The most common place to find zero-length traces is in areas filled by traces or when pads are drawn with (sometime short) traces.
You can specify what to do with these traces using an import option.
It is in "File-Import-Gerber-Options-File Interpretation".
The item is called "Zero-Length Draws" and there are two choices:
(1) "Ignore" - these traces will be dropped and no warnings will appear
(2) "Make Pads" - a warning will appear which will ask whether to convert these traces to pads. If conversion is picked, a pad will be inserted at the endpoints of the zero-length trace

A: Starting at version 8.0 of ViewMasterEZ/ViewMasterPLUS/CAMMaster, you can now load Gerber files by using the Open command. If you try to load a non-BIN or non-Gerber file, you will receive the Error 28 message: Cannot determine file type. In order to load aperture or drill files, you must go to File- Import and then to the appropriate menu. You must do this also for EXPORTING files.
Tip: If the file name extensions for your Gerber are always the same, you can link these file types to your CAM program in Windows Explorer (Tools- Folder Options- File Types). This way, you can double click on a Gerber file and your CAM program will automatically launch.

A: If you are running an installation that was downloaded from the internet, you will be prompted for enter a User ID Number. This is the four digit number that is assigned to your User’s License, also known as your Key Number which can be found printed on your hardware security key/dongle. If you do not enter the User ID number and continue on with the installation, you will end up with ?’s in your Help menu. If you are running installations from a CD, you will be prompted for your CD-Key. This is the code usually found on the CD’s jewel case. It will tell the system which type of license you will be using, what programs to install and what your User ID Number is. The CD-Key will start with either NL or FL, followed by the feature codes, a dash and then the User ID/Serial Number. If the dash and User ID Number is not typed in with the rest of the code, the installation will continue and you will end up with ?’s in the Help menu.
Note: This will not affect the functionality of your program. It is a feature that was added so that in case you do not remember what your User ID Number is, you will not have to unplug your key from the back of your computer to find out.
Tip: Always enter your User ID Number when installing software. Sometimes the printed number wears off or the sticker that the number is printed on comes off of the key itself.

A: Sometimes it takes a few minutes for a license to be released from the License Server Software after a program is shut down. After you shout down a program, wait a few minutes. The License Server broadcasts every few minutes and scans the entire network for programs being used. If there are no other programs in use (on your computer or on another computer of the same network) that are a part of your software suite, then the license will be released and available for use.
Note: The number of Network User Licenses you have will determine how many times you can open a program on your network. Either on one work station or multiple work stations.

A: No, this is not a bug. License Code Files are version specific. If you were issued a License Code File for version 7.x (i.e. 7.5, 7.7), it will not work for version 8.x. You must contact PentaLogix with your Locking Code (it is displayed in the same Dialog Box that prompts for the License Code File) and a new License Code File will be made and e-mailed to you.
Tip: If your computer is connected to the internet, you can click on the E-mail Locking Code button and your information will be sent directly to PentaLogix. Once the file is made, it will be e-mailed back to you.

A: Most up to date photoplotters can plot polygon data. Converting the drawn data to polygon data will decrease file size exponentially, in which case usually take less time to load. The plot time will depend on the machine’s ability to process polygon data. To convert the data, select/highlight all the data on the layer to plot by clicking the Select All button or press [Ctrl+A] on your keyboard. Then go to Edit- Edit Selection- …Per Board Layer. Everything selected will be converted to polygons.
Note: Only CAMMaster has this ability and not all photoplotters can support polygon data.

A: There are two methods for doing this. 1)You can select a specific chain of traces on a single layer by going to Select- Chain and choose Branching or No Branching. Then click on an endpoint of the chain in question. This will highlight all the traces connected or “chained” together. 2) Or if you want to select a chain (or net) that runs through multiple layers, you can extract a netlist first. Then place the cursor on a pad or trace endpoint of the net in question and press [Shift+A]. The net number will show up in the display window at the top of the screen. Click the Net ONLY button and then click the Global Select button to highlight that net on all layers. Once you have your traces in question highlighted, go to View- Selection- Properties. This will display the total length of all traces that are selected/highlighted.
Note: To extract a netlist, you must be using either ViewMasterPLUS or CAMMaster.

