Douglas, Thanks for the response. I thought about the database size, but didn't think it would make much of a difference. The design I have now is a derivative of a derivative of a..., and here are the sizes: 2,519 KB before purging 2,489 KB after purging no less than 41 padstacks I was also pretty sure that not purging wouldn't affect the output, since I output hundreds of successful designs with no purging. Regards, Gary MacIndoe Senior PCB Layout Designer Contract - Kelly Services Covidien EbD R&D 5920 Longbow Drive Boulder, CO 80301 303.476.7458 www.covidien.com From: icu-pcb-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:icu-pcb-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Douglas Stanley Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2010 2:33 PM To: icu-pcb-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [PCB_FORUM] Re: Purge Unused Padstacks Purging the padstacks can make the database size considerable smaller. Other than that, I can't think of another benefit. It certainly won't affect your outputs. Douglas G. Stanley PC Board Designer, Principal Broadcom Corporation <http://www.broadcom.com/> - Irvine, CA dstanley@xxxxxxxxxxxx (949) 926-5889 From: icu-pcb-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:icu-pcb-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Macindoe, Gary Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2010 1:26 PM To: icu-pcb-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [PCB_FORUM] Re: Purge Unused Padstacks Hey Dave, Thanks for the response. I worked a contract job this past March, and the job shop had as a checking item that padstacks were purged. I've been using Allegro since 1995, and before March, I had never ever purged padstacks (with no known negative effects!). I was just wondering what might happen at some point if padstacks were not purged. Regards, Gary MacIndoe Senior PCB Layout Designer Contract - Kelly Services Covidien EbD R&D 5920 Longbow Drive Boulder, CO 80301 303.476.7458 www.covidien.com From: icu-pcb-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:icu-pcb-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Dave Seymour Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2010 2:18 PM To: icu-pcb-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [PCB_FORUM] Re: Purge Unused Padstacks Gary, I purge as part of cleaning up the database. I have a little batch file that I run at the end of the job. One of the lines in the batch is: dbdoctor -drc -purge_vialist -purge_padstacks %1 I figure, it's free and easy, so why not. Dave Dave Seymour Ixia www.ixiacom.com 919.267.4840 ________________________________ From: icu-pcb-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:icu-pcb-forum-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Macindoe, Gary Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2010 4:00 PM To: icu-pcb-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [PCB_FORUM] Purge Unused Padstacks Hey guys, Are you purging unused padstacks before sending your design to Fab (Tools -> Padstack -> Modify Design Padstack, Purge -> All)? If so, what is the benefit? What is the downside to not purging? Is it simply a database cleaning function? Thanks for any responses. Regards, Gary MacIndoe Senior PCB Layout Designer Contract - Kelly Services Covidien EbD R&D 5920 Longbow Drive Boulder, CO 80301 303.476.7458 www.covidien.com