Version control for schematics/PCB?

[larsVMB3B]

Hi!

I have have two questions somewhat related:

1. Is there a way to manage a more advanced version control for schematics/PCB designs? I was thinking of something similar to "branch-out-version-control" for software development, i.e. at a specific version you branch out a a new version tree in one or several directions?
2. Is there a way to "hide" or mark a set of components in a schematic to NOT being projected to the PCB-design? Reason: in a prototyping phase you might want to be able to turn-on/off certain block of componentns from one PCB iteration to the next.

Thanks in advance

[jorge_garcia]

Hi @larsVMB3B,

I hope you're doing well. 1 is currently not possible like it would be in software development, though you can manually do it.

2 Can kind of be done using assembly variants, in general Fusion Electronics follows the idea of consistency between the board and schematic so there's never going to be a situation where inconsistency between them is desirable.

Assembly variants allows you to keep the part in the schematic but not have it populated on the board.

Let me know if there's anything else I can do for you.

Best Regards,

[larsVMB3B]

Thanks Jorge,

1. OK.

2. I did a quick search on YouTube but could'nt find any video showing how this would work, is there any instructions or video available?

Thanks

[jorge_garcia · Accepted solution]

Hi @larsVMB3B,

I hope you're doing well. You'll find the assembly variants command in the schematic  in this area of the Document tab

You create a new variant and then select what components you want to populate or not. By default everything is populated. You can switch between variants by going to the electronics command line and typing VARIANT 'VARIANT_NAME' you can reset to the default variant by typing VARIANT '' (two single quotes).

Let me know if there's anything else I can do for you.

Best Regards,

[larsVMB3B]

Hi again,

I apologise to open up this thread again.

In the design mode the Assembly Variant seems to work fine and components not included in a new variant is crossed-over in the schemtatic. Problem is such components still show up (with air wires) in the PCB routing layout mode... Why is this? 

[melisa.kaner]

Hi @larsVMB3B ,

Thanks so much for posting on the forums! Looking into it, I can totally understand your perspective, between the Schematic & PCB, it could definitely be better represented in the design behaviour.

An assembly variant is just a change on the PCB assembly (+BOM), so whether the component is fitted/not fitted and any form-fit-equivalent value changes. so the PCB layout would stay the same between assembly variants in this instance.

I've just created a quick example to show this and created an assembly variant with 'C1' to the LHS not fitted, 'C2' remains fitted. You can see below that the traces remain, but no component outline (this is where I think we could do a better job on making this more obvious/perhaps some more feedback on the canvas on what is happening). Could you please post what you're seeing?

I'd like to understand a little more what you're trying to accomplish? Sounds like it's more along the lines of design configurations and design variants rather than variants on the assembly level? (i.e. branching PCB designs)

Please feel free to DM me, I'd love to jump on a quick call where you can help me understand a little more what you're after! 

Best regards,
Melisa

[larsVMB3B]

Hi Melisa!

Thanks for picking this up.

I think I get the same result as you, see below. In this case J8 is excluded in a new assembly variant but still shows up in the PCB-layout including all its air-wires.

What I was hoping for, is a feature allowing the user to exclude components totally for a specific PCB-layout version including manufacturing for that specific version. Later you may what to include them back again. Reason is agility and reducing risk in prototyping complex PCB-versions. Compare this with a real-life lab environment where there might be a number of building blocks built up on physical wire boards that would be connected in-out during different test scenarios for bigger project.

[melisa.kaner]

Hey @larsVMB3B , 

This is super interesting, feels slightly out the realm of today's variants on an assembly level and more on a future-facing variant on a design level (where the PCB design would also mutate according to schematic variations). I'll quickly DM you and see if you're keen to have a very quick call to discuss this further and I can hear some more. 

Best regards,

Melisa