had it in a VM for a while
until Ubunutu in there self-destructed.


It says on
http://gerbv.geda-project.org/
that there's a windows version.

No idea how well this works, as I'm on Debian.


Mostly those require solid programmer know-how (which I don't have),
plus tools, cement mixer, hammer drill and so on.

What? I've been running gerbv for a number of years now and I don't do
the gcc thing. gerbv has a standard windows .exe download with self
install, no?

AFAICT it doesn't.

http://gerbv.geda-project.org/

try the download page:

http://sourceforge.net/projects/gerbv/files/gerbv/gerbv-2.6.0/

16 megabytes of something, that size is about right for gerbv ( + gtk +
cairo , its dependancies )

 

[rickman]

Frank Miles wrote:
On Tue, 19 Feb 2013 08:55:43 -0800, Joerg wrote:

John Devereux wrote:

Gerhard Hoffmann wrote:
[...]


(Your customer could write it out in 2009 format, probably not much
loss)

Maybe they could but I'll just use the Gerbers then. That is often
the
only useful format to work with. Unfortunately most of the Gerber
Viewers have no transparent layer view so I am constantly hiding and
unhiding planes.
gerbv does.


I know, but it will only run under Linux. Had it in a VM for a while
until Ubunutu in there self-destructed.


It says on
http://gerbv.geda-project.org/
that there's a windows version.

No idea how well this works, as I'm on Debian.


Mostly those require solid programmer know-how (which I don't have),
plus tools, cement mixer, hammer drill and so on.

What? I've been running gerbv for a number of years now and I don't do
the gcc thing. gerbv has a standard windows .exe download with self
install, no?

AFAICT it doesn't.

http://gerbv.geda-project.org/

Quote "Gerbv is targeted to run on Linux and other unix variants".

Oh, I must have installed Linux on my laptop when I was sleeping or
something. You *aren't* looking in the right place. I know, I know,
they don't update the page and in general don't care much for Windows
users, but the tool is good *and* it has fairly good support under
Windows now. I'm not online so I can't tell you where to find it, but
do some google searching and you will find a Windows installation file
in .exe form. My last copy is dated 6-2012. I can post it on my web
site if you want. It is 15 MB, rev 2.6.0.

It would have been my favorite as well, it was the only thing I liked
about the gEDA collection. And I liked Gerbv a lot because of the
transparent view. But, not enough to repair all this VM+Ubuntu stuff
after Ubuntu had self-destructed for some reason. Maybe because the
orange penguin looked a bit sickly

Get your head out of your butt and find the durn program. Ok?

 

[John Devereux]

On Tue, 19 Feb 2013 08:55:43 -0800, Joerg wrote:

John Devereux wrote:

Gerhard Hoffmann wrote:
[...]


(Your customer could write it out in 2009 format, probably not much
loss)

Maybe they could but I'll just use the Gerbers then. That is often the
only useful format to work with. Unfortunately most of the Gerber
Viewers have no transparent layer view so I am constantly hiding and
unhiding planes.
gerbv does.


I know, but it will only run under Linux. Had it in a VM for a while
until Ubunutu in there self-destructed.


It says on
http://gerbv.geda-project.org/
that there's a windows version.

No idea how well this works, as I'm on Debian.

Mostly those require solid programmer know-how (which I don't have),
plus tools, cement mixer, hammer drill and so on.

What? I've been running gerbv for a number of years now and I don't
do the gcc thing. gerbv has a standard windows .exe download with
self install, no?

gerbv also has "object" view where you can click on a Gerber feature
and it will show you the code that produces it. At this point it is
my "goto" Gerber viewer.

Haha, been using it 10 years and never knew that. You can delete things
too!

 

[Joerg]

On 2/19/2013 1:04 PM, Joerg wrote:
Frank Miles wrote:
On Tue, 19 Feb 2013 08:55:43 -0800, Joerg wrote:

John Devereux wrote:

Gerhard Hoffmann wrote:
[...]


(Your customer could write it out in 2009 format, probably not much
loss)

Maybe they could but I'll just use the Gerbers then. That is often
the
only useful format to work with. Unfortunately most of the Gerber
Viewers have no transparent layer view so I am constantly hiding and
unhiding planes.
gerbv does.


I know, but it will only run under Linux. Had it in a VM for a while
until Ubunutu in there self-destructed.

It says on
http://gerbv.geda-project.org/
that there's a windows version.

No idea how well this works, as I'm on Debian.

Mostly those require solid programmer know-how (which I don't have),
plus tools, cement mixer, hammer drill and so on.
What? I've been running gerbv for a number of years now and I don't do
the gcc thing. gerbv has a standard windows .exe download with self
install, no?

AFAICT it doesn't.

http://gerbv.geda-project.org/

try the download page:

http://sourceforge.net/projects/gerbv/files/gerbv/gerbv-2.6.0/

16 megabytes of something, that size is about right for gerbv ( + gtk +
cairo , its dependancies )

Thanks, Jasen. I downloaded it and when there is some time I'll install
and take a look. If it's anywhere as good as the Linux version two years
ago it'll be a keeper.