How Can I Import PADS Files into Eagle ?

Hi,

I'm new to Eagle, but find it pretty easy to use and I can create PCBs pretty quickly that my PCB fab in China can make in a few days.

I have some PADS (MentorGraphics) .sch and .pcb files that I want to import into Eagle.

I have searched many forums, visited the CadSoft support page and even asked CadSoft Tech Support, not much success so far.

A colleague managed to import the original .sch and .pcb files into PADS, and exported the project as an ASCII file (also .dxf - but I'm not certain whether that helps) ...

Unfortunately, Eagle only imports ACCEL ASCII - aka P-CAD ASCII.

So ...

I have PADS .sch, .pcb, .asc and .dxf files, and just want to get the PCB (also the schematic if possible) into Eagle, so I can modify the original layouts.

I've researched for days and tried everything I can think of ...

I even tried to import the PADS files into Altium, hoping there might be a way of converting them there.

But neither the .sch and .pcb files, nor the ASCII or .dfx files, import correctly (or at all).

Ditto por KiCad, DipTrace etc.

I know this topic has been addressed a few times in the element14 forums, but I've been unable to find a solution, apart from this thread ...

How to import PADS component library? The import-pads-powerpcb-v5.ulp seems doesn't work.

Unfortunately this thread doesn't refer to the original source - or the ULP.

Does anyone have any ideas / suggestions ?

I'd really appreciate any assistance ...

Many thanks,

Gary

Parents

0 clem57 over 10 years ago

Firstly I would try Free PADS PCB Schematic Viewer - Mentor Graphics and check are they valid? If so, you know the type at least.
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0 Former Member over 10 years ago in reply to clem57

Hi Clem,
Many thanks for your reply …

Yes, as I think I mentioned in my post, I can open the files in PADS - and the Free Viewer opens the files OK.
So I know the files are intact - the issue is how to convert them into a form readable by Eagle.

Any further ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Best regards,

Gary
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0 eduardodemier over 10 years ago in reply to Former Member

Hi.
I have the same problem. A consultant did a design for me and now I need
to convert it to EAGLE.
I suppose there are two steps. First export from pads into a feasible
ASCIII format and then import this in EAGLE.
Any Hints?
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0 autodeskguest over 10 years ago in reply to eduardodemier

Am 07.10.2015 um 15:38 schrieb eduardodemier:
Hi.
I have the same problem. A consultant did a design for me and now I need
to convert it to EAGLE.
I suppose there are two steps. First export from pads into a feasible
ASCIII format and then import this in EAGLE.
Any Hints?

EAGLE comes with an import ACCEL ASCII format ULP. Maybe this helps?
As far as I know Pads can export in ACCEL-ASCII format.

--
Mit freundlichen Gruessen / Best regards
Richard Hammerl
CadSoft Support -- hotline@cadsoft.de
FAQ: http://www.cadsoft.de/training/faq/
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0 autodeskguest over 10 years ago in reply to eduardodemier

Am 07.10.2015 um 15:38 schrieb eduardodemier:
Hi.
I have the same problem. A consultant did a design for me and now I need
to convert it to EAGLE.
I suppose there are two steps. First export from pads into a feasible
ASCIII format and then import this in EAGLE.
Any Hints?

EAGLE comes with an import ACCEL ASCII format ULP. Maybe this helps?
As far as I know Pads can export in ACCEL-ASCII format.

--
Mit freundlichen Gruessen / Best regards
Richard Hammerl
CadSoft Support -- hotline@cadsoft.de
FAQ: http://www.cadsoft.de/training/faq/
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