FlowCAD AN PCB Converting Designs

1 Application Note Converting Designs Page 1 von 8 Title: Converting third-party Designs to Allegro Product: OrCAD / Allegro PCB Editor Summary: Existing and not existing CAD Translators and/or methods of translation. Author/Date: Sylvia Holste / Table of Contents 1 Introduction .. 2 2 Available CAD Translators .. 2 Mentor Board Station .. 2 Mentor PADS .. 4 OrCAD Layout .. 4 PCAD .. 4 FlowCAD Converter .. 4 3 Methods of translation .. 5 Altium .. 5 4 Currently not available CAD Translators .. 5 Eagle .. 5 Mentor Expedition.

2 7 Zuken .. 7 Application Note Converting Designs Page 2 von 8 1 Introduction This document gives an overview of how and which third-party Designs could be imported or not into PCB Editor. 2 Available CAD Translators See also Allegro User Guide: Transferring Logic design Data on <INSTALL_DIR>\doc\algrologic\ Chapters: - Optimizing the Use of Layout Editor Converters - Troubleshooting Translation Issues Mentor Board Station For translating Board Station database an Allegro PCB SI license is needed. Import can be performed by Import > Cad Translators > Mentor Please find description in Allegro User Guide: Transferring Logic design Data, chapter The Mentor-to-Allegro PCB Editor Translators <INSTALL_DIR>\doc\algrologic\ Does Cadence support a Mentor Graphics to Allegro translator?

3 (SolutionNo:11072234) Mentor Boardstation database mostly compiled of ASCII and Binary files. We use mbs2lib and mbs2brd utility to convert its symbols and layout to Allegro database. 1. Translating Mentor PCB libraries Mentor (BoardStation only) geometries translation to Allegro symbols is achieved through running the executable mbs2lib. This utility is included with the Allegro install and does not require any additional license. 2. Translating Mentor PCB Designs Mentor (BoardStation) layouts can be translated to an Allegro .brd file by using the executable mbs2brd.

4 This utility is included in the SpecctraQuest install and does not require an additional license. Reference Solution 11008994 for details of the ASCII files required for the mbs2brd translator. Which Mentor ASCII files are required for mbs2brd translation? (SolutionNo:11008994) Application Note Converting Designs Page 3 von 8 The following is a list of the Mentor required and optional ASCII files to run the "mbs2brd" translator. Note: All files must be in ASCII format. All of these files except the "geoms_ascii" are written in ASCII format.

5 Mentor saves geometry information in binary format in a file named #. Before running the MBS2 BRD translator write or request geometry information ( #) be saved in one ASCII file format named "geoms_ascii". This may be accomplished using the GUI "File -> Save -> ASCII " Example: - File -> Save -> ASCII The "Save ASCII Geometries" form will appear. - Select "All Geometries" - Select "One file" Enter the file name "geoms_ascii" - Click "ok" You could also type one of the following commands sav as g <filename> $save_ascii_geometries("geoms_ascii", [""], @noreplace, @all, @nodirectory, @noversion); Mentor required and optional ASCII files: geoms_ascii_file (Required) Mentor ascii geometries file containing image definitions, board outline, keepout and keepin areas, and rules.

6 Tech_file (Required) Mentor # file containing layer stackup definitions and rules. nets_file (Required) Mentor # file containing the net list. comps_file (Required) Mentor # file containing component placement information. gates_file (Optional) Mentor # file containing gate and pin swapping data. pins_file (Optional) Mentor # file containing pin properties. traces_file (Optional) Mentor # file containing preroute, area fill, and high speed topology specifications. testpoints_file (Optional) Mentor # file containing testpoint generation information.

7 Application Note Converting Designs Page 4 von 8 Mentor PADS Cadence only supports PADS 2007 version translation of database. For 2009 and above an enhancement CCR 810568 was already filed. Import can be performed by Import > Cad Translators > PADS Please find description in Allegro User Guide: Transferring Logic design Data, chapter The PowerPCB and Pads Layout Interface <INSTALL_DIR>\doc\algrologic\ Additional information can be found in Application Note at Cadence Sourcelink. :DocumentViewer;src=wp;q=ApplicationNote s/Silicon-Package-Board_Co- OrCAD Layout Import can be performed by Import > Cad Translators > OrCAD Layout Please find description in Allegro User Guide: Transferring Logic design Data, chapter OrCAD Layout to Allegro Allegro PCB Editor Translator <INSTALL_DIR>\doc\algrologic\ The translator converts Designs (.)

8 Max files) created in Layout to design databases (.brd files) that can be read by Allegro PCB Editor. For synchronizing Capture .dsn File also, please use Converter described in Layout to PCB Editor Migration Guide . PCAD Import can be performed by Import > Cad Translators > PCAD Please find description in Allegro User Guide: Transferring Logic design Data, chapter The PCAD Translator <INSTALL_DIR>\doc\algrologic\ The translator reads PCAD version 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 PDIF database files and writes an Allegro PCB Editor board database. Due to format differences, other versions of PDIF files cannot be read.

9 FlowCAD Converter Application Note Converting Designs Page 5 von 8 FlowCAD wrote several converters as a plug-in to Allegro PCB Editor. Converters are reading design files and creating an Allegro library. Footprints are getting translated exactly and new data will be integrated into an intelligent Allegro format. FlowCAD Cades_g Converter Cades_g used to be a PCB Tool of CIM Team, before joining Zuken FlowCAD Visula Converter Visula used to be a PCB Tool of Racal-Redac, before joining Zuken FlowCAD Integra Converter Integra used to be a PCB Tool of Mentor Graphics 3 Methods of translation Altium In Altium Designer select: - Save Project As: Export OrCAD Capture design (.)

10 Dsn) o for opening directly in Capture AND/OR - File > Save As: Export Protel PCB ASCII (.pcb) o for importing into OrCAD Layout (File > Import > Protel PCB) o saving as .max File o importing .max File into PCB Editor (File > Import > CAD Translators > OrCAD Layout) o saving as .brd File Note: Altium License Winter 09, OrCAD Layout , PCB Editor is required here 4 Currently not available CAD Translators Eagle For Eagle to Allegro, no translator is available. Customer can approach third party software to convert these formats to Allegro.