Revision as of 17:11, 6 May 2015

Altium makes a quasi affordable feature rich electronic design tool. Unfortunately, IMHO, their obsession with being everything has resulted in a mishmash of bugs, features, and broken workflows.

I'm 'forced' to write this here, as apparently one needs to have 'points' to post bugs / features requests to Altium, and I assume that getting points means that you've provided the best answer to others seeking help. Unfortunately, this approach, while limiting SPAM and newb nonsense, also means that only the people that have lived through the horrendous problems of the program can offer suggestions.

The other approach would be to join the twitter community Why Altium Sucks, but Twitter requires a phone number before allowing account creation.

Proper Design Paradigm

Software is art. It should exist in many layers providing new meaning at each layer. For a program like DX Designer, an experienced circuit designer within very short time should be to start using the tool. With use, they'll be exposed to a greater set of complexity and capabilities.

List of bugs and stupid UI behavior

SYSTEM

SLOW!

The tool is so slow. Click on something and it takes perceptible time; move a room - it takes a second or so to perform some after move book keeping. Import the full set of components (~150) from SCH to PCB, that ECO can take close to 60 seconds. For a while I assumed it was necessary - but now running a 3rd party auto router - working with the same PCB - things appear to be instantaneous, like these should be when executing ~3 billion instructions per second and memory copies in excess of GB per second.

hierarchical schematic with duplicate net name error

 https://forum.live.altium.com/#posts/210179/590936

consistency!

The way one does something should not depend on what the item is. It should also be consistent with the dominate paradigm for the OS its running under (Windows).

--Example : the way one enters sheet symbols is great. but one should be able to do the same with components and device sheets. if the item isn't open, then it should be automatically opened.

--Example: The HelpURL. Pressing F1 open's Altium Tech help in my systems default browser. Pressing F1 in a way that accesses a component HelpURL opens within Altium using IE.

--Example : File open dialog for many items includes favorites - however when EMBED STEP Model from PCB Library - a different dialog is used.

help is nearly always useless

Have to love help that doesn't help. A well designed GUI doesn't require help to tell you to click X to make X happen. However, help that explains what X is - is valuable.

Not the worst, but an example - I'm not sure what the difference between a component and a component body is. Here is the help one gets:

[1]

I might just have to give into twitter (and give a phone #) to get access to https://twitter.com/whyaltiumsucks

SCHEMATIC

Rotating group of components results in Netlabel upside down. Feature?

UPDATE FROM LIBRARY

Not sure what is going in here. I update from library, everything is successful. Then if I do it again - it is as if nothing was done the first time. I suspect I've edited some of the properties in these components (like adding a partnumber, or a value in a resistor) and its detecting these differences. If the case, the of course this control is next to useless if wants to know what is actual going to be done / or was done.

PINS ON TOP OF ONE ANOTHER SELL CONNECT

As the use of "1,2,3" as a designator string for a pin only makes the first connection in the PCB; the alternative approach is to place multiple pins at the same location. However, when doing this, and the component has no nets connected to it - the pins self connect.

SCH LIBRARY

Autoscrolling in schematic library

Scroll rate appears to be constant sheet velocity (MM/sec) where as it needs to be constant screen velocity (pixels per second). When zoomed in, scrolling is far to fast.
In the preferences I located a setting, might not work in the library

Multiple PCB pads per schematic pin

"That would be too easy" http://www.eevblog.com/forum/altium/assign-one-pin-to-multiple-pads/msg90253/#msg90253

PCB LIBRARY

-select pads in 2d view, switch to 3d view and back, pads are deselected

PCB

EXPORT DESIGN RULES

Export design rules (Consistency) - (12 mins into my work this morning - I'm swearing)

When reviewing PCB design rules, its great that the context menu is contextual and has an export option. However, it seems broken. Right clicking only brings up the export option when within the pane with the tree display of the rules (not the other pane). There a right click is absolutely associated with a specific rule. However, when one selects export, there is a new dialog with ALL of the tree structure from the original pane. Whats worse, is that the names in this pane are in some cases different than in the original tree (where you could view and make sure you had the correct thing.) In otherwords, I selected a specific rule set to export, but instead I get to reselect the rule but in a way where I can't be sure what I'm doing. I really wish that Twitter feed 'Altium sucks' was active.

- It just goes on.... You can only export 1 rule class at a time (there are 50 to 100)
- In the save file dialog - the 'Save' button is highlight, but after typing the filename and pressing return, it

appears that cancel is selected.

