32-bit CIRCAD'98 for Windows NT, Windows 98, and Windows 95.
During the long and arduous process of re-programming the update to CIRCAD for Windows, great pains have been taken to insure that the new version is actually an upgrade, both in speed and in performance, and not simply a migration to Windows. Most of the clumsy and idiosyncratic processes within Windows have been circumvented, and the highly efficient "look and feel" of the original DOS CIRCAD has survived intact. This was no small task to achieve.
All core routines have been coded in 32-bit Assembler language, and each has been encased in a thin envelope of C++ code which serves as an effective interface with the Windows operating environment. This technique preserves the speed and power of the original DOS CIRCAD, while adequately utilizing the flexibility of the Windows system.
- High Speed Operation
The extensive use of 32-bit Assembler language coding has greatly increased the speed of processing over the 16-bit Assembler used in the original DOS CIRCAD. The overall performance improvement on most operations is approximately 10x.
- Direct Video Hardware Access
CIRCAD's display driver utilizes Direct Draw® modules to achieve impressively fast screen re-draws. Just as in the DOS CIRCAD, the pads, lines, and arcs are drawn with complete logical accuracy of appearance.
- Smooth Screen Autopanning
CIRCAD's most important performance feature has been replicated precisely, and at no time does the user have to revert to the nearly unusably awkward and inefficient scroll bars that Windows imposes on most applications. The sole exception to this rule is during the processing of the various pop-up menus and dialog boxes.
- Sub-micron Resolution
As a fine addition in this new version, both inch and metric scales can be mixed effortlessly, even within a single component. The maximum allowable zoom limits have been expanded greatly, and the infinitely variable magnification/reduction capability allows you to view any portion of the circuit board in exactly the detail you require.
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