[Gerbv-devel] Usage report / feature requests

[Clemens K. <cle...@gm...>]

Hi There!

Well, I am new on this list.
I have been using gerbv 2.6.1 now for a week, so it's time to
give you some feedback.

I just completed a big merge job with gerbv on Linux to
panelize my PCB data. After some head-scratching and tweaking I
was able to merge 6 boards with 6 copper layers each (Gerber)
+ thru & partial vias (Excellon) + 6 CAM Layers (Gerber) which
were created with Mentor PADS. Approx. 119 Layers were merged down
to 20 layers to build up a panel successfully.

A big THANK YOU to the developers!
I am really amazed about the capability of this tool.

Cairo's excelent High Quality view looks great but even on
an 8-core i7 it takes several tens of seconds to refresh the
screen when all layers are on.

However, with so much data, to optimize the workflow became
quite a challenge and in the end I lost lots of time because
of a simple bug or missing feature:

The translation data of a layer simply doesn't get saved to
the project file. Whenever I would reload the project I would
have to rearrange the offset of about 80..100 layers in my case.


Well, and here is a wish-list for gerbv from my point of view:

It would be great to permanently store a default configuration
of gerbv in i.e. ~/.config/gerbv/gerbv.conf or in an otherwise
empty project file. This should include the Units (i.e. all in mm),
the Excellon import Data (when automatic Mode fails).
Maybe a page frame (some template gerber data loaded from file)
(The configure time ---enable-unit-mm would then be redundant.)

Excellon export (merge export) should be also able to write the data in
metric units (could avoid accumulating rounding errors in some cases).

A group selection of layers before Modify Orientation (set Rotation/Offset)
could save lots of clicks any kbhits when multiple layers need to get
moved for the panel.

There are other minor issues with my tools drill data and for gerbv
unknown Mxx codes (maybe PADS specific) for a replay of drill coordinates
with offsets, but there are workarounds available.

Thank you so far for that great tool!

Clemens

-- 
Fa. Dipl.-Ing. Clemens Koller
Embeon Systemdesign und Elektronik
Daiserstr. 16
81371 Muenchen
http://www.embeon.de
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