Redac CADIF (Visula/CADStar) to Accel/PCAD
200x
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 CADIF (Visula/CADSTAR)
*.PAF file.
Here is a screen capture of the original CADIF *.PAF file
and the newly created Accel/PCAD *.PCB file:
Click
Here to download the Original REDAC CADIF *.PAF file
Click
Here to download the Newly created Accel/PCAD *.PCB file
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 CADIF *.PAF layer names are standard, the
electrical layers will be automatically mapped to the proper
layers in Accel/PCAD. There will always be layer names
we do not automatically handle, and these will be mapped to
already used layers in Accel/PCAD. Here is a screen
capture of the layer mapping list during a CADIF to Accel/PCAD
translation:
To edit a layer just highlight the
layer and hit Edit, then select the layer in Accel
you want this highlighted layer to go to. Once all your editing
is complete (you might want to save your layer file for use
later) just hit Proceed then your on your way to making
your Accel/PCAD *.PCB 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 Redac CADIF (.paf) Layout
Read.
Click
here to be taken to the CADIF page in the Importing section.
Click
here to be taken to the CADIF.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 the Accel/PCAD200x(.pcb) Layout Write.
Click here
to be taken to the Accel/PCAD200x page in the Exporting section.
Click
here to be taken to the Accel.OUT file in the Exporting
section.
The Accel.chk file, this file sets basic rules for the naming
conventions in the Accel/PCAD files. The Accel.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 Accel.chk file arises because of limitations
on allowed characters and the number of characters for different
key fields within the Accel/PCAD 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 Accel.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 CADIF import log file in the Importing
section.
Click
here to be taken to the Accel/PCAD export log file in
the Exporting section.
Limitations
At the present time, there are not any known limitations.
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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