Re: CAD tools compatibility ?

Brad,

I've had good results opening PCAD/Accel schematics, PCB files and libraries
with a Pulsonix demo. I was pretty impressed - some text rotation and
attributes were not quite correct, but that was about it.

Lukas


Yes, Leon is just copying something.
lEON, you had better indicate what files/formats are what or you are
seriously misleading these guys. I don't see one library format that I
recognize despite Leon's comments.

There are several formats in there that are simply netlists (i.e. PADs
*.net & Accel *.net), not the schematics nor PCB files. Next you have the
problem that most nobody saves their files in some of those formats (i.e.
ascii, Protel *.ASC), so down the road you may not be able to readily deal
with them again unless you have some friend with the tools to correctly
read them and write the acceptable format/version files back out to an
ascii file.

Besides the basic information Leon has offered, there is surely
limitations on the actual file versions that it can import. In some cases
they may be well out of date versions. Don't be sure it will import any
current specific format unless the software supplier will guarantee you.
Then get ready to deal with the limitations of the compatibility upon
importing. This is true of even the best imports because most packages
have features or details which are not supported nor correctly converted
on import.

From what I have seen in over 20 years is that almost no package
imports or converts schematic files, it is just not worth the development
time. A schematic can be redrawn in a couple of days once you know your
new tool. PCBs do have converters because that can save you weeks if not
months of time to redevelop the PCB. Then you have to confirm that it is
valid and the same as the original, all big costs.

--
Sincerely,
Brad Velander.

"Chuck Harris" <cf-NO-SPAM-harris@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:ifOdnZ-d4IuHiWLeRVn-qw@xxxxxxxxxx
Leon wrote:

FWIW, Pulsonix imports schematic, PCB and library files from:

P-CAD (*.PDF)
Cadstar Schematics (*.CSA)
PADS Logic (*.NET)
P-CAD (*.PDF)
Accel EDA (*.NET)
UltiCAP (*.SCH) Protel (*.ASC) OrCAD (*.EDF)

Aren't OrCAD EDF (EDIF)files netlist only?

On the old SDT/PCB 386+ stuff, OrCAD schematics are .SCH,
and OrCAD layout are .PCB




.

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