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Getting Started with OrCAD X and Leveraging New Features FAQ

Author Cadence PCB Solutions

Here are some comprehensive answers to all the questions asked in our recent webinar.

OrCAD X Capture | OrCAD X OnCloud Workspace | Licensing | General

    OrCAD X Capture

    Does "logging in" into OrCAD X Capture mean EMS?

    Logging in is referring to cloud authentication to take advantage of the Cadence OrCAD X OnCloud data management and collaboration solution.

    Besides multi-factor authentication, are there any other two-factor authentication (2FA) systems supported e.g. PingID or Google Authenticator for OrCAD X Capture?

    No, currently we do not support any other 2FA systems, however SSO support is planned for the future.

    Does OrCAD X Capture have the capacity to log who accessed a design, such as when a design was modified or read, and when? This is something we would need for export compliance reasons.

    Yes, there is a complete history of who modified what and when, however read is not currently supported. You can also setup role and user-based access control for information on when a user was given access.

    How does the new Component Explorer tab work with CIP? Can you add components to CIP from the Components Explorer tab (pulling from a 3rd party vendor for example)?

    Unfortunately, you cannot directly add components to CIP from the Component Explorer tab. You would need to download the parts from the online component vendors (like SamacSys, SnapMagic or Ultra Librarian) along with the part data to a local library, then put that data into CIP. That being said, if you’re managing your library database using OrCAD X OnCloud instead of CIP, you can easily download the parts from the 3rd party online providers available into your library from the Component Explorer tab using a right mouse button option.

    Will the cloud services work with OrCAD X Capture 23.1?

    Yes, OrCAD X OnCloud was first available in version 23.1.

    OrCAD X OnCloud Workspace

    Are we able to change the data residency on My Workspace?

    Yes, starting with OrCAD X 23.1 ISR 6 (August 2024), users now have the ability to create region specific shared workspaces for Asia, Japan, Europe, and the USA.

    What are the security standards used for OrCAD X OnCloud, and for example, where exactly is the data stored in Europe?

    The security protocols are listed on Cadence.com under OnCloud, please visit this page for more information. For security purposes, we cannot disclose the exact location of the servers.

    In OrCAD X OnCloud, can we share a component library between multiple workspaces?

    Yes, you can distribute the "main" library to as many workspaces as you choose. You can even set different levels of permission on the same library across the different workspaces.

    Can you change the data residency on My Workspace (the location of the server)?

    At this moment, it would be something we would currently need to assist you with.

    Can the workspace, configuration, and file manager location be an employee's company cloud storage or is it must be from cadence cloud storage?

    For OrCAD X we only support our Cadence OnCloud storage option. However, if you would like to support your company's private cloud, Pulse within Allegro X supports this and would be a more suitable option to meet your requirements.

    What is the cloud storage capacity per user or license?

    Users will have access of up to 10 Gigabytes of cloud storage.

    Does OrCAD X OnCloud have all the features of OrCAD EDM, such as auto variant BOM, PDF generation, gerber generation, etc.?

    No, currently these features are not available, but there are plans to support it.

    Can I find out how much space is available on the cloud when I publish a project in OrCAD X Capture?

    No, not at this time. Currently you can only see the file size.

    Is there a difference between OrCAD X OnCloud and Allegro X Pulse?

    Yes, there certainly is! They are two different data management solutions within our PCB suite of tools. If you would like to learn more about Allegro X Pulse, please visit this page.

    In the case that I do not want to use OrCAD X OnCloud, is there a way to suppress the login window when opening OrCAD X Capture and not log in?

    At this time there is not a way to suppress the login window. You can simply dismiss the login window by closing it.

    Does OrCAD X OnCloud have any API features we can use for internal tooling?

    Yes, there is an API, however it may not be available to customers yet. Please contact your account manager for the possibility of access.

    Is the usage of workspace and OnCloud mandatory?

    No, using OrCAD X OnCloud is optional. We have users who can’t access cloud based on their corporate security restrictions.

