Allegro to PADS Power V3
Overview
Router Solutions' CAMCAD PCB Translator can prepare
data and translate a wide variety of ECAD formats to other
ECAD formats. More than just a black box translator, the Windows-based
application allows for sophisticated analysis of the data
prior to translation. If any adjustments or edits are required,
the thorough tool set allows users to make modifications.
This three step process, Import, Investigate/Edit, Export,
allows users the most flexibility for their ECAD translation.
CAMCAD PCB Translator reads in the Allegro script
files generated by the Allegro Extract in conjunction with
our valext.txt file.
Here is a screen capture of an Allegro design and the newly
created PADS file.
Click
Here to download the original Allegro TEXT files used above.
Click
Here to download the newly created PADS file from above.
Layermap
In general ECAD layers can be divided into two major catagories,
electrical and non-electrical. Both types can be mapped in
our system to layers expected by the target system. Usually
translation of electrical layers is critical and needs to
be 100% accurate (or nearly so), while more flexibility is
allowed with non-electrical layers. Sometimes non-electrical
layers need to be combined to move the data successfully into
the target system. CAMCAD offers users full visibility
of layer mapping.
In general if the Allegro layer names are standard, the electrical
layers will be automatically mapped to the proper layers in
Pads Power. There will always be layer names we do not
automatically handle, and these will have to be mapped to
layers in Pads Power.
Just highlight the layer and hit "Edit",
then select the layer in Pads Power you want this highlighted
layer to go to. Once all your editing is complete (you might
want to save your layer file it at this time) just hit "Proceed"
then your on your way to making your Pads Power ascii file.
Translation
Process
Import
It is very easy to load your ready to be translated file
into CAMCAD PCB Translator, just go to File
| Import then select the CADENCE Allegro (Extract)
Read.
Click
here to be taken to the Allegro page in the Importing
section.
Click
here to be taken to the Allegro.IN File page in the Importing
section.
Process
Once you have your file loaded into CAMCAD PCB Translator,
you may want to take a good look at what you are trying translate.
See if everything is there like traces, components, component
outlines, vias, board outline and good idea to check a couple
of pad stacks to see if they have the proper layers. Another
thing you might want to do is Purge the unused Geometries.
In addition to that only translate the active layers and you
might to consider removing any or all the grachics you really
do not need.
Export
Now you're ready to export and that's just as easy as the
Import was. Choose the File | Export
menu command and select Pads Power V3 Layout Write then you
are on your way.
Click here
to be taken to the PADS Power V3 page in the Exporting section.
The PADS.out file sets up the layer structure which is defined
in Pads Power.
Click
here to be taken to the PADS.OUT file in the Exporting
section.
The PADS.chk file, this file sets basic rules for the naming
conventions in the PADS files. The PADS.chk file is rather
involved and should not be modified unless the user possesses
a through understanding of the cause and effect of each line
in the file. This file is well documented with the file itself,
but a general overview of the file is provided in this document
to aid in understanding why it exist and how it works.
The need for the PADS.chk file arises because of limitations
on allowed characters and the number of characters for different
key fields within the PADS file format. Since these limitation
often times change and users may want to implement varying
methods to adapt for the limitations, the concept of the .chk
file was introduced. The PADS.chk file is separated into six
basic sections.
Click here
for a general discussion of *.CHK file usage in CAMCAD.
Log File
There are two log files normally generated for a translation.
One is generated during the import and the other is created
on export. These log files will report various events that
occur in the import and export proesses. During the import,
CAMCAD PCB Translator may find items that do
not import correctly and could interfere with the translation,
but in general they are just warnings and notes about the
import process. When files are exported, CAMCAD PCB Translator
may be items that the new CAD System has a problem with, but
again they are often just general notes and reports of translator
function. You can find further discriptions of these log files
by following these links:
Click
here to be taken to the Allegro import log file in the
Importing section.
Click
here to be taken to the PADS export log file in the Exporting
section.
Limitations
Pads Part Decal Pin
Limit is 2048.
FAQs
There are none at the present time.
Support
If you need further assistance, please contact RSI's Tech
Support Department at tech@rsi-inc.com.
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