FreePCB User Guide

Version 1.2

Allan Wright

August 14, 2005

1. Introduction

FreePCB is a free, open-source PCB layout editor for Windows, that I starting writing because I was unhappy with currently available free or low-cost PCB editors. The ones that I tried were either crippled by pin and layer limits, or buggy and difficult to use. I finally decided that any idiot could write a better one, and I was just the idiot to do it!

This user guide contains chapters on the PCB design process and the FreePCB user interface, and a tutorial which takes the user through the process of creating a PCB from a schematic and a netlist file. In the process it describes all of the main features of FreePCB.

Currently, FreePCB runs only on Windows. The source code is copyrighted but released under the GNU General Public License (version 2 or later). The terms of the license are available here.

My email address is:

Thanks for trying FreePCB.

1.1 What's new in version 1.2

Here are some of the new features that have been added since version 1.0:

- When routing with a ratline, you can terminate the trace on any pin in the net by routing to the pin. You could already do this with stub traces.

- View->Show part... lets you select a part in the project by reference designator, then centers the window on it.

- Footprints can now contain silkscreen text

- Oval, octagonal and rounded-rectangle pads are supported.

- The function-key and layer-list menus are now "clickable"

- Some of the right-click menus have been expanded.

- Footprints can now contain SMT pads on both sides of the board. This feature was added mainly for edge connectors.

- Options have been added to File->Import Netlist, to allow choices in how to handle parts, footprints and nets that already exist in the project.

- The "recent files" list now works properly.

- You can swap connections to pins by selecting one pin, holding down the "s" key, and then selecting the other pin.

- You can create cutouts in the solder mask layers (for example, to eliminate "dams" of solder mask between the fingers of an edge connector).

- A Check connectivity tool has been added to the Tools menu. Also, the Design Rule Checker can flag connectivity errors.

- Cutouts can be added to copper fill areas.

- A Move Origin tool has been added to the Tools menu.

- An entire trace can be highlighted by holding down the "t" key and clicking on a segment or vertex. An entire net can be highlighted by holding down the "n" key and clicking on a segment, vertex or pin.

- A "Change layer" function has been added when segments or traces are selected.

- When you change the trace width of nets in the Project->Nets... dialog, you can apply the new width to existing traces.

- Through-hole pads are now drawn on each copper layer. The "through-hole" layer has been replaced with a "drilled hole" layer.

- Most items can be moved with the arrow keys.

- You can select a group of items (such as parts, traces, copper areas, etc.) by drawing a rectangle with the mouse. Then the entire group can be moved with the mouse or arrow keys.

- Options have been added to the File->Generate CAM files... dialog, so you can choose whether to use thermal reliefs on pads and vias, and whether to create openings in the solder mask over via pads.

- A "Selection mask" menu has been added, so you can control the types of items that can be selected with the mouse.

- When moving items, the relative distance is shown in the status bar.

- In the Help menu, there is an item that shows a list of keyboard shortcuts.

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