From the Racal-Redac CadLines newsletter, Vol. 6 No. 1
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New CADSTAR for Windows and Windows NT

Racal-Redac's new CADSTAR for Windows gives designers a breakthrough level
of power and efficiency in PCB CAD. CADSTAR will run under both Windows
and Windows NT using the full power of the 32-bit operating systems. This
gives you the power of multi-tasking with multiple windows open at the
same time. Windows also provides outstanding support for virtually every
popular printer and graphics card, ending the hassle with drivers and
compatibility.

Windows Ease of Use
One of the great things about Windows is the consistency between
applications. That's why an estimated 50 million PC users are now using
it. If you are one of them, you know how this consistency makes learning
new applications easier. Actions like loading and saving files, cutting
and pasting, viewing options and help facilities are the same from
application to application. Another big plus is CADSTAR's use of icons.
Icons provide "one click" access to commonly used functions, so you can
work faster. They let you spend less time moving among menus, and more
time working on your design.

Another big plus for CADSTAR for Windows is the context sensitive, on-line
hypertext help facility. No matter where you are in the program, you can
click on Help or press F1 to get instant, on-screen help. Hypertext shows
you other help topics relevant to the one you are viewing. You can just
click on a hypertext topic and you get immediate help on that topic as
well.

More Power

Windows' 32-bit architecture removes many constraints that DOS placed on
CADSTAR. The result is more power and flexibility for you. Designs and
libraries can be virtually unlimited in size. Resolution is now up to
1/100 micron, enabling component rotation down to 0.1 degree and use of
mixed imperial/metric units.
CADSTAR still has its proactive user interface. Users love the ability to
simply click on a part and move it, and now you can click on an icon to
rotate the part, or click on the copy command, then paste it somewhere
else.

Great Features for fast design

CADSTAR has a wealth of features to make your designs happen the way you
want. Browsing the component library and adding parts is easier than ever.
You can also graphically create and store breakout patterns in the parts
library to save time in the future. A new Net Class Spacing feature lets
you assign spacing rules to certain nets, a valuable tool for high speed
design.

CADSTAR now allows for test points, pad-cap technology and nodal net
routing. The post processing facilities include Gerber and NC drill as
well as DXF output.

Windows NT Support

When run under Windows NT, CADSTAR gains some key benefits including
pre-emptive multi-tasking. NT also improves file handling by allowing
longer file names. File security is a big plus and a very important
feature when your systems are networked. By running under NT, CADSTAR has
the potential of expanding to the fast new processors coming on the
market.

CADSTAR for Windows is the most exciting upgrade Racal-Redac has ever
developed. Stay tuned for the actual release date. And in the meantime,
make sure your maintenance agreement is up to date so you'll get this
powerful upgrade for free.
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Maintenance Agreements and CADSTAR Upgrades

One of the key benefits of a maintenance agreement besides the priority
hotline support is that you are automatically upgraded to the latest
version of your software when it's released. This is true for CADSTAR for
Windows as well. All users who are under maintenance agreements for their
current CADSTAR will be able to get the upgrade for free. Investing in the
maintenance agreement now (if you don't already have one) will save you
thousands of dollars.

CADSTAR

If you have the current release of CADSTAR (rel 7) the cost for maintenance
is $1,350. This gets you hotline priority phone support plus a FREE
Upgrade to CADSTAR for Windows and Windows NT. CADSTAR for Windows will
retail for $6,850. Buy maintenance now and you'll save thousands! Plus,
you'll get the most powerful PCB CAD package running under Windows. You
can't afford to miss this upgrade.

CADSTAR and CADSTAR Advanced Router

Those power users who invested in CADSTAR and the CADSTAR Advanced Router
and who are on maintenance will receive FREE upgrades to CADSTAR and the
multi-pass graphical Route Editor. If you need to get maintenance, the
investment is $2,000 for both programs together. This is the most powerful
PCB Layout and Routing package available for PCs. Put it to work for you.

Older Versions of CADSTAR

If you have an older version of CADSTAR and your maintenance has lapsed,
you can get back on the fast track for just $1,850. Move into the future
of EDA and get your workhorse CADSTAR upgraded to the latest and greatest.
The productivity gain will more than justify your maintenance investment.

MAXI/PC

Do you own MAXI/PC? Are you on maintenance? If not, now is a good time to
get it. A major MAXI/PC upgrade is in the works, and you'll want to get it
for free. You might as well enjoy the hotline support starting now. You
can add maintenance for only $250.
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Graphical Route Editor for CADSTAR

CADSTAR users will soon enjoy the only graphical, shape based, grid free
autorouter available in the world at any price. The graphical Route Editor
for CADSTAR gives users what they've always wanted in one program. A
powerful autorouter, with the ability to manually route and fine tune, all
the while seeing the results on screen. The power is amazing.

The Route Editor gives you three routing modes; Manual, Semi-automatic and
Automatic. Just click on a connection to begin routing it. Using the
Semiauto mode, the router routes it in the general direction you move the
mouse. Just click on two points and the router will route the trace
between them and around any obstacles. In the fully automatic mode, it
completely routes the trace while you watch. If you aren't 100% happy with
the route, just click on it and fine tune it.

Never have PCB CAD users had such power and control at their fingertips.
This tool actually makes routing fun!

The Route Editor features Racal-Redac's famous Bloodhound routing algorithm
to deliver grid-free routing for 100% completions on brutally dense
boards. New functions improve the routing quality and manufacturability.
When manually routing a trace, the router will automatically push aside
other traces to make room for the one you are routing as you watch. It
will follow contours/patterns you set to maximize efficiency.

On-line design rule checking changes the colors of offending traces or pads
if manual routing would introduce a spacing violation. The memory router
efficiently routes memory chips, including SMT memory devices with their
tighter spacing requirements.

Autorouting

CADSTAR's full Route Editor provides an automatic background router that
will route jobs in the background while you work on designs in the
foreground. This is especially powerful when run under Windows NT. It
includes smoothing routines to minimize vias and improve routing quality
for optimal manufacturing. Another feature is track necking and fattening
which maximizes the width of selected traces to improve signal integrity
and yield. These traces will "neck" to a narrower width when necessary,
then fatten back up.

CADSTAR's new autorouters and the graphical Route Editor give you the most
control, and the most productivity of any router in the market. You can
see exactly what's happening and change it wherever you need to, with
powerful grid-free, angle-free algorithms maximizing the number of traces
you can fit. Tough, double-sided SMT boards will always be a challenge to
your creativity, but CADSTAR routers give you the edge to complete those
boards in the shortest time possible.

Racal-Redac
238 Littleton Rd, Westford, MA 01886

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