I have a simple 2-layer board done on Eagle, and I’ve added a ground fill according to a tutorial I found on the web, by creating a polygon around the board and giving it the same name as the ground net. This works as expected. However, if I then save the board and reload it, the ground fill is gone (but the polygon outline is still there). Furthermore, the polygon still has the name of the ground net. To recover the ground fill I need to name the polygon something else and then name it back to the ground net.
Anybody know what’s going on with that?
Mike
Just type “rat” into the command line, or click the “ratsnest” button, when you next load your board.
It’s perfectly normal behavior. 
FartingMonkey92:
Just type “rat” into the command line, or click the “ratsnest” button, when you next load your board.
It’s perfectly normal behavior.
I gotta go read up again on the definition of "normal". :)
Thanks a bunch.
Mike
snarflemike:
"I gotta go read up again on the definition of “normal”. 
Lol, i did mean “normal” for EAGLE…
If it didn’t clear, you wouldn’t be able to see where you were putting anything if you were making modifications to the board. Your only option would be to delete the groundplane and re-add it later.
If you want to clear the fill without deleting the polygon, use the ripup tool on the polygon. Makes sense, right? I swear, the folks at Cadsoft made Eagle specifically to mess up your head so you can’t use any other tool!
EDIT:
I kept using the move tool to move it and it would clear. Never figured to use ripup.
TheDirty:
If it didn’t clear, you wouldn’t be able to see where you were putting anything if you were making modifications to the board. Your only option would be to delete the groundplane and re-add it later.
But in any case I would expect the board I load to look like the board I just saved. That's the problem IMO, not the particular command needed to restore the fill. What if, e.g., somebody else loaded the board file and didn't even know the ground fill existed?
FartingMonkey92:
snarflemike:
"I gotta go read up again on the definition of “normal”.
Lol, i did mean “normal” for EAGLE…
Yes, I'm learning to appreciate the nuance of that concept. :?
snarflemike:
But in any case I would expect the board I load to look like the board I just saved. That’s the problem IMO, not the particular command needed to restore the fill. What if, e.g., somebody else loaded the board file and didn’t even know the ground fill existed?
You're saying, it should load with the polygon filled because someone might load it up who doesn't know what they are doing. That makes no sense. It's like saying that Word documents should be always opened in full page view mode, because my GrandMother may load the document and think there's only half a page.
Eagle can be pretty un-intuitive at times, I would rather the software not default to try to make it easier for people who have no idea how a polygon is filled, rather than make it harder for everyone else.
Hey, it’s a tool. Like all tools, it requires knowledge to use well.
FartingMonkey92:
Hey, it’s a tool. Like all tools, it requires knowledge to use well.
I agree. At the same time, over the years I've become a strong believer in the Principle of Least Surprise as regards product design (including software design).
Well, I’m about to send off the board files in question to fab, and then my principles will be really tested.
I don’t find Eagle all that un-intuitive to use. I started a long time ago with Protel Easy Trax and in a wierd sort of way I find Eagle not that different. I guess what would bother me more is if they had added yet another button (and icon) for specifically clearing the fill on a polygon. Using the rip-up tool is a somewhat elegant solution without adding more clutter to the interface.
… but maybe I’m not normal. :lol:
After using Eagle for the last ~8 years I really love Eagle and it’s somewhat quirkiness I have to admit that there are some hurdles to get over initally, but once you do, its a great program.
I don’t think I could easily make a switch now.
I would have to agree with rpcelectronics (although I’m a newbie), I have knocked out about 4 designs in the first few weeks of using Eagle, it’s got a very steep learning curve but what CAD program doesn’t?