- Working in metric units - the export file is in 'English' units
- Export file is ASCII-but is basically only machine readable

DIALOG BOXES THAT REVERT

Dialog boxes that revert to some default view every time re-opened. Of course,like my DOS CAD tool, these windows are blocking - but in this case unnecessarily. Specifically, Object Class Explorer (a tree view of lots of items), opens in a way that is unrelated to what is selected on the screen, or what was done upon the last time it was used. For example, collapse the trees so that I can see the big picture, but upon reopen, the trees are all expanded and the view is in the center of the very long list.

AUTO ROUTE MESSAGE PANEL

Autoroute - operational / completion status is unclear. The message panel should include a better description **Start routing (0 of 340 connections) -> Start routing NET CLASS POWER_HIGH (0 of 70 connections) The NET class POWER_HIGH has 70 connections, not 340.
- Finsished routing with 1 contetion Faliled to complete 290 connection --> (It didn't fail to complete, it didn't try to complete - you can't fail without trying!) Finished routing NET CLASS POWER_HIGH with 1 contention. Boa(WHICH ONE? HOW DO I KNOW WHAT ISN'T COMPELTED).
- While attempting to route a NET CLASS that contains a single NET GND (which has a plane) connection - nothing seems to happen. Its unclear from the message dialog if it is finished, still busy or stuck. (The status message has a time that is not being update) Even with a plane connection - there is still plenty of autorouting to perform! I want it done which is why I select it!
- Turns out there is a bug here - after GND net class starts the NET CLASS dialog box returns before the message box displays the status that it is complete. Clicking cancel on the message box causes complete to appear in the message box.

REFDES SIZE

The REFDES text is too large. I've changed the default string size in the global preferences file, but it has no effect. When creating the library component, there is no refdes string to place or edit. This one may just be I don't know how to fix it - but OTOH - its should be straight forward.

AUTOROUTER

Don't bother unless its very basic. Then just do it by hand. Otherwise use a real auto router. Maybe just use a CAD that has a real auto router built in.

TOOLS UPDATE FROM LIBRARY STUPIDITY

Its hard to know what is going on here. There are a bunch of mismatches but comparison window is either showing everything or nothing. I suspect that the component is on the bottom side (where as in the library its on the top side). In the side panel, it states NO PCB Primitives causing differences.

I also moved a component from one library to another. Both libraries are usable by the PCB tool. However the difference tool simply states the footprint not found. Guess I get to delete the component and add it back. Welcome to 1992 - of course my old to it would take a less than 10 seconds.

ORIG

Workspace panel? Item Grouping

- need to be able to select which items are grouped on the task bar. - need to have libaries open (so I can edit them!) but this is rare compared to editing schematics. - right clicking could include ungroup group with similar - group with items for this list add to group

Contxt Menus:

-in windows, right click an item is to open its context menu. Right clicking on item in altium however, may include some context related items, but most its just another menubar. -right click on a component and the 2nd and 3rd options have absolutely no relationship to a component. -right click on a the 'sheet' including its title block brings up the same menu as RC on a component. But in this case, nothing seems relevant. At least changing the sheet size could be the first option, and maybe 'design document options' would be another choice. -interestingly right clicking on a schematic page panel tab only brings up context items

non modal dialogs.

-In the past year, stop using Tango DOS as my primary design tool (it didn't suck). Not surprisingly, when I performed an action (compiled design, view error report, etc), it blocked everything else. Now 23 years later, I find Altium does the same thing!

WINDOW AUTO RAISE / HIDE

extra windows (non-dialog) shouldn't pop to the top on selection of

another altium window. Think of how most other Windows application deal with multi-windows. I have the message panel open and when I need to see it, I can bring it to the top. I use the 2nd monitor for transcrabing datasheets into altium which the message box is always in the way. these extra windows also seem to disappear when altium looses focus. Let me control the behaivor of the windows. Wow it is so annyoing - I can't look at the message window and work in another application.

COMPILING MESSAGE PANEL

after compiling project, messages are not sorted (by class) even though

there is an indicator stating that it is.

the message in the message window is ordered such that it makes visual

grouping / sorting impossible For example message wanring where an IO pin has multiple types starts with the problem symbol, whereas many other message start with a higher level description of the problem 'nets wire', 'component'

PCB LIST PANEL

PCBLIST - selecting all Solder Mask Override and then clicking check

box deselcts. Inconsistent behavior. Instead space has to be used.

