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Any way to start a lite-mode instance of PCB Designer in 17.2 048?

jayk314

Just upgraded to 048 and now when I start the PCB launcher I no longer see an option to start in lite mode.  This used to be super-useful for opening a second instance of PCB to view another design.  EMA confirmed this is an issue.  Does anyone know a workaround?

  • No workaround unless you go back to S046 (this was also the case is S047). There is a free viewer in <your_install_dir>\tools\bin\allegro_free_viewer.exe which you can use for viewing.

  • in reply to steve

    I have to say this really sucks.  The free viewer isn't very good - I can't even pan around a design with the arrow keys.

    Is there a way to install a lite mode version of PCB Editor along side the licensed version I have?  I tried fooling around with the CDS_LIC_FILE environment variable (per EMA Tech Note "Run OrCAD PCB Editor in Demo Mode when all Licenses are in Use") but that doesn't work (I get an error about unable to find 'allegro_smi_modules.txt').  I may just go back to S046 to get this ability back.

    What's the point of paying for upgrades when Cadence pulls this kind of crap?

  • in reply to jayk314

    I'd mention this to EMA (arrow keys) so they can ask Cadence to look at this in the free viewer, but for now using your licensed version go to Setup - User Preferences - UI - Input and enable designhdl_pan. This then allows you to use the middle mouse button (hold it down) to pan in the direction you move (which may help). Upgrades include all the new features that were waterfalled so if you have a Pro license you now get lots of new High Speed features such as Pin Delay, Z Axis, Dynamic Phase, Impedance and Coupling Visions Lead Editor DFx rules to name a few so a small price to pay.....

  • in reply to steve

    Steve, just a FYI

    S047 includes the Orcad Lite options. I had upgraded to S048 and noticed that the lite products got nixed, so uninstalled and went back to S047.

  • in reply to excellon1

    Do you know if you can open/edit designs created in S048 with S047?

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