pda

Update: Sixth Consecutive Workers’ Comp Rate Decrease Announced

Double-digit drop will be effective December 1 Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro announced today that workers’ compensation insurance rates will decrease for the sixth year in a row, effective December 1, 2022. Both the voluntary market and the residual market will see rate decreases in the double digits. “Lowering worker’s compensations costs time and time again […]




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Update On Recent Insurer and Third-Party Data Breaches

More than 37,500 Delaware agents, policyholders, beneficiaries impacted Following the receipt of additional data breach reports from insurers, including those related to the breach of the MOVEit file transfer services system used by third-party vendors, the Delaware Department of Insurance is updating this consumer alert and will be updating the online posting as information is […]




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Jharkhand Assembly Election Live Updates: झारखंड में 43 सीटों पर वोटिंग जारी, 11 बजे तक हुआ 29.3 % मतदान

Jharkhand Assembly Elections 2024: झारखंड में आज पहले चरण में 15 जिलों की 43 सीटों पर मतदान हो रहा है. वहीं केरल की वायनाड लोकसभा सीट पर भी वोटिंग जारी है.




pda

Update to Lower and Higher Authority Appeals Deadlines

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MEDIA CONTACT: Kenneth Briscoe Communications Coordinator Delaware Department of Labor   [Monday, October 12, 2020, Wilmington, DE] The Delaware Department of Labor has issued the Ninth Emergency Rule, which updates and revises the First and Seventh Emergency Rules, establishing deadlines to file appeals to the Lower Authority (Appeals Referees, the “Referees”) and […]



  • Department of Labor

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Delaware Department of Labor Announces New Features and Updates to the Delaware JobLink Website

Wilmington, Delaware February 22, 2021 Delaware Department of Labor FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   WILMINGTON, DE – Delaware Department of Labor has added new functionality to the Delaware JobLink (joblink.delaware.gov), a website created to support employers looking for qualified candidates, and individuals seeking employment.   The current website offers individuals the ability to search for jobs, […]




pda

Update – Flag Lowering for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Please note the following update regarding the current flag lowering for the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The interment for Justice Ginsburg is scheduled for tomorrow, September 29. Accordingly, all flags are to be returned to full staff at the close of business tomorrow, September 29.




pda

Flag Status Update

Please note the following update regarding flag lowering for fallen Delmar Police Corporal Keith Heacook. A service in honor of Corporal Heacook’s memory is scheduled for Monday, May 10, followed by his interment. Accordingly, all flags should be returned to full staff at the close of business that day, Monday, May 10.




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Weekly COVID-19 Update – Dec. 10, 2021: Rising Positive Cases, Hospitalizations Point to Winter Surge

DOVER, DE (Dec. 10, 2021) – The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) is providing an update on the most recent statistics related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Delaware, as of 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021.  Total positive cases since March 11, 2020: 159,399 7-day average of new positive cases: 603.9, a significant increase from […]




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Weekly COVID-19 Update – Dec. 17, 2021: Surge of New Positive Cases Continues

DOVER, DE (Dec. 17, 2021) – The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) is providing an update on the most recent statistics related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Delaware, as of 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021. Total positive cases since March 11, 2020: 164,092 7-day average of new positive cases: 677.1, an increase from 596.6 […]



  • Delaware Health and Social Services
  • Division of Public Health

pda

Weekly COVID-19 Update – Dec. 24, 2021: Record Number of New Daily Positive Cases Reported

DOVER, DE (Dec. 24, 2021) – The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) is providing an update on the most recent statistics related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Delaware, as of 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021. DPH reported the highest number of new positive daily cases since the start of the pandemic with 1,393 positive […]




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DPH to Implement Updated CDC Guidance Reducing Quarantine, Isolation Periods

DOVER, DE (Dec. 28, 2021) – The Division of Public Health announced that it will implement updated guidance issued Monday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to shorten the recommended time that people should isolate or quarantine from 10 days to 5 days based on certain conditions and vaccination status.  The change is motivated by […]




pda

Weekly COVID-19 Update – Dec. 31, 2021: Record Number of New Positive Cases, Current Hospitalizations

DOVER, DE (Dec. 31, 2021) – The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) is providing an update on the most recent statistics related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Delaware, as of 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021. DPH reported the highest number of new positive daily cases since the start of the pandemic with […]



