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Date: Sun, 19 Aug 2012 17:36:25 -0400
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From: DJ Delorie <dj AT delorie DOT com>
To: geda-user AT delorie DOT com
In-reply-to: <50315696.3030400@jump-ing.de> (message from Markus Hitter on
	Sun, 19 Aug 2012 23:11:50 +0200)
Subject: Re: [geda-user] First steps on dynamic board size
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> A first step towards dynamic board size is done. As this goes beyond my 
> allowed committer's scope, I've put this into a new branch for review, 
> "dynamic_extent". As I can't find a public git repo viewer, I've also 
> attached the patches to this email.

http://git.geda-project.org/

Specifically, http://git.geda-project.org/pcb/log/?h=dynamic_extent

> The strategy choosen is to introduce ExtentMinX, ExtentMaxX, ExtentMinY 
> and ExtentMaxY into the global PCBType and to fill these with the extent 
> of the drawn lines on the outline layer (BTW., as I write this: the 
> first char of the names should be lower case, right?).

The current scheme seems to be to capitalize them.

> The second commit/patch marks all the places where the new variables 
> might make a code change advisable. Not only in the exporters; I think 
> the GUIs can be changed for the better, too. Like drawing a background 
> image to the extent of the board instead on the entire drawing area. 
> Like limiting autorouting to the outline limits. Eventually, the drawing 
> area might be only limited by the size of the internally used integers 
> and setting a board size in preferences becomes obsolete.
> 
> Let me know what you think, wether this is the right direction.

I think all of these are good ideas.  We do get queries about how to
do "holes" in the board, so teaching the autorouter and exporters
about the *real* board outline would be a worthy project.