April 2008

LinkCAD Release 5.5

• Added polygon de-embedding tool to automatically create "holes" from overlapping areas
• Added new command-line option LcSelectTopCell to automatically select a top cell. Top cells may now be selected in batch conversion mode.
• Added new command-line option LcApplyLayerMap to automatically apply a layer map. Layer maps may now be used in batch conversion mode.
• New right-click menu in the layer list lets you merge selected layers.
• The new EDIT Option lets you select entities in a cell and then unite, subtract or intersect them. Currently, only entities in the current main cell can be edited. To make the cell the current main cell, click on its icon () in the cell tree. Then select a few entities in the Viewer pane and execute the desired operation from the Edit menu. New features in LinkCAD 5.4:
• Polygons can now be exported as DXF REGION entities. Holes in re-entrant polygons are automatically detected and converted to true holes in the exported REGIONs.
• The new experimental ACIS SAT import extracts plane surfaces from 3D models in this format. New features in LinkCAD 5.3:
• A new raster image import filter let's you import image files in various formats (GIF, JPEG, TIFF, ...). The perfect tool to place your company logo onto a wafer or a PCB ! New features in LinkCAD 5.2:
• Most Tools commands are available in batch mode. RS-274X (Gerber) Import now fully supports aperture macros.
• Gerber now supports multiple import files for a composite output file. Just use the Ctrl or Shift key with the left mouse button to select the files.
• Added new command-line option LcSelectTopCell to automatically select a top cell. Top cells may now be selected in batch conversion mode.
• Added new command-line option LcApplyLayerMap to automatically apply a layer map. Layer maps may now be used in batch conversion mode.
• New right-click menu in the layer list lets you merge selected layers.
• The new EDIT Option lets you select entities in a cell and then unite, subtract or intersect them. Currently, only entities in the current main cell can be edited. To make the cell the current main cell, click on its icon in the cell tree. Then select a few entities in the Viewer pane and execute the desired operation from the Edit menu.
• Polygons can now be exported as DXF REGION entities. Holes in re-entrant polygons are automatically detected and converted to true holes in the exported REGIONs.
• The new experimental ACIS SAT import extracts plane surfaces from 3D models in this format.
• A new raster image import filter let's you import image files in various formats (GIF, JPEG, BMP, TIFF, ...). The perfect tool to place your company logo onto a wafer or a PCB !
• Most Tools commands are available in batch mode.
• RS-274X (Gerber) Import now fully supports aperture macros.
• Added a new Tool to join adjacent wires. This removes glitches in overlapping segments.
• LinkCAD now reads DXF REGION entities. Even REGIONs with holes are automatically converted to the corresponding polygon. LinkCAD's
• Postscript import has been improved and now supports eofilled subpaths (polygons with holes). LinkCAD also optionally simulates holes generated by overprinting with white drawing objects.
• The stability of the various Tools commands has been improved.
• We added a new "Merge Overlapping Polygons" command to the Tools menu. Use this tool to clean up overlapping areas in your drawing:
• Right-click on a cell in the "cell tree", and select "Explode cell and child cells" to selectively flatten part of your drawing.
• The Viewer has been improved to draw object contours in the filled drawing mode.