Blog

This update builds on the strong foundation of V17 and brings a wide range of improvements across AI & automation, analysis, import/export, data management, and the user interface — making your PCB workflows smarter and more efficient than ever.

What the V17.1 can offer you:

1. PCB-Investigator:
   • Additional MCP Connector Services (New)
     • Additional MCP connector services added
   • Dimensioning Tools
     • Enhanced dimensioning tools and export capabilities
     • Improved measure dialog with better unit handling
   • Extended AI Chat
     • Enhanced AI Chat functionality with MCP tool integration
     • Support for local MCP connections to external AI tools
     • AI Chat can now run in a separate window
     • Support for local and cloud skills to handle larger tasks
     • Many additional tools, improvements, and workflow enhancements
   • Picture Layer
     • Picture layer quality options added
   • Ribbon Menu
     • Ribbon menu redesign with customizable shortcuts
   • Minor improvements and bug fixes
   • API extensions
2. Importer/Exporter:
   • DXF Exporter
     • Enhanced DXF export support for new dimension types
   • Eagle Importer
     • Enhanced Eagle import support
   • GenCad Importer
     • Enhanced GenCad import support
   • Gerber Importer
     • Improved Gerber import with automatic stackup recognition
   • IDX Exporter
     • Improved IDX V3 export support
   • IPC2581C Importer/Exporter
     • Updated IPC2581C support
   • IPC356 Importer/Exporter
     • Updated IPC356 support
     • IPC356D analysis for shorts and opens
   • Koh Young Exporter
     • Improved Koh Young export functionality
   • Mentor Pads Importer
     • Enhanced Mentor Pads import support
   • ODB++ Exporter
     • Special ODB++ exports for Koh Young and Fuji Nexim
   • Parmi Exporter
     • Improved Parmi export functionality
   • PDF Importer/Exporter
     • Enhanced PDF import
     • Enhanced PDF export support for new dimension types
   • STEP Importer/Exporter
     • Improved STEP export including drill handling and component fixes
   • SVG Importer/Exporter
     • Improved SVG export/import including notes, info layers, compression and quick export options for the extra tool easy documentation
     • Enhanced SVG export support for new dimension types
   • VEC Exporter (New)
     • Exports VEC data for isyCAM-based test adapter manufacturing
   • Viscom Exporter
     • Improved Viscom export functionality
   • Zuken Component Importer (New)
     • Zuken Component Importer added
3. Analysis:
   • Creepage / Hazard Analysis
     • Analysis performance improvements (for designs with hatched areas)
   • DFM Analysis (New)
     • New DFM analysis for Fiducial-to-Outline checking
   • DFT
     • DFT improvements for Spea export, via handling and drill checks
   • DRC Check (BareBoard Analysis)
     • Improved DRC checks including mask validation and pseudo-error handling
     • Minor improvements and bug fixes
   • IPC356D Analysis
     • IPC356D analysis for shorts and opens
   • Stencil Analysis
     • Stencil Analysis enhancements including Pin-in-Paste details
     • Stencil Generator improvements for undersized pads, 2-pin packages and rule handling
   • Test Coverage Report
     • Enhanced Test Coverage Report with improved net access for boundary scan, probe placement and logging
4. Fabrication / Production Control:
   • BOM Expert / Component Attribute Importer
     • Major BOM Expert improvements including new import options and EPL handling
     • Improved Pin Analysis in BOM Expert
   • Component Attribute Importer
     • Improved CSV component import and reworked component import handling
   • Component Manager
     • Component Manager improvements including panel handling and property editing
     • New component report options including MPN package colors
   • Panel Builder
     • Improved panel builder including auto-size detection and replace-step functionality
   • Production Tool Editor (New)
     • New Production Tool Editor for routing plate adapters
   • Virtual BOM export
     • Virtual BOM export enhancements with HTML export, filters and sorting
5. Miscellaneous:
   • Component & BOM Data Management
     • 365 package search improvements and history copy with timestamps
   • General
     • General performance, usability and stability improvements
   • Net Grouping
     • New AI-assisted Net Grouping
   • Physics
     • Physics material database updated
   • Script Editor
     • New AI-powered Script Editor with IntelliSense support

If there are any questions concerning the latest release, please feel free to contact us.