gEDA-dev: referencing or embedding symbols?

[John Doty]

On Jul 11, 2007, at 5:38 AM, Ales Hvezda wrote:

>
> Hi All,
>
> Question for the list, how would you feel if gschem's default storage
> mechanism changed from referencing to embedding placed symbols?   
> Instead of
> just referencing the symbols, the symbols would be automatically  
> embedded
> into the schematic.

Given that you can't edit an embedded symbol right now, I think this  
undesirable. Especially since I often find myself making wholesale  
alterations to a multi-sheet design by editing a symbol. AD5601 not  
available? Easy to switch to AD5621 when your symbols are in a  
project directory, harder when they're embedded. And in ASIC design,  
I'm often tinkering with the building blocks. There, a stale symbol  
could be big trouble.

I'm notorious for getting pin numbers wrong. Easy to fix with  
referenced symbols, not so easy with embedded.

I suppose I'd be OK with this if it was a gafrc option. For single- 
page flat designs using mostly symbols from the distributed libraries  
this might be a good way to go, and that's how people get started.  
But for big projects I want a project symbol directory, or even a  
project symbol tree, and symbol references for the flexibility to  
make wholesale changes.

John Doty              Noqsi Aerospace, Ltd.
http://www.noqsi.com/
jpd at noqsi.com