Autotrax
Encyclopedia
AutoTRAX EDA is a Windows XP/Vista schematic design/ PCB layout program with built in Spice simulator and 3D part and board visualization. It is not to be confused with the simple PCB CAD package originally developed by Protel (now Altium) in the 1980s and 1990s and which is still available as a free download from Altium's website at www.altium.com.
Altium Limited (formerly Protel International) is the registered owner of US Trademark AUTOTRAX, registration Number 2715664.
The name AutoTRAX was the US trademark of Iliya Kovac, author of AutoTRAX EDA - Registration Number 2469410, however the registration was cancelled in 2008.
Unlike the Protel version, AutoTRAX EDA uses the Microsoft Windows platform and runs on XP, Vista and Windows 7. The file format is open and viewable with any text editor as it is XML based, and the XML schema is fully documented.
Protel Autotrax runs under DOS
. It will run under Windows 98 and XP but only as a console window. It does not run on Vista or Window 7. This old program is primarily keystroke driven. The native file format for Protel's now unsupported Autotrax is PCB File 4, a simple text format. Some PCB manufacturers in Australia and some PCB manufacturers in Asia will still accept boards in native Protel Autotrax format rather than requiring export to PCB industry standard Gerber format.
Altium Limited (formerly Protel International) is the registered owner of US Trademark AUTOTRAX, registration Number 2715664.
The name AutoTRAX was the US trademark of Iliya Kovac, author of AutoTRAX EDA - Registration Number 2469410, however the registration was cancelled in 2008.
Unlike the Protel version, AutoTRAX EDA uses the Microsoft Windows platform and runs on XP, Vista and Windows 7. The file format is open and viewable with any text editor as it is XML based, and the XML schema is fully documented.
Protel Autotrax runs under DOS
DOS
DOS, short for "Disk Operating System", is an acronym for several closely related operating systems that dominated the IBM PC compatible market between 1981 and 1995, or until about 2000 if one includes the partially DOS-based Microsoft Windows versions 95, 98, and Millennium Edition.Related...
. It will run under Windows 98 and XP but only as a console window. It does not run on Vista or Window 7. This old program is primarily keystroke driven. The native file format for Protel's now unsupported Autotrax is PCB File 4, a simple text format. Some PCB manufacturers in Australia and some PCB manufacturers in Asia will still accept boards in native Protel Autotrax format rather than requiring export to PCB industry standard Gerber format.
External links
- Autotrax EDA download
- Autotrax Design Express (DEX) download
- Autotrax User Group
- Autotrax file format documentation
- Autotrax download
- Protel/Altium users support and download forum
- More utilities, from Jim Patchell
- A laser plotting utility for Autotrax
- A tutorial for using Autotrax
- Newer (VESA) video drivers for Autotrax
- Newer printer driver (PCL) by Matthias Hartl
- A HowTo for using AutoTrax under SuSE Linux and DOSemu
- Protel Autotrax companion programs - Directly generate RS274X gerbers from Autotrax PCB files, rotate PCBs, etc, From Les Hildenbrandt