    Licensing

    Is OrCAD X OnCloud available for all users? Do we need an extra license for it?

    This depends on the license you purchase, and OrCAD X OnCloud is included with purchase. With that said OrCAD X Standard only allows personal data management (option to purchase collaboration) and OrCAD X Professional and Professional Plus include full collaboration.

    Does OrCAD X Standard have an autorouter?

    The OrCAD X Standard license comes with access to the new modern user layout interface known as Presto, and the original layout interface known as PCB Editor. The autorouter (route net by pick) is currently only available within PCB Editor and not in Presto.

    I believe the license for OrCAD X is annual i.e. must renew every year. If you don’t renew, can you use the existing version of the software and still access OnCloud or is it not usable any longer?

    OrCAD X still supports the purchase of a perpetual license which allows you to continue to use the software off maintenance. With that said there are services that would no longer be available off maintenance like OrCAD X OnCloud.

    If I currently have an Allegro license, I won’t be able to use both Allegro and Presto or vice versa, correct?

    Yes, currently that is the case. However, Presto will be introduced into the Allegro X platform in the 25.1 release this year.

    What license do I require for the tools that were used in the webinar? Does OrCAD X Standard license have all the functionality?

    You would need at least OrCAD X Professional to be able to access the features and functionality demonstrated in the webinar. In terms of OrCAD X Standard, it supports OrCAD X OnCloud but only from an individual basis, so you will not have access to sharing or collaboration.

    If I get an OrCAD X license to use Presto, will I still be able to use Allegro 17.4?

    Yes, you will still be able to continue using Allegro 17.4 if you have a valid license. OrCAD and Allegro have a separate suite of products. That said, Presto will be introduced into the Allegro X platform in the 25.1 version released this year and the PCB databases are fully compatible between Presto and Allegro X/Allegro PCB Editor.

    General

    I am currently using OrCAD X 23.1, is there a list of differences between the version 23.1 and 24.1 that you can share?

    Yes, to see the latest features and enhancements available in version 24.1 and compare them with version 23.1, visit our What's New in OrCAD X page.

    Does OrCAD X have Design Rules Check (DRC) for both schematic and layout?

    Yes, on the schematic side in OrCAD X Capture you can set up and configure design rules via the toolbar by selecting PCB – Design Rules Check. To see what errors or warnings your design may have, go to the toolbar and select View – Others – Online DRCs to view anything you may need to fix. On the layout side in OrCAD X Presto, if you already have constraints assigned via the Constraint Manager, whether electrical, physical, spacing, etc., the Properties panel will display and flag any DRCs found within your design. Clicking on the pie chart or the hyperlinks within that section will display the specific DRCs that were flagged in an easy to search table.

    Is OrCAD X 24.1 compatible with legacy projects created in versions 16.2, 16.4, 17.2, 17.4 in terms of data synchronization between schematic and board files, etc.?

    Cadence PCB solutions are forward compatible meaning you will have to uprev older designs (i.e - save in newer versions of the product). You cannot make a jump from 16.6 and open it in 24.1, you would first need to open and save in 17.2 or 17.4.

    While I primarily use OrCAD 17.2, I still have some library parts from OrCAD 16.6. What is the best way to update these old parts with OrCAD X?

    You will still be able to use your old libraries with the new version of OrCAD X. For example, if those 16.6 libraries are on your local network, you can have the latest version of OrCAD X use them by pointing the latest version to your libraries. If you want to use OrCAD X OnCloud to manage your libraries going forward, you can upload your libraries to OrCAD X OnCloud.

    Can OrCAD X be used for ITAR?

    For ITAR compliance when using OrCAD X, we would recommend keeping all the data on your local network. Your other option would be to switch to using our enterprise Allegro X Pulse system for full ITAR compliance. The OrCAD X OnCloud solution lets you set access based on email or domain to the data you store on OrCAD X OnCloud which may not be sufficient for your ITAR requirements.

    Does OrCAD X 24.1 support multi-users working on single project at a time?