FOOTPRINT WIZZARD

footprint wizzard - silkscreen width is reset to default where as other

parameters keep their last used value.

IMPORT DESIGN CHANGES FROM

PCB - import design changes from .... - report changes - the complete

package name is not displayed (or printed). Should be wrapped or something. Actually one shouldn't have to print it - but the windows are modal!

OTHER

SCH - compile design - complains of many duplicate designators

-go to reset duplicate designators, nothing found

PCB - design with device sheets and duplicate designators -

design import the rooms overlap and have components outside them seems like the only way to correct the duplicates is to bring them into PCB and then re-annotate

SCH LIB

- how to adjust default location of refdes, comment, etc - position of parameters changes between symbol editor and placement on sheet

PCB - copy paste line doesn't make sense.

the paste should have the same positional relationship with cursor as the selection. Instead, it seems to paste at the same location as the selection with a cursor offset

PCB - selection should be smart. If selecting a small object within a

large object - use the small object. Or select the item where at least 1 axis is mostly precisely at the center. Use modifier to allow list of choices

Project window - autoscrolling not reliable when moving items from free

documents to specific project

When editing sheet symbols much more automatic correction between

symbol could be done. For example, when ports are linked - if properties are changed in 1 place, it should change in the other.

CRASH REPORTS

Monkey can crash the program

attempting to rotate component quickly w/Incorrect key stroke (Ctrl R?) component was pasted several times? attempted to stop with ESC a few times? then the info box comes up.

In other words, a monkey or an infant can crash this $12K program in a few millisconds.

I'm a Altium Novice. What do I know?

Not really an Novice anymore. I've been using it on an off for 2 years and mostly non-stop for the past 6 months.

I've also been a circuit designer for 30+ years - using CAD for 23 years.

In 1985 as a kid, I started to write my own PCB layout tool. Was able to get something somewhat useful, but making circuit boards from printer was nearly impossible. One needs to create a transparency (film) with high contrast, add photo resist to a copper board, expose it. It was a very involved process that I could never get right. Then later in the early 90s I flirted with Tango and PADs which was mostly a success since the University could make the films and boards for me.

As some sort of grad student @ The Institute, I started using Viewlogic in the Fall of 1994 on a Sun Workstation. That was a wasted semester and my introduction to expensive software that sucked. A colleague was making quick progress with Tango (DOS) so over the Winter Break I purchased a parallel port emulator to run the program and in few days sent out the first prototype of a DSP based color vision system that at least changed my world.

I made great designs with Tango DOS for the next 20 years. The tool is FAST, simple, rarely crashes, has a reasonable autorouter. I was able to extend it in many ways to 'multitask' and add modern features. Unfortunately, I'm was the butt of many jokes WRT my CAD tool and may be the last person in the Affluent parts of the world using it. Most have switched to bloated programs that have pretty graphics that otherwise drain their souls and lives of valuable time. I know - I've evaluated many of them.

I am now one of these people spending time swearing at this grab bag of features and bugs. I'm writing this because the only outlet of the frequent crashs is within the "please provide any additional comments" section of the crash report. Altium might be receiving several million of these an hour, so they're probably ignored. (I will have to say, on the plus side, a 'crash' actually leaves the program running and in a seemingly stable state with data intact. I guess its a lot easier to wrap the whole program in a try except block than to figure out whats going on - I know I've done this too!)

If you hate it so much

If you hate it so much, why do you keep using it? Why write this?

I've paid alot of money and expect it to be usableable. The cost of the software is likely more than I've spend on ALL SOFTWARE in my entire life.
I've invested a very large amount of time learning the tool and creating projects. There's no way to recover that part of my life. (Of course this is the good money after bad argument.)
I have projects within the tool and no time to relearn a new tool (that may also suck) and the projects need to be completed.
Hopefully, others can learn from my mistakes.

@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 ==SYSTEM==
+===SLOW!===
+The tool is so slow.  Click on something and it takes perceptible time;  move a room - it takes a second or so to perform some after move book keeping. Import the full set of components (~150) from SCH to PCB, that ECO can take close to 60 seconds.  For a while I assumed it was necessary - but now running a 3rd party auto router - working with the same PCB - things appear to be instantaneous, like these should be when executing ~3 billion instructions per second and memory copies in excess of GB per second.
 ===hierarchical schematic with duplicate net name error===
    https://forum.live.altium.com/#posts/210179/590936

Difference between revisions of "Altium needs to fix their UI and bugs"