footprint silkscreen

[none111]

Using Ultiboard 10.1:

Problem: I cannot get text to show up on the Silkscreen Bottom layer when my custom footprint (based on a simple 1x8 header) is placed on a board.

Procedure:

1. Copy simple 1x8 header (HEADER1X8) to user database.

2. Edit in Footprint Edit Mode to change 3D info and Silkscreen Top outline and...

3. Add pin annotations on Silkscreen Bottom Layer,

(This was a very buggy process, many changes not seeming to be saved properly. It was best done by manually adding TEXT attributes to the footprint rather than using "Place a Text" on the Silkscreen Bottom layer).

4. Save component.

5. Add component to board.

Notice that nothing on the Silkscreen Bottom Layer shows up OR occasionally shows up incorrectly (wrong text or missing text items).

Repeat procedure from scratch with similar results.

Is this a known bug/featurette or should you only expect to see legend on the bottom if the component is placed on the Copper Bottom layer?

All thoughts gratefully received.

Bob.

[stressed_user]

Bob,

When I want to place a component on the bottom side, I use the standard 'top' side part, 

Then select the part, right click on that part, and in properties / tab position / board side:  just select 'bottom' instead of 'top'

then your part will be on the bottom, texts mirrored automatically etc... no work...

Stressed user

[none111]

Thanks for that stressed user.  Unfortunately I need silk screen outlines and text on both top and bottom for this part.

Bob.

[Alex.T]

Hi Bob,

I just tested your procedure in Ultiboard 11.0 and I everything worked fine, so I'm just going to install Ultiboard 10.1 to see if I can infer the same behaviour.

Regards,

[Alex.T]

Hi none111,

I've attempted the test you outlined regarding the Silkscreen Bottom layer multiple times and could not replicate the issue. This was also on a clean installation of Ultiboard 10.1 so I'm unsure as to why you're experiencing this issue. As of recent, there have been no Corrective Action Requests reported regarding this problem.

I've attached the correct, working file that I generated from your instructions. Perhaps you could load this on your computer at home to see whether or not the same error occurs. This would help us understand whether the problem is in the file you're generating or the development environment. However, if I have implemented your replication instructions wrongly please correct me!

I'd reccommend that for now you apply this free Ultiboard patch Ultiboard 10.1.1 to see if this makes any difference; although as this hasn't been reported as a CAR the chances of this are unlikely. There could be a chance that your installation may have been corrupted, so in the worst case scenario a reinstall of Ultiboard may fix this peculiar error.

Best regards,

[none111]

Thank you very much Alex, with your file I've solved the problem now (without applying the patch) :

The file you sent me worked fine so...

1. I saved the your part to the database.

2. Placed the part on a clean design.

3. Edited the part in place.

4. Added a Text "1" on the Silkscreen Bottom layer. (I want the header pins numbered on top and bottom silks)

5. Pressed Save toolbar button.

6. Attempted to exit "In Place Edit" ...

Failed to create a part from the current object(s).

Please look in the DRC tab for more details.

Do you want to exit the In-Place Editor anyway and discard your changes?

the DRC tab said:

Attribute: could not be added to the part. Please make sure that the tag is unique or when multiple instances are allowed for this tag, make sure the value is unique. Double click this line to jump to the attribute. (Sidenote: Doubleclicking the line just highlights the part, not the offending text attribute)

I think in step 4 above it silently added an attribute with a Tag of TEXT and Value of 1 which was not unique (it already existed in the Silkscreen Top). This should have been flagged immediately.

To solve this I exited "In Place Edit" by discarding changes and added the attributes directly on the part's attributes page with unique tags.

Everything worked as expected from then on (save part to database, place part on new board , preview in place component dialog

etc.).

I then went back and edited the parts which gave me problems originally and they work fine too now; I'm a happy chappy.

Thanks again Alex.

Bob