gEDA-user: Unresolved rat lines, zero-ohm resistor, wire bridge

[Jan Martinek <honza@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello,

I am trying to design a single-sided board with SMD components only (no 
drilling). The toporouter (which is absolutely awesome, btw.) routes 
almost all rat lines with only several left unresolved. But, what now? I 
can do several things:

1) Make the PCB and connect suitable places with wire.
  disadvantage: The PCB cannot be published without further 
explanation. And, it is not beautiful.

2) Insert dummy components like zero-ohm resistors or jumper wire in 
schematics with the hope, that some traces can be routed below the 
components.
  disadvantage: The schematics looks crazy. Moreover, surprisingly, it 
does not help. The autorouter "sees" different circuit and magically 
designs different traces. Often, number of unresolved rat lines 
increases. And, it is totally unpredictable where exactly to insert the 
"dummy" components and how many of them.

3) Make "double sided" PCB and the other side realize with wire bridges 
only.
  Disadvantage: This is a bad idea as number of vias is much higher 
that number of unresolved rat lines.

4) Use #1 but do some manual post-processing.
  disadvantage: At any change in the schematics the manual work must be 
done again.

The best solution (for me) would be #3 if:
- the number of vias would be as small as possible
- vias should be in pairs so that the wire connects exactly two.

Or this:
- if some rat lines cannot be solved, make a pair of pads (or pins) for 
them.

Does anyone have an idea?

Thank you very much,
Jan Martinek


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