Software
DIY Layout Creator 2.x
Multi-platform Java version of well know DIYLC. Note that files created with version 1.x cannot be opened with this version.
DIY Layout Creator 1.x
This piece of software is great utility for everyone who draws board layouts, either for PCB, Perfboard or Stripboard. It has simple yet very effective interface which makes job much easier. Placing a component on board takes only 2-3 mouse clicks! You need to click on source and destination hole and program will place component between them. Placing polarized components is the same, but then you need to take care about hole order because program takes source hole for positive and destination hole for negative side. It’s similar with IC: pin 1 goes in source hole and last pin goes to destination hole. When working with PCB layouts you can set width of each trace and solder pad! Also, there’s “Print PnP” which gives printout ready for transfer on blank board (laser printer required).
Download version 1.x
Download complete layout collection for version 1.x
Note: files created in 1.x versions can not be opened in 2.x version. I’m working on the brand new version that should take care of that.
DIY Layout Creator 2.x appears to be broken.
? ? ?
Just tried it and it worked. Please try again.
Nice program. Using it under Linux right now. Wondering how to add components to the library because as a radio enthusiast I need things like coils, trimmer capacitors and so on.
It’s not very easy, but you could try to play with xml files in library folder. Take one that looks the closest to the thing you need, duplicate the file and edit it using the text editor. App will install the new component automatically
Cheers
Very Nice. Thank you very much!
Hi, I’ve tried tu use DIY 2.x with Ubuntu 9.10, but i can’t see the icon in the Library Frame.
How I can Fix it?
Thanks
Hi Bane,
Just spent quite awhile playing with DIY 2.x beta. In fact, did a fairly ambitious layout with it, and was quite impressed.. And then was heartbroken to find that (at least on MacOS X) it apparently won’t export an image (never writes the file), and the print preview shows only an empty page (haven’t tried on a printer, but assume nothing there either, as printing to pdf comes up blank). Is this a known problem? I’d really like to be able to print/use my nice new layout!
Other bugs worth reporting….it won’t remember the layout size (or cm or inch mode) between saves. It reverts to standard. Strangely, the undo feature will also always undo the layout size back to default as well as undoing the last action. A feature request would be to make it understand the ” symbol as inches in the dialogues.
Many thanks,
Paul
Sorry to hear about that. I’m aware of size issues and undo issues, but not printing and export. If it’s any consolation I could try to export your layout to image and send it back to you. New version of DIYLC is under development from the scratch and those annoyances will be fixed.
Best regards,
Bancika
Bane,
Thanks for the offer – but I was able to get very satisfactory results from using the MacOS X screen capture as PNG, then into GIMP for scaling and printing. So all is well, and I’m drilling and soldering my PCB today!
I’m really looking forward to the new version, let us know on AX84 when it’s ready for testing! One more comment while its on my mind- in inches mode, grid divisions should be in eighths or sixteenths instead of tenths…
Thanks again for the great software, it saved a LOT of time relative to doing this in Canvas or Illustrator.
Cheers,
Paul
Thanks for the comments Paul. The first two versions were mostly oriented towards pedal builders, thus .1″ grid that matches perf and vero board hole spacing. I wanted the new version to be friendlier to amp builders. The idea to make grid spacing configurable sounds great. Thanks!
Bane
I’m glad there is a multi-platform version to use under Debian (multi language would be great
)
Arg, can’t launch it
Sorry for the multiple posts, but it may be interesting for Lenny users to konw that to excecute jar files, they can install “jarwrapper” package.
When i like its ergonomic design. very handy andshaveso excellent.
Hey, thanks for writing this software. I use Eagle CAD for PC boards, but I’m dyslexic when trying to lay out perf boards. I just can’t visualize them
In mac if you are having trouble exporting you can always cmd/shift/4 and select the area you want to screenshot and bullseye the layout and it saves a screenshot of your selected area. Just a quick workaround
Thanks for the tip, I know nothing about macs
Cheers
Hi Bancika.
I have just drawn a Layout using your excellent Layout Creator, but used version 1 (Windows only) Want to upload the layout to Project Library but it sends me to your old Storm Software address.
I don’t want to upgrade to the Java version.(Old timer, he he)
Any suggestions? Thanks a lot for your great work.
It was amazing to see it being born step by step and your interaction with the masses.
JMFahey (Argentina)
Hi,
there’s no upload mechanism on the new site so it’s ok to use the old one. I’ll update the zip file periodically with new layouts. The new java version will have a library on it’s own.
Cheers,
Bane
Hi this my 1st time installing diy layout creator v1.x . after installing it, i open and it pop a window saying no active document. when click “ok” it still keep popping up, this will not allow me to use the program with this matter. Is there any wrong?
Hi, try to run the app in compatibility mode. Right click on the EXE file -> Properties -> Compatibility -> choose windows XP or 98.
That should solve the problem.
Cheers,
Bane
Hi bancika, thanks for replt earlier. Well the problem still persist. i tried both the compatibility mode above and all the rest. Still no luck. Btw im using windows vista home premium. Nt sure whether thats the problem. Any other method that i could try?
It has to do with compatibility with Vista. I wrote DIYLC 1 long before Vista was released. If you’re not after old layouts from the gallery you could try Java version. It works on any machine with Java installed.
Cheers
i was wondering if in the new version you are working on if there was a way to make it so that if you click and drag a trace it doesnt drag the whole trace but just that point and stretches/angles the trace. if that makes sense.
you mean break down a trace in two instead of moving it? I think that it wouldn’t be a good idea to always work like that because you wouldn’t be able move traces at all. It may be useful to have an option that does it on demand, either Ctrl key or something like that.
Cheers
yeah as an option, like being able to put angles on a trace while the components are locked to the solder points. then you could lay something out like a schematic taking up lots of space, then sort of pull it and fold it together and angle the traces to make it smaller and neater.
hope this makes sense i am terrible at explaining stuff.
Nice work Bancika! Version 1 was painfully slow- 1 second between clicks?! Version 2 is much better. Would be nice to have parts for non-insulated and Cliff jacks, DC sockets and battery connectors, diodes and LEDs too (I can only find schematic symbols for diodes presently…)
M