A: To make sure the layers line up properly, you will have to move them manually. Start with 2 layers. Layer 'A' is anchored and 'B' will move. Make sure all "ONLY" buttons at the top of the screen are turned off. Find corresponding elements on layers 'A' and 'B'. Highlight all elements on layer ‘B’. Press [Shift+M] on the keyboard to activate the move command. Align the cursor to the element on layer 'B' and press [A], then [Enter]. This will leave a target on the element. Align the cursor to the element that you want to line up to on layer 'A' and press [A] and then [Enter]. Layer 'B' will line up to layer 'A'. Repeat the procedure for every layer you wish to align. When you're done, press [Esc] to deactivate the move command.
Tip: There are other Layer Move utilities available under Edit- Move Layers. Depending on how the data is arranged, these different options may or may not be usable in all situations. You can find the instructions on how to use these features in the Help menu, PentaLogix CAM Software User’s Guide printed manual or the downloadable version.

A: The File- Open and File- Save commands are for PentaLogix job files (a.k.a. BIN files). To load Gerber, aperture or drill files, you must go to File- Import and then to the appropriate menu. You must do this also for EXPORTING files.
Note: Starting at version 8.0, you can now load Gerber files by using the Open command. If you try to load a non-BIN or non-Gerber file, you will receive an Error 28 message: Can not determine file type.

A: In Gerber code, the G36/37 are automatic polygon fill commands. PentaLogix software does not support these commands at this time. ViewMasterEZ/ViewMasterPLUS/CAMMaster will remove these commands from the Gerber file, leaving just the polygon outline. However, you do have the option to write the codes back into the file when you export as Extended Gerber.
Note: You will only get this message in the old PentaLogix/Lavenir DOS software and in PentaLogix Windows software versions prior to version 6.1.

A: This means the data format of the Gerber is not set up properly. Go to File- Import- Gerber- Options and examine the Data Format options. These options must have the same format settings as the files were written out in from their original CAD system. Set the correct formats and reload the files. The most common cause for the Plotting Area Exceeded message is incorrect Left and Right of Decimal settings. If the left and right of decimal format is unknown, you can use the Import Directory feature to load your files (Available in ViewMaster/ViewMasterPLUS/CAMMaster).
Tip: If you are trying to load Basic Gerber and do not know the correct Data Formats, use the Auto Import Utilities (Import Zip or Import Directory). Depending on the size limits that you assign, the system will determine the Data Format for you.

A: The PentaLogix CAM products print by sending a raster bitmap of the image to be printed to the printer driver. Some drivers cannot accept very large size bitmaps. This is usually the problem with lower end printers, but we have found it also with some high end printers. Sometimes this problem is fixed by installing the most recent driver for the printer that you are using. Unfortunately this does not always fix the problem and there is not much we can do about this because our software always draws into a bitmap (we cannot use the standard Windows drawing commands).
If you are trying to print in large format and are having trouble, try a small format like 8 1/2 X 11. You may also try updating the printer driver or switch types (postscript to non-postscript) if possible for your machine. Manufacturers usually have those available for download on their web sites at no charge.
Note: Changes to Adobe Acrobat have been made. Versions 5.0 and higher will not create PDF files directly from PentaLogix software, even from earlier PentaLogix versions that worked before.
Tip: Display your data as how you want it shown in your document. Then go to File- Print to “.bmp” File- Print View or Print Frame. This will allow you to save a standard Windows Bitmap file that can be edited in a graphics/drawing utility such as Paint or insert directly into a text/document editor and save as a TXT, DOC or PDF file.

A: The following is how to set up the Node-Locked License Manager on a Windows NT work station with NTFS, where the user does not have administrative privileges:

1. Log on to the computer as administrator.

2. In Explorer select the Lavenir directory and right click.

3. Select Properties and click on the Security tab.

4. Give all required users all access privileges to the directory.

5. Return to the desktop and click the Start button.

6. Select Run and type regedt32.exe into the Open box and click OK.

7. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE- Software- Elan- LavenirLM.

8. From the Security menu on the top tool bar, select Permissions and give all required users All Access (Full) privileges.

Note: Software versions 7.5 and above will not have this problem. These versions use updated Sentinel System Drivers and License Server software compatible with NT/2000/XP operating systems.

A: 1) Available in ViewMaster/ViewMasterPLUS/CAMMaster, under File- Import there are two additional options to load data either from a Directory or directly from a ZIP file. During these operations, you can arrange the order of the layers prior to loading the files. If you already loaded the files, you can go to the F10 Layers Menu and 2) number the proper order of the layers in the B Layer Column. Then right click on the B Layer button at the top of the column. You will get a pop up dialog that will allow you to Renumber Board Layers or Order Layers by B Layer. Choose Order Layers by B Layer and the layers will rearrange themselves in the order you assigned.