Initial PCB view after schematic design has many components on top of each other

[davidperrenoud]

From SharmanJF on July 15, 2013 01:15:12

What steps will reproduce the problem? 1.Do a complex design, e.g. lots of small components like decoupling capacitors
2. See the resulting birdsnest in PCB view. Many components are on top of each other. Ratsnest hotspots where this is happening. 3. Attach your sketch file and/or custom part files to the bug report. What is the expected output? Spread out components so they can be quickly re-organised.
What do you see instead? Very crowded hotspots.

What version of Fritzing are you using? 0.8b On what operating system? Windows 7 Professional 64-bit. Please provide any additional information below.

Original issue: http://code.google.com/p/fritzing/issues/detail?id=2666

[davidperrenoud]

From irasc...@gmail.com on July 15, 2013 07:11:13

There is a simple "best fit" algorithm running in pcb view (which seems buggy). Check why this functionality is not working in schematic view.

Status: Accepted
Owner: irasc...@gmail.com
Labels: -Type-Defect Type-Enhancement

[davidperrenoud]

From bitsybof...@gmail.com on July 16, 2013 06:01:04

What I've thought would be quite nice is if you could say "arrange all the parts in PCB view to be in the same placing that they are in schematic view, except for parts I have [locked/moved manually/have traces connected]".

It wouldn't have to be anywhere close to exact or workable as a final placement, it wouldn't even have to place on the PCB area itself just a direct placement in the view at the same position and rotation corresponding to the schematic view, but it would provide a very good logical starting point for laying out your PCB and almost certainly avoid the "parts stacked on top of each other" problem.

[davidperrenoud]

From SharmanJF on July 16, 2013 15:06:03

I agree with your suggestion of words - it would make a lot of sense to do what you say, particularly as the components (including decoupling capacitors) will be related and need to be positioned in the same area.
I would also say that the breadboard view would benefit from a similar approach - not that the breadboard suits my purpose and so I don't use it.

[davidperrenoud]

From irasc...@gmail.com on January 04, 2014 20:37:37

Issue 2853 has been merged into this issue.

[failiz]

duplicate of #188, which we could not reproduce. Close