A few needed changes to Eagle

[Anonymous]

A couple of changes that should be done:

1)  Add an update feature. 

        Eagle already checks for a new version, and lets me know when one is available but then I have to download, install, and then uninstall the old version.  This is not always a problem but if I forget to move my custom ULPs or DRCs from the old to the new... UGH!   This brings me to the next idea...

2)  During install, have Eagle locate the ULP folder into the /user/documents/eagle  folder so that #1 does not become an issue.

3)  During install, have Eagle check for previous versions and if found, give the option to uninstall or just move content to new version.

4)  Have Eagle represented on the Autodesk Update background program.  I use a LOT of Autodesk products (I am a student and trying to learn as much as I can about CAD / Circuit design).  It would also be great if either the Autodesk Update program, or if you created another program that, could act as a quick launch i.e. have a small taskbar with icons for all Autodesk programs installed.  You could even provide ghost icons (greyed out) for those programs that are NOT installed but are available.  Some people are not even aware of all the products you offer and this would be a great way to show them what is available.

[samykamkar · Accepted solution]

A suggestion to solve moving the ULP/DRC/etc is to create your own directory as you suggest, eg ~/Documents/Eagle, and keep your custom files in there. From the Eagle Control Panel, go to Options->Directories and you can now add those, eg my ULP line is set to "$EAGLEDIR/ulp:$HOME/Documents/Eagle/ulp". This means it will look at Eagle's ULPs but also my custom dir.

These settings are stored in ~/.eaglerc so when you download a new version, you don't need to change anything as the new version will continue to read from ~/.eaglerc and respect your custom directories.

[Anonymous]

i do exactly the same thing as SamyKamkar with one distinct difference. I use git to keep track of changes to all my custom files, including schematics and boards. Works like a charm and i can setup my workspace on every machine that has an internet connection.A crash corrupted some files, no worries, i just do a quick roll-back and i'm back where a was at a previous push.

[edwin.robledo · Accepted solution]

Hi ddzahn,

These are all great idea and suggestion, and some of them will be considered, but I just wish to comment on the first one"

"1)  Add an update feature."

The main reason we continue to do new installs for every new version if mainly because many users have commented they prefer it this way. Many of their contracts stipulate that they need to continue to work on the exact same version until a newer one is certified or approved by the employer.  Pushing update into a current installation will actually jeopardize this. Its possible in the future we will make this an option. 

Thanks again for taking the time and express your ideas.

Best Regards,

Edwin