I try to import Altium PCB 5.0 into Circuit studio but i have the message  "xxx.PcbDoc has invalid format!", why?

Hi,

From the Circuit Studio site:

Can I open my designs from other Altium products?

Yes, but from the Circuit Studio site:

import altium PCB 5.0. (x.PcbDoc)

why don't work??

the error message is

"xxx.PcbDoc has invalid format!"

there is a Bug?

thanks.

Hi Gianluca and Dune75,

PCB Files can in fact be transferred back and forth between Altium Designer and CircuitStudio. This requires translation of the file in each direction since the PCB document file format is different for each product. In contrast, schematics and symbol/footprint libraries have compatible formats.

Please see below for how do this. The first section is importing an Altium Designer *.PcbDoc into CircuitStudio, and saving it as a *.CSPcbDoc. Second section is importing a CircuitStudio *.CSPcbDoc into Altium Designer and then saving it as a *.PcbDoc.

If this does not work correctly, please email your file to pcbsoftware@element14.com and mention this discussion thread.

How to Import an Altium Designer PCB File into CircuitStudio

1. The file must be exported from Altium Designer as a specific binary version:

In Altium Designer, with your PCB open. File > Save Copy As, set the Save as type: to PCB 5.0 Binary File (*.PcbDoc).

The 6.0 format is not yet supported in CircuitStudio, even though it is listed.

I suggest adding "binary 5" in the filename so as to make it clear that this file is to be used to import into CircuitStudio.

2. Open CircuitStudio. File > Import. Drop down the list to Altium PCB 5.0 and 6.0 Files (*.PcbDoc) and open the file.

3. The file will import and a dialog displays Done! to indicate success, click OK.

4. The PcbDoc.htm file will display cautions for the file in previous format. These cautions should be taken into account and the board examined carefully when translating between different systems.

5. Design rules need to be carefully examined and set to appropriate values. For example, some rules may be changed when scopes are not supported in CircuitStudio, or if default rules are added then the imported rule is renamed with _1 on the end. You may choose to delete the duplicated rules or change the priority of the rules.

How to Import a CircuitStudio PCB File into Altium Designer

1. File > New > PCB. This will add a blank PCB1.PchDoc to your project. There is no need to save it.

2. File > Import > Altium PCB. Browse for the *.CSPcbDoc file and click Open.

3. The file will import and a dialog displays Done! to indicate success, click OK.

4. File > Save As, replace PCB1.PcbDoc with the correct file name. There is no need to type the .PcbDoc part, since this will be inserted automatically.

5. Thoroughly check the imported board's design rules and Polygons etc.

Best regards,

James Harriman

Altium

Hi Gianluca and Dune75,

PCB Files can in fact be transferred back and forth between Altium Designer and CircuitStudio. This requires translation of the file in each direction since the PCB document file format is different for each product. In contrast, schematics and symbol/footprint libraries have compatible formats.

Please see below for how do this. The first section is importing an Altium Designer *.PcbDoc into CircuitStudio, and saving it as a *.CSPcbDoc. Second section is importing a CircuitStudio *.CSPcbDoc into Altium Designer and then saving it as a *.PcbDoc.

If this does not work correctly, please email your file to pcbsoftware@element14.com and mention this discussion thread.

How to Import an Altium Designer PCB File into CircuitStudio

1. The file must be exported from Altium Designer as a specific binary version:

In Altium Designer, with your PCB open. File > Save Copy As, set the Save as type: to PCB 5.0 Binary File (*.PcbDoc).

The 6.0 format is not yet supported in CircuitStudio, even though it is listed.

I suggest adding "binary 5" in the filename so as to make it clear that this file is to be used to import into CircuitStudio.

2. Open CircuitStudio. File > Import. Drop down the list to Altium PCB 5.0 and 6.0 Files (*.PcbDoc) and open the file.

3. The file will import and a dialog displays Done! to indicate success, click OK.

4. The PcbDoc.htm file will display cautions for the file in previous format. These cautions should be taken into account and the board examined carefully when translating between different systems.

5. Design rules need to be carefully examined and set to appropriate values. For example, some rules may be changed when scopes are not supported in CircuitStudio, or if default rules are added then the imported rule is renamed with _1 on the end. You may choose to delete the duplicated rules or change the priority of the rules.

How to Import a CircuitStudio PCB File into Altium Designer

1. File > New > PCB. This will add a blank PCB1.PchDoc to your project. There is no need to save it.

2. File > Import > Altium PCB. Browse for the *.CSPcbDoc file and click Open.

3. The file will import and a dialog displays Done! to indicate success, click OK.

4. File > Save As, replace PCB1.PcbDoc with the correct file name. There is no need to type the .PcbDoc part, since this will be inserted automatically.

5. Thoroughly check the imported board's design rules and Polygons etc.

Best regards,

James Harriman

Altium