  • Delaware Health and Social Services
  • Division of Public Health
  • News
  • COVID-19
  • Delaware
  • My Healthy Community

pda

Weekly COVID-19 Update – Jan. 7, 2022: Winter Surge Continues; Current Hospitalizations Continue to Rise

Please note, this press release was updated on Jan. 10, 2022, to correct an error in the total breakthrough cases, and to incorporate additional data points that were not immediately available at the time of the initial release.  DOVER, DE (Jan. 7, 2022) – The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) is providing an update […]




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Weekly COVID-19 Update – Jan. 14, 2022: New Positive Cases, Hospitalizations Continue to Trend Upward

DOVER, DE (Jan. 14, 2022) – The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) is providing an update on the most recent statistics related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Delaware, as of Thursday, Jan 13, 2021. DPH reported the highest number of new positive daily cases since the start of the pandemic with 4,771 positive […]



  • Delaware Health and Social Services
  • Division of Public Health
  • News
  • 2019 Novel Coronavirus
  • COVID-19
  • DE Division of Public Health

pda

Weekly COVID-19 Update – Jan. 21, 2022: DPH Reports Promising COVID-19 Data Trends

DOVER, DE (Jan. 21, 2022) – The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) is providing an update on the most recent statistics related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Delaware, as of Thursday, Jan 20, 2022. DPH reports a welcomed decrease in new positive cases and hospitalizations over the last week, however, both cases and hospitalizations […]




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Weekly Covid-19 Update – January 28, 2022: Delaware Remains Vigilant As Downward Case, Hospitalization Trends Continue

DOVER, DE (Jan. 28, 2022) – The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) is providing an update on the most recent statistics related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Delaware, as of Thursday, Jan 27, 2022. DPH reports a 57 percent decrease in the seven-day average of new positive cases reported since the peak of the surge […]




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Weekly COVID-19 Update – Feb. 4, 2022: DPH Warns Against Complacency Amid Reduced Covid19 Cases

DOVER, DE (February 4, 2022) – The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) is providing an update on the most recent statistics related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Delaware, as of Thursday, Feb 3, 2022. Although DPH reports decreasing data trends in hospitalization and new positive cases, it warns against complacency. Delawareans should continue to exercise […]




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Weekly COVID-19 Update – February 18, 2022: Cases, Hospitalizations Continue Downward Trend

DOVER, DE (February 18, 2022) – The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) is providing an update on the most recent statistics related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Delaware, as of Thursday, Feb 17, 2022. COVID-19 Cases and Hospitalizations:  Total positive cases since March 11, 2020: 254,719 7-day average of new positive cases: 232.6, a decrease […]




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Weekly COVID-19 Update – February 25, 2022: COVID-19 Cases, Hospitalizations And Deaths Continue To Decline

DOVER, DE (February 25, 2022) – The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) is providing an update on the most recent statistics related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Delaware as of Thursday, Feb 24, 2022. COVID-19 Cases and Hospitalizations:  Total positive cases since March 11, 2020: 256,337  7-day average of new positive cases: 127, a decrease […]




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Cases Continue to Decline; DPH Provides Updates on Testing Coverage and Encourages Getting Boosters Now

DOVER, DE (March 18, 2022) – The Division of Public Health (DPH) is providing an update on COVID-19 statistics in Delaware, as of Thursday, March 17, 2022:   COVID-19 Cases and Hospitalizations: Total positive cases since March 11, 2020: 258,513 7-day average of new positive cases: 63.1, a decrease of 16.9 average new positive cases from […]




pda

Covid-19 Cases Decline In Last Month; DPH Shares Summary Of Most Recent CDC Updates

   DOVER, DE (Aug. 19, 2022) – The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) reports that the 7-day average of new positive COVID-19 cases has declined since the previous monthly update in July. However, COVID-19 is still circulating in the community, and at higher levels in some counties. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) COVID-19 Community Levels data tracker, which was last […]




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DPH Shares Monthly COVID-19 Update, Announces Changes to Data Reporting and Booster Guidance

DOVER, DE (Dec. 15, 2022) – The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) is providing several key updates related to COVID-19 data and vaccines.  According to the most recent data on the state’s My Healthy Community data dashboard, the statewide 7-day average of new positive COVID-19  cases has increased slightly following Thanksgiving and other gatherings over the past month. Hospitalizations have also increased. As holiday travel […]




pda

School Water Testing Program Update

The State of Delaware is actively working with federal and local partners to ensure all Delaware children and school staff have safe and clean drinking water. With the help of a grant from the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Delaware Department of Education (DOE) with support from the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) began a sampling initiative in Delaware schools in October 2020 to identify the levels of lead within the drinking water system.




