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Re: Android App to view Eagle V6.xx files
Jorge_Garcia Sep 28, 2012 12:50 PM (in response to huby_2)This message isn't making it into the NNTP forums. I'm going to try copying the link here to see if it's an emoticon issue.
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Re: Android App to view Eagle V6.xx files
Lupo Sep 30, 2012 2:02 PM (in response to huby_2)It sounds interesting. Let us know your experience with the PRO version.
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Re: Android App to view Eagle V6.xx files
Lupo wrote:
It sounds interesting. Let us know your experience with the PRO version.
I bought the Pro version to try out on my Nexus 7, just for grins. Some of
my impressions:
- doesn't come with much documentation (a flaw of most Android apps).
- only works with V6 files - an error message pops up if you try to open
anything earlier.
- There are three initial icons: folder, layer, and a magnifying glass.
Nothing works until you click on the folder icon, and the folder icon then
opens to the download directory/folder of your device. So, the first order
of business is to download (V6) files to your device's download directory.
There doesn't seem to be a file dialog--just a view of the download
directory.
- Once you've downloaded a schematic and (matching) board file, clicking on
either will open the board/schematic. The magnifying glass doesn't do
search, it simply expands the sch/brd to full-screen. The standard
pinch/zoom works as expected. In fact, it appears you can zoom out all the
way to 4m square, with your schematic/board merely a few retina-pixels in
width by that point.
- A brd/sch icon appears which allows you to toggle between the board and
the schematic.
- The layer icon allows you to enable and disable the display of the various
layers of the schematic/board. The layer dialog seems 'bouncy' (ie doesn't
always register presses) but it does eventually work.
- Rotating the tablet between portrait/landscape view works fine.
- Board layers are not semi-transparent like they are in Eagle. Solid
ground/power fills will totally block the view of other layers. The layer
colors are fixed (odd red, even blue, power purple, gray for most others)
and I don't see any way to change them. Details like split planes and flash
don't appear on the power/ground layers. Pads, traces, vias and the like
appear to be drawn accurately.
- The schematic appears much like it does in Eagle. However, if the value
layer is on all values appear, even if you've deleted them from the
schematic in Eagle. For example, I typically delete the value from my test
points (things like >VERT_TESTPOINT) and just leave the name (TP100 for
example). In this viewer app all of those '>VERT_TESTPOINT' values re-
appear.
- A bigger issue with the schematic viewer is that it appears to only show
the first page. I downloaded a 5-page schematic, and I have no clue how to
scroll to the other four pages. There's no menu, and no amount of swishing,
pinching, squeezing or double-tapping pops up anything that gives a hint
that four more pages exist. The title block simply shows >SHEET where the
page number is supposed to be.
- The app never crashed, opens the files quickly, and is quite speedy. No
problems in that department. It seems to cache the schematic, as even after
I deleted the downloaded files it still shows page 1 of the schematic at
startup. Clicking on the sch/brd icon produces a 'File Not Found' error
however.
My overall impression is that it's an interesting novelty at the present
time, and might be useful for showing off simple two-layer boards. However,
the lack of proper representation of polygon-filled power/ground layers
makes it unsuitable for demonstrating more complex layouts. As for schematic
viewing, I find print-to-PDF works better, as the PDF viewer shows all 5
pages and allows searching. Hopefully a number of these issues will be
addressed in future updates. I can see this app being useful down the road
as an inexpensive way for those without Eagle Pro licenses to see and review
complex Eagle layouts.
I also feel this was money well spent insomuch as I am now more convinced
than ever in voting 'NEIN NEIN NEIN!' for CadSoft spending its limited
development resources on an Android/iOS version of Eagle at this time. I do
NOT want to do board layout on my tablet! At least not until they have
voice-input working flawlessly and I can simply speak my routing desires to
Eagle (and with an adjustable curse filter).
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Re: Android App to view Eagle V6.xx files
Lupo Oct 3, 2012 3:43 AM (in response to Guest )Thank you Bob for your detailed review. Let's say that this app is good enough for its price and it is more than a beta stage level as far as it could be still developed and features improved.
Lupo
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Re: Android App to view Eagle V6.xx files
fritzz Oct 4, 2012 1:48 AM (in response to Lupo)I agree that a full Eagle ios or Android app seems pointless.
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Re: Android App to view Eagle V6.xx files
Lupo Oct 4, 2012 5:47 AM (in response to fritzz)In my opinion there are many features that have to be implemented before think to a tablet version.
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Re: Android App to view Eagle V6.xx files
In article <1421278463.6851349347708600.JavaMail.jive@flcspu-csapp-
01.premierfarnell.com>, noreply-120087@element14.com says...
In my opinion there are many features that have to be implemented before think to a tablet version.
I'm often amazed at what people are willing to do on a public network
known to be impossible to secure.
Connecting hardware design systems to the internet is potentialy
physically dangerous to the designer and every user of equipment
designed by them.
As for using the client server model built into tablets? To think
people allow banks to put their details online is just hillarious.
It should be a criminal offence to connect design software to public
networks.
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I found a nice app to view Eagle files version 6.xx on my Android Galaxy Tab 2.
Both, boards and schematic files can be viewed in a very good quality!
The link to the free version.
Unfortunately I can only open demo files, so I will buy the pro version. It is it worth!!!