    Yes, starting with version 23.1 if you have an OrCAD X Professional or Professional Plus license, multiple users can collaborate on a single project. For example, via OrCAD X OnCloud you can share your schematic designs with other users through the Workspace Configuration GUI so that they can access and start contributing to your project. For PCB layout we support up to 2 designers working concurrently on the same PCB.

    Can students use OrCAD X?

    Yes, college and university students can access and use OrCAD X by registering for a free 6-month student license here on the Academic Program page.

    Is 24.1 the newest version for OrCAD X?

    Yes, 24.1 is the latest base version of the platform and was released September 2024.

    How can I easily migrate my libraries and projects from OrCAD EDM to OrCAD X OnCloud?

    Currently, there is no automated utility to perform the conversion, however we can work with you and in some cases will perform the conversion for you.

    We're using OrCAD EDM from EMA-EDA. How do the OrCAD X OnCloud features change how we're using EDM now?

    There is no impact to OrCAD EDM if you want to continue to have an on-premise data management solution. OrCAD X OnCloud makes it easier to share and collaborate with external resources.

    Do you have any webinars that go over the capabilities of OrCAD X Presto?

    Yes, in 2024 we hosted some webinars that went over OrCAD X Presto. You can watch these on-demand recordings here. We’ve also published a comprehensive video tutorial series on YouTube on designing with OrCAD X Presto which includes demo design files that you can download and follow along with. You can watch the tutorial series here.

    Is there a way to manage local caching to speed the updates as you jump between windows? I do not need to load all the components every time.

    If you are talking about switching between the different 3rd party vendors that are supported, there unfortunately there isn’t a way to manage local caching. This is because component data can frequently change such as cost and availability for example. If you were able to cache it, the data could then become out of date.

    How is Component Explorer linked with CIS?

    If you already have an established CIS database then you could use the online component explorer as a way to search for new parts from the available 3rd party content providers. When you find a part you want, you can right mouse button over it and download all the part data, such as symbols, properties, footprints, etc., which you can then add that data to your CIS database. Or, if you don't have a CIS database you can use the OrCAD X OnCloud library as your library for now. That said, we are working on allowing you to upload your CIS database to OrCAD X OnCloud.

    What is the difference between OrCAD X and Allegro X?

    There are many differences based on desired functionality. In short, OrCAD X is ideal for individuals and small to mid-sized businesses working on projects focused on quick turn PCB design. While Allegro X is suited for enterprise level customers working on high-complexity designs requiring advanced capabilities, collaboration, high-performance, ZTNA infrastructure, and scalability. Please reach out to your account manager and they can provide you with collateral outlining the differences.

    Can I see which components are using a particular footprint?

    No, this functionality is not yet supported but is planned.

    What are all the names of tools available under OrCAD X Standard vs Professional?

    Both OrCAD X Standard and Professional have the same tools available, such as Capture, Presto, PSpice, and PCB Editor. The difference is in the functionality within those tools.

    If I try to place a part from the Component Explorer on my schematic, from any of the available 3rd party vendors, I get an error that says it failed because the library path does not exist. How can I fix this?

    Double check that your paths in Presto are correctly assigned. Under Edit > Preferences > Libraries > Directories & Paths you will find a Footprint and Padstack path. If you click to edit the path, these should both have an entry that is your workspace path followed by /libraries/footprints/downloads

    Example: C:/Users/adamf/AppData/Roaming/SPB_Data/cdssetup/workspace/libraries/footprints/downloads

    When I download a library from any website, where should I extract the .dra, .pad, .psm and .olb? I tried to assign the library path directory, but I didn’t find it when I switched to Presto.

    In OrCAD X Presto you can check your the library path under Edit > Preferences > Libraries > Directories & Paths.

    When I change the revision of a schematic symbol, will the revision of the part to which the symbol is assigned also change?

    Yes, the revision of the part will also change.

    Can you still export and netlist to Allegro V17.4?

    Yes, you can still export and netlist to Allegro V17.4.