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DPH Encourages Public to get Updated Boosters and Learn about Treatment Options

DOVER, Del. (March 17, 2023) -  The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) saw a decrease in case rates and hospitalizations from COVID-19 over the past month and urges residents to remain vigilant and use the tools proven successful in the fight against the virus to continue these trends. While rates are down from the […]



  • Delaware Health and Social Services
  • Division of Public Health
  • Coronavirus
  • COVID
  • covid 19 testing

pda

Delaware Officials Provide Latest Updates, Underscore Urgency Surrounding Youth, Opioids, and Prevention Programs

MILFORD (June 6, 2023) – Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long and leaders from the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), Department of Education (DOE), and Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families (DSCYF) led a community response briefing on Friday to provide the latest information regarding the state’s efforts to address substance use […]




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UPDATE: DMV Operational Changes for June 8, 2023, Cash Booths at Tolls Plazas Now Open

Due to a reduction in the Air Quality Index (AQI) CASH BOOTHS at the toll plazas OPENED at 4:45 pm today, June 8, 2023. The Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will continue to monitor the AQI forecast and determine the effects it may have, if any, on DMV operations for Friday, June 9, 2023. Residents […]



  • Delaware Health and Social Services
  • Department of Transportation
  • Division of Motor Vehicles
  • Division of Public Health
  • News
  • air quality
  • air quality index
  • Delaware Department of Transportation
  • Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles
  • Delaware DMV
  • Delaware DNREC
  • Delaware E-ZPass
  • DMV
  • DMV on the Go
  • E-ZPass

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DPH Announces Prescription Monitoring Program Data Updates to My Healthy Community Dashboard

The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH), in collaboration with the Delaware Division of Professional Regulation (DPR), announces important updates to the Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder section of the My Healthy Community (MHC) Dashboard.  These updates are located within this section’s Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) tab and present trends in prescription drug dispensing in Delaware. The […]




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Updated COVID-19 Vaccines Recommended For Everyone 6 Months And Older

Per the CDC, vaccination remains the best protection against COVID-19-related hospitalization and death and reduces the chance of suffering from Long COVID.  Anyone who has yet to receive any type of COVID-19 vaccination and those whose last dose of any COVID-19 vaccine was over two months ago may receive the updated doses when they become available in the coming days.



  • Delaware Health and Social Services
  • Division of Public Health
  • Covid Vaccine
  • COVID Vaccines
  • Delaware Department of Health and Social Services
  • Delaware Division of Public Health

pda

The Delaware Division of Public Health Issues Update About Potential Measles Exposure

 The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) is reporting a potential measles exposure at the Nemours Children’s Hospital in Wilmington on December 29, 2023. An extensive contact tracing investigation identified between 20-30 people exposed to the individual who was not symptomatic but was infectious at the time of their visit to the facility. 



  • Delaware Health and Social Services
  • Division of Public Health
  • News

pda

Delaware Officials Provide Latest Updates, Underscore Urgency Regarding Substance Use Disorder Outcomes in Delaware

NEW CASTLE (April 22, 2024) – Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long and leaders from the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), along with partner community agencies, led a community response briefing on Monday to provide the latest outcome data and other information regarding the State’s efforts to support individuals struggling with substance use disorder in […]



  • Delaware Health and Social Services
  • Division of Public Health
  • Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health
  • News
  • Suspected Overdoses
  • Department of Health and Social Services
  • State Opioid Response
  • substance use disorder

pda

Disaster Declaration Update

Smyrna, DE – On Monday afternoon, Governor John Carney was notified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that the request for Individual Assistance, as part of the major disaster declaration request for the State of Delaware, was denied.  The determination was made by FEMA that “the impact to individuals and households in New Castle […]



  • Delaware Emergency Management Agency
  • Governor John Carney
  • New Castle County
  • News
  • Office of the Governor
  • emergency disaster declaration

pda

Delaware Officials Provide Latest Updates, Underscore Urgency Surrounding Increased Overdose Deaths in the State

