Mentor Graphics Pads Version History !!better!! 〈Fresh ◆〉

During this era, the software gained a reputation for having a highly efficient router and a user-friendly interface that relied heavily on keyboard macros (many of which are still supported in the software today as "Modeless Commands").

: Mentor shifted to the VX (Version X) nomenclature to align PADS with its high-end Xpedition technology. mentor graphics pads version history

In the mid-1990s, the company was secretly acquired by Kyoden, a Japanese PCB manufacturer, which preceded a period of aggressive expansion in the US. The Mentor Graphics Era: 1997 – 2017 During this era, the software gained a reputation

| | Year | Key Features | |-------------|----------|-------------------| | PADS VX.0 | 2015 | Component Explorer (live part search from SnapEDA and Mouser). Full 3D placement with collision detection. | | PADS VX.1 | 2016 | PADS Professional tier (higher‑end features like team design, version control). | | PADS VX.2 | 2017 | Rules‑driven via‑in‑pad support. DXF import/export overhaul for mechanical outlines. | | PADS VX.2.4 | 2018 | Introduced Padstack Editor with tabular data import. | | PADS VX.2.10 | 2020 | Last release under Mentor Graphics brand. Added High‑Speed Design wizards (serpentine tuning, multi‑trace diff‑pair tuning). | The Mentor Graphics Era: 1997 – 2017 |