Enhanced Back Annotation

Back-annotation has been significantly improved in CADSTAR 9.0, it now allows back-annotation to be performed directly from a PCB file rather than using a RINF file. The items that can now be back annotated are:

Component - Add
Component - Delete
Component - Rename
Component - Change Part Allocation
Component Attributes - Add/Modify
Net - Add
Net - Rename
Net - Merge
Net - Split
Net Attributes - Add/Modify
Node on Net - Add
Node on Net - Delete
Pin Attributes - Add/Modify

Rather than just bringing up a dialog allowing selection of a RINF file, selecting back-annotation now brings up a dialog containing a number of options.

The Add new symbols on sheet section of the dialog allows the selection of which sheet of the schematic any new components will be added to, existing components should not be affected only new components that have been added to the PCB will use this setting.

Items that are no longer used once the back-annotation has been performed can be automatically removed, the dialog has options allowing the selection of which types of items will be removed and which will remain even if they are currently unused.

RINF files can still be used to perform a first pass of Back Annotation, this allows existing RINF files to be used in CADSTAR 9.0 and will usually provide more favourable results.