NEWARK (Jan. 18, 2023) – Today, Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long, along with top leaders from the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) and Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security (DSHS), led a community response briefing to provide the latest information about suspected drug overdose deaths in the state, current and emerging dangers […]



  • Delaware Health and Social Services
  • Delaware State Police
  • Department of Safety and Homeland Security
  • Division of Public Health
  • Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health
  • Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long
  • News
  • Office of the Lieutenant Governor
  • DHSS Secretary Molly Magarik
  • Fentanyl
  • fentanyl test strips
  • Lt. Governor Bethany-Hall-Long
  • narcan
  • opioids
  • overdose
  • State Opioid Response

pda

An update from Fenwick Island’s historic lighthouse

Visitors to the historic lighthouse in Fenwick Island may have noticed some significant upgrades over the last few years, the most recent of which include a facelift for the 165-year-old seaside structure.




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Click It or Ticket Campaign, Buckle Up Every Trip, Every Time & Reminder of Updates to Delaware Car Seat Law

The Delaware Office of Highway Safety (OHS) is reminding drivers why it’s important to buckle up during the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) national Click It or Ticket enforcement effort. OHS is partnering with local and state police to conduct high-visibility enforcement starting May 20, – June 9, to ensure drivers and passengers buckle up every trip, every time.




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Fire Commission Releases New Updates for EMS Protocols

The Delaware State Fire Commission has recently announced the implementation of new updated emergency medical services (EMS) protocols aimed at improving healthcare response in critical situations. These protocols were established after extensive consultations with medical professionals, emergency responders, and other stakeholders in the healthcare industry. The objective is to ensure a consistent and standardized approach […]



  • State Fire Commission

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Community Engagement Sessions for Delaware Climate Action Plan Update Planned

A series of community engagement sessions in late October is planned to gather input on updating the state’s Climate Action Plan.




pda

Housing Assistance Applicants Should Update Information On Public Housing Waitlists By Nov. 22

Delaware's five public housing authorities (PHA) and AffordableHousing.com have partnered to simplify the housing assistance application process. Applicants will soon be able to submit and manage waiting list applications for all participating PHAs through a single, centralized platform.



  • Delaware State Housing Authority

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OMC Provides Update on License Lottery and Selected Applicants for Delaware’s Marijuana Industry

Following the recent public license lottery held by the Office of the Marijuana Commissioner (OMC) on October 24, 2024, the OMC is pleased to announce the official list of applicants selected to participate in Delaware’s regulated marijuana industry. This lottery marked a key step in the OMC’s fair and transparent licensing process. The OMC has […]




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3 Biggest Changes Of iOS 16.2 Update That Every iPhone User Should Know!

In its latest update Apple said that it is preparing for the iOS 16.2 update for iPhones across the world. Notably, like the previous release, there are a couple of changes coming for the iPhones.  iOS 16.2 Update Release Date So far, Apple has not announced a release date for iOS 16.2 update. Reportedly, the […]




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Flow Control Credit Updates in PCIe 6.1 ECN

As technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace, the importance of robust and efficient interconnect standards cannot be overstated. Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) has been a cornerstone in high-speed data transfer, enabling seamless communication between various hardware components.   

With the advent of PCIe 6.1 ECN, a significant advancement in speed and efficiency, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of its operations is paramount. One critical aspect of this is the verification of shared credit updates. For detailed understanding on Shared Credit, please refer Understanding PCIe 6.0 Shared Flow Control. 

In this blog, we will discuss why this verification is essential and what it entails.  

Introduction 

PCIe 6.1 ECN brings numerous advancements over earlier versions, such as increased bandwidth and faster data transfer speeds.   

A crucial mechanism for efficient data transmission in PCIe 6.0 is the credit-based flow control system. In this system, devices monitor credits, representing the buffer capacity available for incoming data.   

When a device transmits data, it uses credits, which are replenished or adjusted once the data is received and processed. This system ensures that the sender does not overload the receiver.  

Given the critical role of shared credit updates in maintaining the integrity and efficiency of data transfers, verification of these updates is crucial.  Proper management of credit updates is essential to ensure data integrity, as any discrepancies can lead to data loss, corruption, or system crashes.   

Verification also guarantees efficient resource allocation, preventing scenarios where some components are starved of credit while others have an excess, thus avoiding inefficiencies.  Credit inefficiencies pose issues in low power negotiations by preventing devices from entering low power states. Additionally, verification involves checking for proper error handling mechanisms, ensuring that the system can recover gracefully from errors in credit updates and maintain overall stability.   

PCIe 6.1 ECN Flow Control Optimizations Over PCIe 6.0

PCIe 6.1 ECN builds on the FLIT-based architecture introduced in PCIe 6.0, further optimizing flow control mechanisms to handle increased data rates and improved efficiency.  PCIe 6.1 ECN introduced refinements in credit management, making the allocation and advertisement of credits more precise, which helps in reducing bottlenecks and improving data flow efficiency.  Enhancements in flow control protocols ensure better management of buffer spaces and more efficient credit allocation. These enhancements are designed to handle the increased data rates and throughput demands of next-generation applications, ensuring robust and efficient data flow across PCIe devices.  

Below are some major updates: 

  1. There have been improvements in error detection and correction mechanisms in PCIe 6.1 ECN to enhance flow control reliability by ensuring that corrupted data packets are detected and handled appropriately without disrupting the flow of valid packets.  
  2. The merged credit system, which was a key feature introduced int PCIe 6.0 to simplify and optimize credit management, was further enhanced in PCIe 6.1 ECN to improve performance and efficiency.  
  3. PCIe 6.1 ECN introduced better algorithms for allocating and reclaiming merged credits to handle high data rates, introduced more robust error detection and correction mechanism reducing the degradation or system instability. 
  4. PCIe 6.1 ECN provided clear guidelines on how to implement the merged credit system correctly, helping developers to implement more reliable systems. For more details, please refer to Specifications section 2.6.1 Flow Control (FC) Rules.

Summary 

In summary, PCIe 6.0 is a complex protocol with many verification challenges. You must understand many new Spec changes and think about the robust verification plan for the new features and backward compatible tests impacted by new features. Cadence’s PCIe 6.0 Verification IP is fully compliant with the latest PCIe Express 6.0 specifications and provides an effective and efficient way to verify the components interfacing with the PCIe 6.0 interface. Cadence VIP for PCIe 6.0 provides exhaustive verification of PCIe-based IP and SoCs, and we are working with early adopter customers to speed up every verification stage.   

More Information

For more info on how Cadence PCIe Verification IP and Triple Check VIP enable users to confidently verify PCIe 6.0, see VIP for PCI Express, VIP for Compute Express Link  and TripleCheck for PCI Express  

See the PCI-SIG website for more details on PCIe in general and the different PCI standards.  

For more information on PCIe 6.0 new features, please visit PCIeLaneMarginPCIe6.0LaneMargin, and Demonstrating PCIe 6.0 Equalization Procedure.




pda

Importing ODF to vManager does not update vplan

I exported vplan to .odf file in vManager and after editing it I imported it to vManager. The vplan was expected to be synchronized and updated. However, nothing has changed to it. Does anyone know why?




pda

updating a dymanic shape

hello

 

is there a way to update one dynamic shape instead of updating all dynamic shapes?

 

i have over 6000 dynamic shapes on my design and it takes over 10 mins to update them all.

 

i just would like to update only one dynamic shape sometimes to find out if placing vias and lines in a shape has enough space or not.

 

regards

masa




pda

Place replicate update default behaviour

The default behaviour of Place replicate update is to select every new net item connected to the replicate module. This leads to an abundant number of clines, vias and shapes being selected, most of which I don't want to add to the replicate group. It is very tedious to unselect all these items and more often than not, I miss one or two items and then end up with a via or cline in a completely different place on the board or outside of the board.

Is there a way to change this rather annoying behaviour? I haven't found any way to disable it or to batch deselect everything the tool has decided to add to the replicate group.

The question has been asked before, but it didn't get any answers and the thread is now locked.

/F




pda

Update Package_Height_Max from Orcad Capture

I am using OrCAD PCB Designer Standard version 17.4-2019. I want to force update the Package_Height_Max property on the place bound top shape. The footprint library that we've created has that property set in the dra file, but I'd like to override that from capture so I can be certain that the height is correct.

This is coming from a place where we have created a very large footprint library over that past ++ years. Everyone who creates a new footprint is supposed to make sure that we add Package_Height_Max to the footprint, but of course footprints get reused for various parts, not all of which will have the same package height. What I want to do is export a list of package heights from our part database and then import the package heights into Capture and override the package height in the footprint.

I have found a post here  Using Height Property from Orcad Capture which says its not possible, but it also says its from 15 years ago, so maybe things have changed?




pda

2025 Porsche Taycan 4, Taycan GTS join rest of updated electric sedan family

The updated 2025 Porsche Taycan family boasts 13 members A new Taycan 4 and revised Taycan GTS have been revealed The Taycan GTS benefits from a 100-hp boost over the outgoing model Porsche in February unveiled a mid-cycle refresh for its Taycan, which has been introduced for the 2025 model year in the U.S. However, not every model in the Taycan...




pda

East-West Center Launches Updated 'Asia Matters for America' Publications and Website

East-West Center Launches Updated 'Asia Matters for America' Publications and Website East-West Center Launches Updated 'Asia Matters for America' Publications and Website
ferrard

News Release

Explore

News Release

Explore




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East-West Center Releases Updated Korea Matters for America/America Matters for Korea Publication and Website

East-West Center Releases Updated Korea Matters for America/America Matters for Korea Publication and Website East-West Center Releases Updated Korea Matters for America/America Matters for Korea Publication and Website
ferrard

News Release

Explore

News Release

Explore




pda

UPDATE: Two women charged for robbing pensioner due in court soon




pda

LIVE updates: Kanlaon Volcano restiveness

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raised on June 3 the status of Kanlaon Volcano on Negros Island to Alert Level 2 due to "increasing unrest."




pda

IMF seeks update on revenue system’s digital overhaul

• Holds introductory meeting with finance minister
• Govt pledges to end gas supply to captive power plants by Jan
• Lender’s team to hold joint session with power and petroleum divisions today

ISLAMABAD: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has sought a detailed, output-based update on Pakistan’s digitalisation plans for its revenue system, including the use of artificial intelligence to expand the tax base and increase collections.

On the energy side, the country has pledged to halt gas supply to captive power plants (CPPs) by January 2025, redirecting them to the national grid despite a strong pushback from influential rent-seeking industrialists. The IMF has firmly rejected any amendments to this programme benchmark.

The visiting IMF team, led by Pakistan’s mission chief Nathan Porter, held an introductory meeting on Tuesday with Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb. Minister of State for Revenue Ali Pervez Malik, State Bank Governor Jameel Ahmad and Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Rashid Mehmood Langrial were also present.

The mission is also holding separate technical sessions with all the stakeholders, including the FBR, power and petroleum divisions and the energy sector regulatory authorities. In all these engagements, the mission appeared to have not expressed its mind so far, except from raising exploratory questions, participants told Dawn.

It is not yet clear if the dialogue would lead to policy-level discussions that had been a critical part of IMF programmes’ quarterly reviews.

The current $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF), however, has been designed in a manner that the IMF and Pakistan authorities should hold biannual review meetings for the disbursement of about $1bn instalments during each cycle.

The first formal review has to take place based on the end-December performance for Pakistan to qualify for disbursement for a second instalment of over $1bn by March 15, 2025.

Officials said the IMF mission has called for detailed explanations on the digitalisation of FBR’s processes for revenue collection, application of artificial intelligence for identifying and tracing tax evaders and their taxable incomes and businesses and involvement of specialised expert firms. They have also sought a complete update on the track-and-trace system.

In initial meetings, the FBR attributed recent revenue shortfalls — particularly in the first month of the second quarter — to the declining inflation.

The power sector’s performance appears to be within agreed limits concerning circular debt and current revenues.

Circular debt rose by about Rs70bn, below earlier estimates of Rs240-250bn. A circular debt management plan was approved only last week by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC), led by the finance minister.

Sources said the government had been going back and forth over the disconnection of gas supply to inefficient captive power plants, belonging mostly to the textile sector, to utilise surplus capacity in the national power grid.

The industrialists have, however, now mustered support from gas companies. Some stakeholders are now pushing for the supply of imported LNG to CPPs at a weighted average cost of local and imported molecules on the premise that electricity connections were not available or were insufficient in certain areas.

The IMF mission is scheduled to have a joint session with the power and petroleum divisions on Wednesday (today) to discuss their interrelated issues, including circular debt, planned tariff adjustments, loss reduction programmes and recoveries.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2024